'Complete loss for words’ after disappointing Cougars performance

The Vankleek Hill Cougars seem to have made a home for themselves in the basement of the National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL) standings.

The team currently sits in seventh place in the nine-team league and after losing both games this past weekend, head coach Marc Berniqué is simply stunned.

"We played really flat," he said. "We had no emotion, no energy. We didn't finish our checks and we allowed La Pêche to skate around us at will. I am at a complete loss of words regarding our effort, or lack thereof, that we displayed tonight."

Saturday's home game saw the Cougars face off against the third-place Predateurs from La Pêche, Quebec. The visitors didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard, taking an early 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the opening frame.

Vankleek Hill kept pace with the Predateurs for the better part of the first period but surrendered a second goal with 2:16 left in the period and a third 14 seconds later, sending them to the dressing room down 3-0.

"I don't think we played that bad of a first period," said Berniqué. "We made some basic mistakes in our zone. We didn't get the puck out when we should have and a few giveaways in the slot led to them scoring."

The Cougars came out stronger in the second period but were unable to capitalize on some early scoring chances - unlike La Pêche. The visiting team took full advantage of its opportunities, adding another three goals to the surmounting lead and eventually earning a lopsided 11-2 victory over the demoralized Cougars.

Jimmy Berniquez scored for the Cougars at 1:55 in the third period, assisted by Pier-Olivier Poulin and Jocelyn Lamarche. Charlie McKeown added another goal at 14:58, with the lone assist coming from Nicolas Pharand.

"We had our chances, but couldn't score and our guys seemed to get down on themselves when La Pêche scored," said Berniqué.

On Sunday, the Cougars travelled to Rockland for a battle against the Nationals and a chance at redemption. Vankleek Hill took to the ice with a number of regular players missing from their roster, starting the game with only 11 skaters, including Gabriel Leblanc, who attempted to play with an injured ankle after blocking a shot in Saturday's loss.

Rockland came out of the gate with guns blazing, scoring the first goal of the game just over a minute into the period. The Cougars would answer back before the midpoint of the opening frame when Poulin was able to beat the Rockland netminder. Yannick Boudrias drew an assist on the goal.

The Nationals took the lead again early in the second period before Christopher McPeak evened the score with 13:48 remaining in the frame. Poulin and Damien Charette assisted on the tying goal.

The out-manned Cougars were able to keep pace with the Nationals for the first period and the better part of the second, but their short bench would eventually catch up to them as they became increasingly fatigued as the game dragged on.

Rockland finished off the second period with two unanswered goals and added another in the third period, handing the Cougars a 5-2 loss.

The Cougars also suffered the loss of Leblanc in the third period after he succumbed to his ankle injury and was unable to finish the game. His status is currently unknown, pending the results of further x-rays.

Despite the loss, Berniqué says he noticed an admirable change in his team's on-ice performance over the night before.

"Our guys played a good, solid game," he said, adding the team displayed a lot of heart and desire but simply "ran out of gas. We left everything on the ice tonight and I am very happy and proud of our players for their effort."

The Cougars travel to Embrun on Friday, December 23 for their last game of 2011. The first home game of the new year will take place on Saturday, January 7 against the North Dundas Rockets.