Cougars come back to sweep Metcalfe

The Vankleek Hill Cougars are off to the semi-finals of the National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) playoffs!

Zachary Bigras scored twice and added two assists, while Cody Horner assisted on all five Vankleek Hill goals, as the Cougars came back from a two-goal deficit to beat the Metcalfe Jets 5-3, in front of a packed house at the Vankleek Hill Arena on Saturday night (February 22). Coupled with a 5-3 win in Metcalfe the night before, the win gave the Cougars a four games to none sweep of the first round series.

With the remaining series still ongoing, the Cougars will have next weekend off, as they wait to find out who they will face in the semi-finals of the NCJHL playoffs.

Saturday, February 22 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 5, Metcalfe Jets 3

Zachary Sullivan brought the home crowd to its feet, scoring at 4:21 of the first to give Vankleek Hill a 1-0 lead that held up to the end of the period. But three straight goals by Metcalfe in the first four minutes of the second frame had the Cougars on their heels, before head coach Ryan Allen called a time out to calm his players down. Zachary Bigras responded with a goal just four minutes later to make the score 3-2 for the Jets heading into the final period.

In the third, things got chippy, with Metcalfe taking multiple penalties and the Cougars taking full advantage. Reid Cunning tied the game at 3-3 on the first powerplay with 12:20 remaining. Zachary Bigras scored the winner with just over eight minutes left in the game, while Sebastien Ouimet fired home the Cougars’ third straight powerplay goal to put Vankleek Hill up 5-3.

Tristan Paquette earned the win in net for Vankleek Hill, barring the door after Metcalfe’s three goal outburst in the second and shutting them out the rest of the way.

Friday, February 21 – Vankleek Hill Cougars 5, Metcalfe Jets 3

Reid Cunning had two goals and an assist, while Connor Cook, Cameron Macdonald, and Sebastien Ouimet each had singles, as Vankleek Hill beat Metcalfe 5-3 to take a three games to none stranglehold on the first-round series.

Other NCJHL first round series

While Vankleek Hill completed the sweep to move into the second round, the NCJHL’s three other quarter-final series are still up in the air as of press time.

North Dundas took a three games to two lead over the St-Isidore Eagles, earning a 6-3 win on Friday, February 21, on home ice. Game 6 was scheduled for Sunday, February 23, in St-Isidore.

The top-seeded Gatineau-Hull Volant beat the Cumberland Castors 4-3 on Saturday (February 22) to take a 3-0 games lead in their series. All of the games have been very close. The Volant could close out the series with a win in Cumberland on Sunday (February 23).

Meanwhile, also on Saturday, the Morrisburg Lions staved off elimination with a 3-2 overtime win over the second-seeded Westport Rideaus. Westport now leads the series three games to one. Game 5 is scheduled for February 28 in Westport.