        The Carlyle PureChem Cougars may be a young team, but they are fast and aggressive when it comes to taking the ice. This past week the Cougars met Bienfait on Tuesday, Jan. 24, and took on Redvers Saturday, Jan. 28.
               Against the Coalers the Cougars put in a strong effort, but the Coalers took off to an early lead in the first with Dylan Herzberg scoring the first goal assisted by Marshall Holzer. Then Keegan Malaryk found the net assisted by Preston Erickson and Marshall Holzer. Dallas Kickley lit up the goal light off assists by Jason Hengen and Keegan Malaryk. Then a fourth goal was made by Blaine Herzberg.
               The Cougars were down, but were determined to put up a fight closing the 4-0 gap with a goal by Joel Mack assisted by Branden Lequyer.
               With momentum, the Cougars headed into the second with an early goal by Dallas Lequyer assisted by Brent McLean and Cooper Fox. With a 4-2 score, the Coalers found the back of the net again with Preston Erickson earning the goal off of Keegan Malaryk.
               The Cougars knew it was crunch time as they headed into the third down by three. Although the Cougars lit up the goal light twice: the first by Kelly Currie assisted by Brett Turgeon and Joel Mack and the second by Phil Doucet assisted by Joel Mack and Brent McLean; their efforts were not enough and Bienfait also found the net two more times before the end of the game.
               Blaine Herzberg chalked up one of the points assisted by Preston Erickson and Dylan Herzberg, while Dylan Herzberg earned their final goal assisted by Blaine Herzberg and Marshall Holzer.
               Finishing with a score of 7-4, the Cougars battled, but with the Coalers gaining the early lead it was tough situation.
               The Cougars then played at home on Saturday, Jan. 28, against the Redvers Rockets. The rink was packed with a guaranteed $1,000 50/50 draw and it being the last regular game of the season.
               Again the Rockets were able to take an early lead and the Cougars were forced to claw back from behind: Kevin Mann earned a goal from an assist by Koltyn Miller; Kelsey Kenler found the net assisted by Todd Gervais and Travis Poirier; Jordon Miller earned a goal assisted by Craig Gaudet and Thomas Bauche.
               Down 3-0 heading into the second the Cougars rallied together and Terrance Ross earned a goal off an assist from Phil Doucet, closing the gap to two. However, Redvers’ Drew Hoff earned answered Carlyle’s goal with one of his own assisted by Jordan Miller and Kevin Mann.
               Heading into the third, the Cougars were down 4-1. A quick goal by Redvers widened the gap to 5-1, with a goal coming from Devon Wolensky assisted by Koltyn Miller and Dana Carlsen. Carlyle answered back with Brent McLean lighting up goal light assisted by Cooper Fox and Kelly Currie. Their efforts would be stopped there with the final rush coming from Redvers scoring another three goals in the third: Drew Hoff again assisted by Jordon Miller and Kevin Mann; Travis Poirier assisted by Jordon Miller and Dustin Purvis; and Dana Carlsen with 0:43 on the clock earned a goal off assists by Remi Lamotte and Devon Wolensky.
               The game ended in Redvers’ favour with an 8-2 final score.
               At the game, however, a fan, Charity Brown, went away with the 50/50 win.
               Currently leading the West Division are the Bienfait Coalers followed by the Yellow Grass Wheat Kings, the Midale Mustangs, and the Carlyle PureChem Cougars. In the East Division the Wawota Flyers - last year’s champions are at the top – while the Redvers Rockets trail them by one point, the Carnduff Red Devils are just behind them, while the Oxbow Huskies are trailing them.
               Justin Lamontagne (Wawota) and Jordon Miller (Redvers) are tied for the top scorer with 40 points. Riley Riddell (Wawota) has 34 points. He’s followed by teammate Brent Struble with 33 points. Drew Hoff (Redvers) is currently sitting with 29 points; Brendan Vertefeuille (Yellow Grass) has 27 points; Dylan Herzberg of Bienfait has 26 points; Brad Tomiski (Midale) and Matt Audette (Carnduff) are tied at 23 points; and Ryan Taylor (Wawota) has 21 points.
               Top goalies currently include Thomas Bauche of Redvers with a Goals Against Average of 2.92. Cody Dumaine of Carnduff is close with a GAA of 2.99. Jackson Walliser of Bienfait is also in the top four with a GAA of 3.14, while Guilliaume Blouin of Wawota rounds out the top four with a GAA of 3.47.
               The Cougars’ final regular season game will be held in Bienfait at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3. Following that it looks like the Cougars will take on the Wawota Flyers the first round of playoffs, if the Flyers are able to maintain their first place status in the East Division.
