聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Carlyle Cougars filled their home rink-without even lacing up their skates-as they hosted 鈥淐ougars Night Out鈥�-a fundraising supper, auction and dance, Saturday, June 18 at the Carlyle Sports Arena.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The team, which folded following the 2012-13 season due to a lack of manpower, has garnered interest from nearly 40 potential players for the coming season. Local businesses have been quick to sponsor the squad, with PureChem acting as the title sponsor. As a result, the team will be named The Carlyle PureChem Cougars.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The team's board members are: Dallas Lequyer (President), Dean Lequyer (Team Manager), Tim Lequyer (Head Coach), Brian Hagel (Secretary), Deb Chalus (Treasurer), Todd Brady (Player Rep), Mike Brown (Marketing), and Kirk Himmelspach, Steve Mossing, Jared Riddell and Wade Robertson as members at large.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e're off to a great start with the team because we've got a large, committed board, not just one or two people,鈥� says Head Coach Tim Lequyer. 鈥淚f you don't have that, you don't have the team. It lets them concentrate on playing.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he player interest is great and it's key to us to have local kids. We can bring them through the ranks so they have a place to play after they play midget.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As captain of the 1991-92 Cougars-who captured the Big Six title, the Big Six Championship and the Provincial Championship 鈥淐鈥� title, Tim parted with a personal piece of Cougar memorabilia to support the squad, as he donated his Cougars' captain's jersey from that season to the evening's auction.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he Durand family bought my jersey and Dean's (Lequyer's) jersey from that season,鈥� says Tim. 鈥淭hey used to run the Skyline. They had them for 15 years and then they gave them back to us.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Tim's jersey raised $600 as Jason Waugh purchased it during the evening's auction.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Club president Dallas Lequyer said that the community's enthusisam for the Cougar's comeback was eveident throughout the evening.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭im stood up and told the story behind the jersey and I think it reminded people that this team has a history in this community.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚f this is any indication, it's going to be a great season,鈥� adds Lequyer. 鈥淲e had just over 200 people, with about 150 for supper. We ran out of wristbands and we'd like to thank all of our sponsors, including Co-op, who sponsored the supper. We'd like to thank all of the volunteers-we had volunteers selling beer tickets, at the front gate and everyone-including a lot of our players-who worked the bar.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淔rom the time we started this, the support hasbeen unbelievable, and tonight is no exception. All we've heard about is how happy everyone is that we're doing this. Thanks to everybody for supporting us. Wereally appreciate it.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 To follow the Cougars' progress, check out Carlyle Cougars on Facebook or follow @carlylecougars on Twitter.
