Cougars News

Jeff Gard | Northumberland Today
  jeff.gard@sunmedia.ca
  twitter.com/NT_jgard

COBOURG - It's a new season for the Cobourg Cougars, which brings new opportunities.

While the games don't officially matter yet, this is still the chance for players new and returning to make an impression during exhibition games in preparation of the 2014-2015 Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season and until the final team roster is set.

Returning forward Spencer Holt certainly knows that and he helped get the Cougars off to a winning start Monday night with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Wellington Dukes at the Cobourg Community Centre in their first pre-season contest.

Holt opened the scoring for the Cougars in the first period and then assisted on what turned out to be the deciding goal tallied by linemate Liam Grande in the third.

Although this is his second season with the Cougars, Holt is still looking to find his place in the lineup. He played 42 of a possible 53 regular season games last season, but did not suit up for any playoff contests.

In fact, at the January 10 cut-down deadline, he had the option to go and play junior C hockey and then come back this season. He chose to stay with the Cougars, despite limited and then no playing time.

“I became really close with all the guys and I liked what was going on here,” Holt said Monday night. “I couldn't just give up and leave and go down (to junior C). It wasn't in my mindset, I really wanted to stay.”

That doesn't mean it was easy to stay and not play.

“It was beyond tough,” Holt remarked. “You never want to see your team out there without you. You always want to be out there, especially in big games and especially in the playoffs. All I did was try to support my team and all the guys – they were good to me all year so I just had to be good back.”

Cougars head coach Curtis Hodgins said Holt was “outstanding tonight” in his return to the Cougars lineup.

“He's looked good all training camp – 10 to 15 pounds heavier than last year and ready to play so just one example of a few guys here that are going to get a bigger role this year, and are expected to produce, and we think he's capable of that,” Hodgins added.

Especially with several players from last season's club moving on, Holt said he worked hard in the off-season to prepare for the new campaign.

“I worked hard in the summer so I'm just looking for a good start,” he said. “I know they're going to give me an opportunity so I just have to make the most of it.”

On Monday night, Taylor Gauld also scored for the Cougars, giving his club a 2-1 lead at the time early in the third period.

Goaltenders Austin Washkurak and Stefano Durante split the game, and each looked sharp. Washkurak, who started, stopped 16 of the 17 shots he faced in the first half while Durante turned aside 22 of 23 shots.

“Both teams had mismatched lineups, but you can see the intensity was there between the two clubs,” Hodgins said. “I thought for our first game we were pretty solid and both our goaltenders looked very good in net which was a good sign. Obviously the game doesn't count, but we'll take the win anyways.”

Being an exhibition game didn't make the contest any less physical. In fact, some pushing and shoving after a whistle midway through the third period led to a fight between Cobourg's Rylee McKinnon and Wellington's Josh Supryka.

“Every East Division game, whether it's exhibition, regular season or playoffs has that same kind of intensity,” Hodgins said. “The rivalries are real good in this division and that's why the hockey is so good.”

Cobourg returns to action Thursday night in Whitby and then will host that same Fury club next Wednesday, Sept. 3 in their final exhibition game. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Cobourg Community Centre.

The Cougars open the regular season Friday, Sept. 5 in Trenton against the Golden Hawks. Their home opener is Monday, Sept. 8 against the Toronto Patriots.

Check out www.northumberlandtoday.com on home game nights for live coverage, which includes written updates, audio interviews and photos.