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Brock Novak had been waiting for the opportunity for a long time.

The Burlington Cougars rookie netminder had been an affiliate player as far back as the 2009-10 season. No other current Cougar player was even on the roster at the time. He had practised with the team, had even sat on the bench as the backup a couple of times.

Saturday, the Waterdown native finally got his chance to stand between the pipes for Burlington.

“I was definitely more nervous than I usually would have been,” said Novak, who will turn 18 next week.

If he was anxious about making his Cougar debut, it didn’t show. Novak stopped 24 shots as he backstopped Burlington to a 5-1 over the Hamilton Red Wings. The score hardly reflects Novak’s contribution. Burlington clung to a 2-1 lead for much of the Ontario Junior Hockey League game until breaking through for three goals in the final 11 minutes to put the game away.

Novak spent last season with Stoney Creek Warriors Jr. B team. Though his numbers suffered on a struggling Warriors team, his play certainly drew attention as he was named to the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s prospects game.

While he expects an adjustment period, Novak said there are other aspects to playing Jr. A that make the game easier.

“For sure, it’s a lot faster. The pace will take some time getting used to,” he said, “but the D are also a lot stronger and I’ve been getting a lot of help. They bailed me out a few times.”

Novak also helped out his team, though. Up 2-1 in the second, the Cougars got a five-minute power play, but some of the best scoring chances were in the Burlington end. The Cougars surrendered three odd-man breaks, but each time Novak turned them away to protect the lead.

While it was the group of 14 returning players that buoyed Burlington’s hopes for this season, it was the play of the team’s newcomers on opening night that has to have the Cougars looking to make a big step forward.

Steven Mueller, acquired from Huntsville in the off-season, had a pair of goals and Michael Courvouisier, who made a splash as an affiliate player in last year’s playoffs, scored the game winner. Those contributions were especially welcome with returnees Jeremy Gottzmann, Joey Sullivan and Jeremy Laing all out of the lineup.

“It’s always good to come out and have a good game and get that monkey off your back early,” said Mueller, who had 10 goals with the Otters last season. “That doesn’t hurt the confidence.”

When Huntsville folded after last year, the Hamilton native was looking for a new team closer to home.

“We played them a couple of times last year and they were one of the hardest working teams,” Mueller said. “I knew they had a lot of returning guys. It’s really exciting to come here and they’ve put a lot of faith in me to play a big role. I feel it’s not even a question, we can make a run (in the playoffs).”

Novak agrees.

“Last year was more of a building year,” he said. “There are bigger expectations and we hope to go far.”

Notes: Mark Rodgers and Shane Conacher also scored for Burlington. Rodgers finished off a nice play by Austin Kosack, who went in alone against three Hamilton defenders while the Cougars made a line change. Rather than dumping the puck in, Kosack bought enough time for Rodgers to jump into the play and he beat Hamilton goalie Jason Pucciarelli with a nice shot high on the glove side….Rodgers and Courvouisier scored 38 seconds apart to open the scoring in the first period....Conacher’s older brother Cory was honoured before the game. Former Cougar coach Wes Wiseman presented him with his jersey from the 2006-07 season. Conacher went on to become Canisius College’s all-time leading scorer and last year was named the American Hockey League’s most valuable player and rookie of the year while helping Norfolk win the Calder Cup…Shane Conacher and Kosack will both go to Canisius next year.