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The Carlyle PureChem Cougars are back on the ice. Their first four games of the year have started them off to a 2-2 record.

The Cougars kicked the season off in Bienfait on the Nov. 5. You could see that they were pumped about the new season and came out flying! The team welcomes some new players this year: Dakota Rose, Devon McGonigal, Brandon Glasser and Sam Matthewson is ready to show his two older brothers, Jesse and Tyler the ropes. We have Tim Lequyer back on the bench this year with help from Allan Fleck, Dean Lequyer and Kelly Currie.

The Coalers had a few shots to start the game, but Audet denied them. It was some dangling moves around the Coaler defense that gave the Cougars’ Johnstone a shot on net and Rose was right there to put in the rebound. Cougars draw first blood!

Fox, with help from Johnstone, sniped one in and gives Carlyle their two goals of the period and they are trailing 4-2.

Turgeon gets the lone goal for the Cougars in the second and then is the first one to score in the third. The Cougars score three in the third from Turgeon, Sam Matthewson and Rose geting his second of the night.

The first period was physical, there were six penalties and six goals scored. The second was pretty quiet with only two goals and two penalties. The third, things got fired up again as there was some more bumping and grinding and scoring. The final ended-up 9-6 for the Coalers. There were four penalties and seven goals scored in the third.

The Cougars put that game behind them and moved on to their home opener against the Arcola/Kisbey Combines. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported 50/50 fundraiser for KidSport at this game.

Game three of the new season saw the Cougars hosting the Redvers Rockets on Friday, Nov. 15. The Rockets always have a strong team and so the Cougars knew that they needed to work hard!. Tyler and Jesse Matthewson got the Cougars two goals in the first, with Jesse scoring when there was only .6 seconds left on the board! The Cougars lead with a score of 2-1 going into the second.

The Rockets scored two in the second to take the lead. The Cougars tried to net a few to regain the lead, but it just wasn’t happening for them. The shots were Carlyle 14 and Redvers 28, at the end of 2.

Redvers got three more counters in the third and Johnstone got the Cougars’ lone goal. The score ended up 7-3, but it didn’t feel like it was that lop-sided of a game.

Sometimes, no matter your determination and how hard you try, just doesn’t go in.

Thank you to Home Hardware for sponsoring the 50-50 and for all of the goodies that they handed out and threw out to the crowd.

It was off to Carnduff on Saturday, to take on the always hard-working Red Devils. This game had a lot of action and kept the fans of both teams on the edge of their seats. McGonigal and Rose scored the only two goals in the first. It’s always a good feeling to have the lead, but you know playing the Devils, it can change in a moment.

In the second period, the Cougars had goals from McGonigal and Shaw found the back of the new to give us our fourth. The Red Devils scored a trio in the period to be trailing by 1.

The third period saw lots of action. The Cougars didn’t score this period and were able to hang onto their lead until 5 minutes left and the Red Devils tied it up. It’s off to a 5- minute sudden death. In just that five minutes, there were five penalties. There was not yet a winner and so it was on to a shootout. Carlyle’s 3 shooters: McGonigal, Geiger and Shaw all capitalized, giving the Cougars the win.

Next game is this Friday, Nov. 22 when the Cougars head to Midale. We will see you at the rink on the 29th, when the Cougars host the Red Devils.