By Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland
In the opening game of the 2022-23 Ontario Junior Hockey League season for both teams, three unanswered goals in the second period paced the Haliburton County Huskies to a 5-2 victory over the Cobourg Cougars on Saturday in Minden.
Tyler Hunt scored both Cobourg goals, including a late first-period tally that evened the score at one and the second on a power play which cut the deficit to two with just over four minutes remaining in the third.
Christian Stevens tallied two goals for the Huskies, including an empty-netter with one second to go, while Alex Cunningham, Leo Serlin and Tyler Collins also scored in the win.
New head coach and general manager Peter Drikos is pleased to have a strong core of returning players, especially at forward, to mix with with a strong group of new recruits.
Returning up front are new captain George Krotiris as well Kallaway Mercer, Jacob Gilbert, Andy Reist, Parker Hendsbee, Caleb Thompson, Trevor Hoskin, Jakub Moirier and Tyler Hunt while defencemen Aaron Chiarot and Adam Barone are also back.
New to the Cougars are forwards Sam Tonelli, Connor Prestwich, Tommy Karmiris and Carson Durnin, defencemen Jesse English, Joel Taylor, Parker Petruniak, Nolan Ling and Charlie Vanhaverbeke as well as goaltenders Matthew Sbrocca and Ryan Piros.
Departed players include Tucker Firth, Charlie Da Fonseca, AJ Cook, Michael Palandra, Justin Jamer, Devin Thibodeau and goaltender Justin Easter. Defenceman Duncan Schneider and goalie Mason Vaccari are with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs.
Joining Drikos on the bench as assistant coaches are former Cougars captain Connor Armour and longtime local coach Tom Foster. Both were assistant coaches last season with the junior C Port Hope Panthers.
Monday night is the Cougars home opener against the Caledon Admirals. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Cobourg Community Centre. Children 12-and-under who are wearing a hockey jersey will be admitted free.
