Cougars Start The Season Where They Left Off.

It was a strange start to the 2020-2021 season with no fans in the seats as it was standing only at the Archie Browning Arena on Thursday night.  The 2 teams who played the last game of last season started this season off.

Much to the frustration of the Broadcast team and fans trying to tune in to HockeyTV the feed was delayed until half way through the 3rd due to computer issues that HockeyTV had to overcome.  Things should be good from here on out.

The game started off with both teams trying to feel each other out.  The Cougars were controlling most of the play but when the Panthers 8-9-10 line was on the ice the Panthers were able mount some attacks.  At the 6:30 mark and while on the PP it was Bryce Irwin scoring the first goal of the season with assists to Dylan Jessa and Brandon McClintick. The Panthers replied at 15:30 when a Matt Seale shot went off Cougar goalie Brett Anderson’s stick and slowly fluttered over Andersons arm as he tried to corral it.  The assist went to Tanner Wort.

In the second it was much of the same and the Cougars were awarded a few more goals for their efforts. At 13:48 it was VIJHL veteran and new Cougar Ryan Strange who would put the puck past Panthers new netminder Brayden Evans.  Assists went to Spenser Golden and Irwin.

Then at 14:28 it was Brandon McClinticks turn from rookie Jacob Pang and Captain Cam LeSergent To give the Cougars a 3-1 lead at the end of two.

If the ice was slanted in the Cougars favour for the first two periods it was reversed for the start of the third.  The Panthers came out on a mission and were rewarded with 6:30 gone off the clock when Tanner Wort made no mistake from the high slot and put the puck behind Anderson.  Then at 8:53 Wort fed linemate Riley Braun who tied the game at 3.  The Cougars weathered the storm and while on the PP it was Zach Guerra taking a feed from LeSergent to score with Pang getting the second assist. Then off a faceoff in the Panthers zone  Jonathon Esposito from the point fed Zack Guerra beside the net and slid it out to Ryan Strange for his second goal of the game. That scoring play was at 14:11.

The Panthers pressured hard and pulled their goalie and with 17 seconds left in the game it was Bryce Irwin on a classy play passing the puck to Ryan Strange who put the puck into the empty net for his first hattrick with the Cougars.

These 2 teams play again tonight at the Panorama Leisure Centre with pick drop at 7:30.  Tune in to HockeyTV .

By Tom Arlidge