Cobourg Cougars Earn Two OJHL Exhibition Victories Over Wellington Dukes
Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland
The Cobourg Cougars returned to Ontario Junior Hockey League action this weekend with a pair of preseason victories over the Wellington Dukes, including an 8-5 win Sunday afternoon at the Cobourg Community Centre.
The Cougars carried a 3-1 lead into the first intermission, scored four unanswered goals in the second period and then weathered a third-period offensive push from the Dukes to secure the win.
Liam Oravsky opened the scoring for Cobourg on the power play seven minutes into the game. Wellington’s Blake Berthiaume answered just 33 seconds later to tie the contest.
The Cougars regained the lead when Jesse Bruce found the back of the net, before teammate Carter Petrie scored on the power play to gain the two-goal advantage heading out of the opening frame.
In the second, Alexis Boily scored to extend the Cougars’ lead before Isaac Harmond, Karter Brideau and Isaac Larmand each added goals, giving Cobourg a commanding 7-1 advantage after two.
Wellington scored three consecutive goals by the 12:30 mark of the third period, cutting the deficit to three before Oravsky restored some breathing room with his second power-play goal of the afternoon with just under two minutes remaining. The Dukes added one more in the final minute of play.
Oravsky added three assists for a five-point outing. Goaltender Carton Nadon played the first two periods and earned the victory for Cobourg, while Aaron Neal took over in the third.
The win completed a weekend sweep for the Cougars after they defeated the Dukes 4-2 in Wellington on Saturday.
Isaac Tracze scored twice in that contest, with Lewis Hergaarden and Martin Clarke adding singles. Chase Schuyler stopped 18 of 19 shots to earn the victory in net, while Neal also saw action.
Cobourg will continue the preseason schedule next weekend with a 3:30 p.m. matchup against the Pickering Panthers on Sunday, Aug. 30. and the two sides will meet again Monday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. at the CCC.
The Cougars open the OJHL regular season on Sept. 11 in Aurora with their home opener set for Sept. 14 against the Lindsay Muskies.
