Cougars Lose “Battle of the Bay” Championship
Game in 2OT Thriller With Bay Harbor

February 18, 2002
The Cougars had the championship of the "Battle of the Bay" tournament in their grasp. They led the Bay Harbor Red Wings 6-5 after two periods in the championship game, and were constantly pressuring the Red Wing net - more goals had to be coming, didn't they?

From the third period on, both teams played their top lines the majority of the time and things really tightened up. The Red Wings' defense silenced the Cougar offense by tightening up at the blue line and forcing the Cougars into a dump-and-chase style. The Cougars were adjusting and grinded out some good scoring chances, but nothing could get through the Red Wing goalie, George Barbour. The Cougar defense was also staunch. They began focusing on stopping (or at least slowing down) Matt Rushton, who had the first 5 goals for the Red Wings. The defense only allowed a blast from one of the defenseman on the blue line to reach the back of the net to tie the game 6-6. With a total of six power plays between the teams in just the third period, the defenses had to be solid if either team was going to have a chance at the trophy.

The Cougars best chance in the third period came right near the end. Matt Rushton (far and away the best player on the Red Wings) was called for slashing with 1:55 left in period. The Cougars jumped at this opportunity and began driving hard for the Red Wing net. Only several great saves kept the Red Wings alive. Then in a call that could have gone either way, Jeff Adam was called for roughing to even the sides out at 4. Both teams still kept attacking and each had several good chances in the last minute, but when the horn sounded, the scoreboard still read 6-6. Overtime in the championship game.

	Stephen

The format of the 1st overtime as 4-on-4. As each team had a player in the penalty box, the period started 3-on-3 for the first 5 seconds and then a Red Wing power play for 1:07. The pressure was on and Stephen Fragoza, Alex Lagemann and Augie Lagemann played great on both ends of the ice - some solid defense and even created some good scoring chances on the other end. Jonathan Wilson kept the Cougars alive with some great saves and the teams headed into another overtime period.

	Jeff

Before we continue on, let's look at the earlier part of the

	Keaton

game and see how we got here. The Cougars jumped to a couple of early leads with goals by Keaton Ohara, but each of these was offset by a goal by Rushton, who then gave the Red Wings their first lead with another goal to make it 3-2. Jeff Adam came right back and netted the Cougars third goal at :14 of the period. The Cougars looked strong and their passing game looked the best it has in the past few games.

In the second period, Stephen Fragoza scored on shorthanded goal at 10:51. Another penalty on the Cougars then gave the Red Wings

	Francis

a 5-on-3 opportunity for the next 1:42. A great team effort and some tenacious defense killed off the two-man advantage, but Rushton got his 4th goal just 6 seconds afterwards and only 12 seconds left in the second penalty. Tied again, 4-4. Francis Paquet put in a rebound to give the Cougars the lead again, but just as before, Rushton countered right back with his 5th goal to tie the game at 5-5. Stephen Fragoza then gave the Cougars their last lead with a power play goal at 2:03.

The second overtime was with a 3-on-3 format (it would have continued 2-on-2 and then 1-on-1 in the next overtime periods unless someone scored). The game had now attracted a huge crowd near the ice as the tie dragged on and the tension grew (plus they were there to play/watch the next game). Stephen Fragoza, Alex Lagemann and Augie Lagemann started off for the Cougars, with Jonathan Wilson in net, and seemed to have the advantage as the action got under way. Both Alex and Stephen drove strong into the Red Wing zone several times only to be turned away, and Augie was slowing down the Red Wings in transition long enough for his teammates to catch up to the play.

Then with 1:26 left in the period, Augie was called for tripping. Whether you agree with the call or not, or think such a ticky-tack

	Jonathan

call should be made at such a crucial point of the game, doesn't matter. The whistle was blown and off he went. A 3-on-2 power play

	Greg

for the Red Wings. Greg Schuck and Stephen took the ice for the Cougars. Two minutes in this situation seemed like an eternity, and the crowd felt for these two players as they skated and skated to keep up with the three Red Wings trying to block shots or break up passes. Jonathan was strong in goal making a few outstanding saves, but the situation was just too much, and at 0:27 of the second overtime, Rushton blasted one from the point that was blocked by Jonathan, but then drove the net and pounded in his own rebound to give the championship to the Red Wings.

