The Rockets’ alternate Captain Brad Stitt (16) has been a force on both ends of the ice playing in all 11 games this season. The Mountain native has four goals and seven assists and ranks seventh in team scoring. The Rockets had an off night as the visiting Cougars left town with the two points and a 5-2 victory.      Sawyer Helmer photo

Jeff Moore
Record Staff
CHESTERVILLE – The North Dundas Rockets had just a single game this past weekend.

Cougars 5 Rockets 2
The Rockets welcomed the Vankleek Hill Cougars to the Chesterville Arena on Sat., Nov. 4, in the NCJHL. The Rockets went into the game in a two-way tie for first place with the Papineau Vikings with the same record of eight wins and two losses.

The Cougars were coming off an upset 3-2 victory over the Metcalfe Jets the previous night and sat in sole possession of sixth place with a 5-5 record. In their past meeting in early October, the Rockets pulled off a 5-4 victory.

The Cougars opened the scoring at 7:36 of the first period to take a 1-0 lead and made it 2-0 at 10:01. The Rockets cut the deficit in half when Connor Roth pounded one home from Bryden Van Kessel and Jack Van Kessel on the power play with just 23 seconds remaining in the opening frame.

The Cougars took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. The Cougars took a 3-1 lead at 12:07 of the second period despite being outshot 10-8 and carried that lead into the second intermission. The Rockets came out flat in the opening of the third period and the Cougars took advantage scoring just 1:18 into the frame taking a 4-1 lead.

The Cougars made it 5-1 at 8:11 but the Rockets did get that one back at 17:48, as Roth scored his second of the game from Shayne Lynette and (AP) Curtis Barkley. There was no comeback by the Rockets in this game as the Cougars upset the Rockets 5-2 handing them their third loss of the season.

Suffering the loss in the Rockets’ goal was Jason Buma making 16 saves on 21 shots. The Rockets outshot the Cougars 34-21.

Up next:
Sat., Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m., Rockets vs. Bytown Royals, Chesterville Arena.