By Dan Pearce
[1]TRENTON, Ont. (08/02/2012) The Cobourg Cougars celebrate a shoot out victory against the Trenton Golden Hawks at the Memorial Gardens arena in Trenton on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. The Cougars won the shoot out 4-3. Photo by Dan Pearce
The second place Cobourg Cougars almost narrowly defeated the first place Trenton Golden Hawks last night in Trenton.
Despite a 3-1 lead heading into the third period, the Hawks were unable to maintain the furious pace they set earlier in the game, and the Cougars clawed their way back, winning 4-3 in a shootout.
Fans on both sides enjoyed the game, and despite the loss, Hawks fans were still in particularly high spirits.
“I just thought that it was awesome to watch because it was such a well matched game,” said Hawks fan Mary-Lou Morden. “They’ve got some great players, and some great skill. You win some, you lose some.”
As enjoyable as she said the game was, Morden admitted the shootouts never get any easier to watch.
“The shootouts are torture, and we’ve had a number of them throughout the season,” she said. “That was a real tough loss for them.”
Cobourg fan Joseph Bazarin was elated with the game’s result. Bazarin’s grandson, Loren Ulett, plays defence for the Cougars.
“I think it was a great game. It could have went either way. Both goalies made some fantastic saves, and a break here or there is what won it,” said Bazarin.
Tacresa McRae, from Cobourg, had high praise for the Cougar’s goalie Emerson Verrier.
“Emerson is the greatest goalie we’ve ever had,” McRae said. “The game was absolutely marvellous,” she added.
Trenton Jr. A hockey fans are happy to have a team perform so well. They haven’t seen a team win the Eastern Division in 16 seasons, though the Trenton Sting took second in 1998, 1999, and 2003.
“We haven’t had a winning team here in about … I couldn’t tell you how many years, so to get a winning team here in Trenton is very exciting,” Morden said.
This concludes the season series between the Hawks and Cobourg, with the Hawks coming out on top with four wins and two shootout losses.
The Hawks remain in first place in the Eastern division, though Cobourg is now just one point behind.
The Hawks will face off against the Kingston Voyageurs Friday at the Memorial Gardens at 7:30 p.m.
“We’ll be here Friday,” said Morden. “Go, Hawks, go!”