By Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland
After battling back from a two-goal deficit in the third period, the Cobourg Cougars were eventually defeated by the Wellington Dukes 4-3 in double-overtime Monday night.
Dukes captain Emmet Pierce completed a hat trick with his third goal of the night two minutes into the second extra frame in the Ontario Junior Hockey League game at the Cobourg Community Centre.
Mason Reeves opened the scoring for Wellington with the only goal of the first period. George Krotiris answered back for the Cougars 5:41 into the second before Pierce tallied his first of the contest on a power play at the 18:55 mark of that middle frame.
Pierce put the Dukes in front 3-1 in the eighth minute of the third, but the Cougars rallied on goals from Charlie Da Fonseca at 9:46 and Kallaway Mercer at 12:43.
The first overtime played at 4-on-4 solved nothing before Pierce ended the game in the second, which is played at 3-on-3.
The Cougars (24-17-1-5) and Dukes (28-13-0-5) will meet again Friday night in Wellington at 7:30.
Cobourg is on the road again Saturday against the Toronto Patriots (17-28-0-4) before returning home Monday against the Lindsay Muskies (18-25-0-5). Game time is 7 p.m. at the CCC.
