Cougars Great Season Ends at State Championships

April 11-12, 2003

They weren't supposed to be here.  They almost didn't "exist".  Yet the Squirts represented the Cougars and NORCAL at the State Championships this past weekend in Vacaville.  While they didn't bring home any trophies or banners, they did bring home an enormous sense of pride and accomplishment on a truly remarkable season.

The Cougars opened the tournament against the Long Beach Jr Ice Dogs.  The "BB" team from down south was a little more than the Cougars could handle.  While our Cougars kept the game close, they were outshot 17-2.  Most of the game was played in the Cougars zone and they ended up losing 3-0.

Later that day, the Cougars had a rematch with their NORCAL Championship Game opponent, the Stockton Colts.  This turned out to be a classic battle.  The Cougars jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first period and extended the lead to 3-1 after two.  But Stockton has been a great third period team all year and managed to pull even at 3-3 with six minutes to go.  With just 3 minutes to go, Stockton scored again to take the lead 4-3.  But the Cougars weren't ready to fold.  Just thirty seconds later, they struck again to tie the game 4-4.  Into overtime we went.  In a heartbreaker, the Colts scored in sudden death overtime to win 5-4.  It was a tough loss for the Cougars because it also eliminated them from the championship game.

The next day, the Cougars played their last game together as a team.  Their opponent was the Los Angeles Jr Kings who had won their two previous tournament games.  The Cougars fell behind early and just couldn't match up with another "BB" team.  While they ended the season with an 8-0 loss, nothing could take away the memories and friendships that were forged in this amazing season.

Squirts Finish Second at NORCAL; Qualify for States

March 28-30, 2003

The Cougars continued their amazing season by finishing second at the NORCAL Championship tournament and qualifying for a trip to the CAHA Championship.

The Cougars started strong with one of their best overall games against the Fresno Falcons.  Our Cougars scored early in the first period to take 1-0 lead and extended the lead to 3-0 late in the third period.  Fresno scored their only goal with less than four minutes to go, but the Cougars were in control of the game and won 3-1.  A very good start considering the two other teams in the tournament had tied earlier in the day.

Day two of the tournament saw the Cougars take on the Stockton Colts.  This one was a nail biter.  No one was able to score in the first period as both teams played a tight defensive game.  Likewise, the second period ended with the score 0-0.  Through most of the third period it looked like this game was going to end in a scoreless tie.  Then with just 3:33 left on the clock, Stockton managed to squeeze a bouncing puck into the net for the game winner, 1-0.  It was a very frustrating game for the Cougars as they hit the post 4 times.

The Cougars were now facing a do-or-die situation.  The winner of their game vs. Tri Valley was going to the championship game.  Just to add to the challenge, the game was played at 6:30 AM.  Tri Valley jumped out early and scored the first goal with just a minute and a half elapsed off the clock.  But the Cougars were not to be denied.  They scored twice in the last two minutes of the first period to take a 2-1 lead.  From that point on, the Cougars played smart defensive hockey and made that 2-1 lead stand up.  It was a physically and emotionally draining game, but the Cougars were on to the championship game.

The Championship game was played later that day against the Stockton Colts.  Both teams seemed to pick up where they left off and the first period ended with no goals scored.  The Cougars struck first this time to take a 1-0 lead, but Stockton answered late in the second period to make it 1-1.  That's the way the third period started until Stockton scored with nine minutes to go to make it 2-1.  Plenty of time left for the Cougars.  Unfortunately, Stockton got the next goal with less than a minute and a half left to take a 3-1 lead.  But Cougars don't quit and just 15 seconds later the Cougars scored to narrow the Stockton lead to 3-2.  With only a minute left, the Cougars couldn't pull off the miracle tying goal and the game ended 3-2, Stockton.

With a lot of pride the Cougars accepted their second place trophies on the ice and knew they were going to States.  An accomplishment no one would have predicted when this season began.

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Welcome to the home page for the Cupertino Cougars Squirt team.  Check back here often as the season progresses for team information, news, scores and just general happenings with the team.

The Cougars Squirt team is coached by KC Beireis.  Practice times for the season are Wednesday from 6:55pm to 7:55pm and a shared practice with the Pee Wee team on Friday from 9:45pm to 11:00pm.