Cobourg Cougars go viral

Team has embraced Twitter and Facebook

COBOURG -- Fans won't only find the Cobourg Cougars on the ice -- they are online too.

The Cougars have embraced the Internet, and expanded to include social media sites as part of their fan experience.

"The Cougars are using social media sites as part of our initiative to stay connected with the fans and the community," said Kelly Martin, marketing director of the Cougars. "It provides an information resource for our out-of-town fans and those connected to our billeted players and, of course, our large scope of alumni players."

Presently, the Cougars maintain a website, a Twitter account, a Facebook page, a fan club, and send out a regular electronic newsletter (News in Cougarville). Some players and coaches even maintain personal Twitter accounts.

According to Martin, the newsletter has more than 1,000 subscribers. The newsletter gives fans information about the team, sponsors and links to local media stories and coverage. Martin calls the newsletter a "huge bonus" to out-of-town families who can follow their son's hockey career.

The newsletter goes out once a month during the off-season, but weekly during the season.

The Cougars' fan club and Facebook page offer prizes for fans.

"Social media is part of our growth and really allows us the opportunity to support and promote our sponsors and the partnerships we are building within the community," said Martin. "Those who are reading our electronic newsletter absolutely love it and cannot believe all that is going on both on and off the ice. Social media like this allows us the opportunity to spread the word and keep our fans informed of news and events that years ago was not possible to share."

Martin said the Cougars organization prides itself on having one of the most informative websites in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. According to her, the website gets more than 20,000 hits a month.

Plans are in the works to allow fans to purchase tickets and Cougars swag online.

Fans can find the Cougars online at: website -- www.cobourgcougars.pointstreaksites.com; Twitter -- @CougarsHockey; Facebook -- by searching Cobourg Cougars Junior A Hockey. Fans can register for the newsletter and fan club online on the Cougars website.

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