The first round of the 2015 playoffs saw the Carlyle Cougars face off against the Kipling Royals on home ice February 26th. The Cougars came out ready to play and dominated the 1st period, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. Kipling came out hard in the second. Quick feet and constant pressure netted them two power plays; the young Blue Shirts were up to the task defensively however, leaving Kipling unable to capitalize on the man advantage. Both teams found the net in the last five minutes of the period, giving the Cougars a 4-1 lead after the 2nd. The third period saw the Cougars play the shutdown game to perfection. The action was fast paced, but there was just nothing there for Kipling. Cougars take game one 4-1.
       Game two of the Cougars first round series was on the 28th in Kipling. Once again, Carlyle brought their A game. The Young Cats hit the score sheet 6 minutes in, and inked three more by the end of the period for a 4-1 lead. The second was a high octane affair with both teams bulging twine three times, leaving the Cougars up 7-4 after two. The Cougars knew the Royals were going to come out hard in the third with their season on the line; they put the best defence is a good offence strategy in play, scoring two minutes in and squashing all hope of a Royal comeback.Â
       The Cougars have struggled with secondary scoring at times this year. They were however, able to bring that weapon to bear in their first round series against the Royals. Kenna Hagel, Cody Hofos, Trey Baker, and Degan Galbraith put constant pressure on the puck. And the aforementioned Hofos was dynamite in the faceoff circle as well.
       The Cougars will need all that and more as they have drawn the league leading Carnduff Red Devils in the second round, with game one in Carnduff Sunday March 8th.
    Goooooooooo Cougars!!!!!!!