The disappointment on the Cougar end of the ice was understandable, especially with the celebration going on at the other end of the ice. But there was nothing to be upset about, the Cougars played a great game, and so did the Red Wings. Destiny today just shined on them, and not on the Cougars.

Cougars - feel proud just to have been a part of the game. Even if you didn't play a lot, everyone played an important role in this game that none of you, or any of the parents, will ever forget.


2002 "Battle of the Bay" Tournament Preliminary Games

This year's tournament only attracted three Pee Wee "B" teams; the Cougars, Oakland Bears, and the Bay Harbor Red Wings. As only three teams were involved, the original schedule has each of the teams playing four games (2 against each of the other), rather than the normal format of four teams playing three games each. The Cougars schedule had them playing Oakland on Saturday evening, Bay Harbor early Sunday morning, Oakland Sunday night, and then Bay Harbor early Monday morning. The championship game was scheduled for Monday afternoon.

After the completion of play on Sunday, the match-up for the championship game was set, Cougars vs. Bay Harbor, no matter what the outcome of Monday morning's game. At this point, the coaches from each team agreed to make the morning game for the tournament championship, rather than playing again later that day.

Saturday, Feb. 16 vs. Oakland Bears
After whipping the Bears twice the weekend before 14-0 and 10-0, the Cougars didn't anticipate any problem beating the Bears. It became apparent real quick, with all their players there, that this was not the same team they had met the week before. This team was much quicker and more physical.

The Cougars still came out in the attack mode with 16 shots in the 1st period, but only netting one goal by Keaton Ohara (assisted by Scott Zhang in the first period of his first game this year). The defense was solid the entire game and kept the Bears from creating very many good scoring chances. Jordan Fragoza stuffed any puck that made it near the goal and wound up with his third consecutive shutout.

The Cougars still finished with some dominating stats, as they not only outscored the Bears 4-0, but also outshot them 43-15. Other goals for the Cougars included Alex Lagemann converting a shorthanded chance, Nick Morrison with a vicious slap shot from the blue line, and Katie Jordan putting home a rebound for the last goal.

All in all, a solid game all the way around for the Cougars and a good start for the tournament.

Sunday, Feb. 17 vs. Bay Harbor Red Wings
As these teams had not played each other this season, the first period was scoreless and was basically each team feeling each other out and learning each other's strengths, weaknesses and tendencies.

The Red Wings came out afterwards and dominated the second and third periods. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two quick goals in the middle of the second period and were frustrating the Cougar offense every time they came in the zone. Greg Schuck finally put one home at 3:21 of the second, but the Red Wings came right back in the third with two early goals and then breezed to a 4-1 victory.

This was a tough loss for the Cougars. They had the skill and speed to play right with the Red Wings, but let them have the last two periods. The early start (7:00am) could have had something to do with it, but it seemed each of the Cougars tried to get the team back in the game by themselves. Some good individual efforts were shown, but little teamwork. There was very little passing as each player thought they could do it themselves. Well, they couldn't.

Sunday, Feb. 17 vs. Oakland Bears
The Cougars still had a lot of confidence coming into the game. They had beaten the Bears three straight times, pretty convincingly each time, but the scores were getting closer each game. Well, it got even closer this time, although you wouldn't have thought so the way the game got started.

Katie Jordan scored the first goal, working with Stephen Lamers and Francis Paquet in a three-way passing play for a beautiful goal. Stephen Fragoza added another goal late in period and the Cougars had a comfortable 2-0 lead. But that turned out to be the offense for the game. This time it was Jonathan Wilson pitching a shutout to make the goals stand up and give the Cougars a 2-0 victory.

That makes the last four games against the Bears 14-0, 10-0, 4-0 and 2-0. Closer and closer each game. But the Cougars don't play the Bears again this season, so we'll never know what the next score would be.