The Cobourg Cougars survived a wild third-period comeback to defeat the Newmarket Hurricanes 7-6 in Ontario Junior Hockey League action Monday night.
Briir Long scored the winning goal with 2:36 remaining in regulation, while Isaac Larmand collected a goal and three assists in the September 21 contest.
Newmarket jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period, getting goals from Aiden Lee just 19 seconds into the game and Nathan Cloutier at 12:27.
Cobourg responded before the intermission. Larmand scored at 15:41, and Jonny Brooks tied the game on the power play with just nine seconds remaining in the period.
The Cougars took control in the second, outscoring Newmarket 3-1. Julien Davis, Carter Petrie and Colton Bain found the back of the net, with Bain’s power-play goal giving Cobourg a 5-3 advantage heading into the third.
Cayden Smith extended the lead to 6-3 just 40 seconds into the final period.
The Hurricanes then scored three unanswered goals in less than seven minutes. Angelo Protopapas started the rally on the power play, Lee added his second of the night, and Damir Cherniavskii tied the game 6-6 at 14:16.
Long restored Cobourg’s lead at 17:24, with assists going to Smith and Larmand.
Larmand finished with four points, while Smith recorded a goal and an assist. Lee led Newmarket’s offence with two goals and an assist.
Cobourg outshot Newmarket 41-34 and went two-for-four on the power play. The Hurricanes converted once on four opportunities.
The Cougars scored five consecutive goals after trailing 2-0, then recovered from surrendering a three-goal third-period lead to secure the victory.
