Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland
It was a fresh start for the new Cobourg Cougars in front of their home fans Monday night and they pulled out a 6-5 win over the Lindsay Muskies.
Following that home opener win at the Cobourg Community Centre, the Cougars have won two straight to open the 2026-27 Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season schedule. Last season, the Cougars – led by a different ownership group and staff – won just nine times in 56 games.
Cobourg never trailed Monday night, building a 3-1 lead in the first period before taking a 5-3 advantage into the second intermission.
Keegan Shirley opened the scoring for the Cougars at 3:43 of the first period with Garrett Jones adding another at 11:02.
Lindsay got on the board when Declan Ready scored on the power play at 13:24. It was Ready’s fourth goal of the young season. Carter Petrie restored Cobourg’s two-goal cushion with 1:27 remaining in the period.
Briir Long extended the Cougars’ lead early in the second, scoring at 4:13 for his second goal in as many games.
The Muskies answered with goals from Anthony Farace at 8:50 and Jackson Bathgate at 18:58, but Chase Del Colombo’s goal at 14:31 kept Cobourg ahead heading into the final frame.
Lindsay’s Carter Hildebrandt tied the game at 9:54 of the third period, but the Cougars regained the lead less than three minutes later when Isaac Larmand scored at 12:54.
Ready added his second of the night at 14:35 – his fifth goal of the season – to bring Lindsay within one, but the Muskies could not find the equalizer.
Ready finished with four points, adding two assists to his pair of goals.
Jack Foley, of Cobourg and a former Cougars player, recorded an assist for the Muskies.
Cobourg generated 50 shots on goal compared with 38 for the Muskies.
Goaltender Carter Nadon turned aside 33 shots to earn his second consecutive victory in the Cobourg net. The Cougars opened their season Friday night with a 5-2 road victory over the Aurora Tigers.
Monday’s home opener drew an announced crowd of 505 to the CCC.
Cobourg returns to action next Monday when the Newmarket Hurricanes visit the CCC. Game time is 7 p.m.
