        The Carlyle Cougars met the Bienfait Coalers at home on Tuesday, Jan. 10, where they battled hard to hold Bienfait within two goals. The Coalers won 6-4 in the match, which showcased talent and heart for the home team.
               Bienfait was held back in the first half of the first period, but in short order they scored three goals: the first was earned by Tyson Price who was assisted by Dylan Herzberg, the second was scored by Dallas Kickley and assisted by Dustin Stepp, while the third was scored by Matt Bourass assisted by Dustin Stepp and Dallas Kickley.
               With Bienfait ahead 3-0, the Cougars capitalized on an opportunity at the end of the first with a goal by Brett Turgeon assisted by Ben Johnstone and Kelly Currie. This goal gave them momentum heading into the second period.
               The second period saw a lot of action as five goals in total were scored. The Cougars came out hot with Kelly Currie capitalizing on assists by Phil Doucet and Joel Mack, then Billy Greenwood saw an opportunity after being set up by the same duo (Doucet and Mack), and Ty Currie earned a goal with an assist by Cooper Fox and Brent McLean to take the lead.
               Sitting at 4-3, the Cougars were unable to stop a final rush in the second period with two goals in the last two minutes of play. Bienfait’s Dustin Stepp found the Cougars’ net with assists from Riley Tetreault and Dylan Herzberg and with less than a minute on the clock Preston Erickson scored a goal with assists by Payden Benning and Riley Tetreault.
               Bienfait took their momentum from the second and headed into the third period strong with a goal by Dylan Herzberg assisted by Payden Benning and Riley Tetreault in the first minute and half of action. The rest of the game saw both teams find opportunities, but neither were able to capitalize further and the score ended 6-4 in Bienfait’s favour.
               The Cougars then took on the Oxbow Huskies on Friday, Jan. 13.
               Carlyle came out to an early lead with Zach Brown scoring a goal with under three minutes to go in the first assisted by Phil Doucet.
               The Cougars held the Huskies back, but in the last period the Huskies pressed through the Cougars with Ryan Curzon scoring a goal assisted by Brody Haygarth and Brycen Odgers. Odgers then scored two other goals that period: the first was assisted by Haygarth and Blake Brooks, while his second was assisted by Haygarth.
               The final score was 3-1 for the Huskies.
               Upcoming matches for the Cougars includes games in town on Friday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m. against Yellow Grass; Saturday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m. against Midale in Carlyle; and Tuesday, Jan. 24, in Bienfait at 8 p.m.
               Elsewhere in the league the Wawota Flyers currently sit first (21 points) in the East Division followed by the Carnduff Red Devils (19 points) who are being closely pursued by the Redvers Rockets (18 points), while the Oxbow Huskies trail (14 points).
               In the West Division the Bienfait Coalers remain on top (25 points) followed by the Yellow Grass What Kings (18 points), while the Midale Mustangs trail them (9 points), and the Carlyle PureChem Cougars behind them (4 points).
               Top scorers in the division include Wawota players Justin Lamontagne (33 points), Brent Struble (30 points), and Riley Riddell (29 points). They’re followed by Jordon Miller of Redvers (24 points), Dylan Herzberg of Bienfait (21 points), Brad Tomiski of Midale and Payden Benning of Bienfait (20 points), Drew Hoff of Redvers (19 points), Brendan Vertefeuille of Yellow Grass (18 points), and Matt Audette of Carnduff (17 points).
               Top goalies include Landon Audet of Bienfait with a 2.20 Goals Allowed Average (GAA); Thomas Bauche of Redvers currently has a 2.60 GAA; Cody Dumaine of Carnduff is sitting with a 2.85 GAA; and Jackson Walliser of Beinfait has a GAA of 3.04.
