Haliburton County Huskies head coach Ryan Ramsay has issued a warning to his young charges after watching his team dominate in back-to-back games against the Cobourg Cougars and Markham Royals last weekend, but only earn a pair of points.
The blue and white dropped a 5-2 decision to the Cougars on home ice Saturday in a frustrating game that saw the visitors withstand an offensive barrage from the Huskies, while scoring twice shorthanded before following up with a tight 4-3 win over the Royals on the road Sunday.
“Sometimes in hockey, you don’t always get what you deserve, but it’s a good reminder for the boys that you have to take your chances when they come,” Ramsay said, noting his team outshot the Cougars 44 to 24, and the Royals 48 to 24.
“We were all over them in both games, but just couldn’t score. That hasn’t happened too often this year, but you know, a little adversity can be a good thing too. It gives us an opportunity to respond,” Ramsay added.
The Cougars arrived in Minden Nov. 2 for their first tussle of the season with the Huskies. The two teams have a bitter rivalry stretching back three seasons, with Cobourg recently getting the last laugh after dumping the Huskies from the 2024 post-season, besting the hometown side 4-1 in last year’s first round series.
The game’s first goal came very much against the run of play – Michael De Sousa scoring shorthanded for Cobourg after stealing the puck along the blueline and racing clear to beat Corbin Votary in the home goal 10:03 into the first. Visiting netminder Reece Herman made 14 saves in the opening period.
The Cougars pounced again early in the second to make it a two-goal game, Beckett Ewart burying his 10th of the season at 1:47. The 18-year-old added another at 13:23, this time on the powerplay after a Tyson Rismond cross-checking minor, to give Cobourg a three-goal lead heading into the final frame.
Peter Saroglou got the Huskies on the board early in the third, scoring his second of the season from Ty Petrou and Camron Hankai. With the clock counting down, the Huskies went on the powerplay again – Blake PetersDavey punished for slashing at 15:52, but were frustrated by a game Herman. De Sousa scored his second shortie at 17:39.
Noah Lodoen threatened a late Haliburton revival, making it 4-2 at 18:48, but Ewart completed his hat-trick with an empty netter at 19:23.
“We had two guys make a couple bad plays, which I’m sure they would want back. We outshot Cobourg two-to-one, we had double the amount of offensive zone time. Sometimes, you just run into a hot goalie,” Ramsay said.
Huskies 4-3 Royals
It was almost a case of déjà vu for the Huskies, who were run close Sunday by a Royals team that had won only four of 19 games this season.
The game will be remembered for an impressive Deandres De Jesus hat-trick, with the 20-year-old scoring his team-leading 12th, 13th and 14th goals of the season – one in each period – to inspire the Huskies to victory. Kaiden Thatcher notched the game-winner 9:29 into the third for his first Haliburton goal.
Ramsay admitted it was a frustrating weekend for special teams, with the Huskies giving up another shorthanded tally against Markham. “Our powerplay was on the ice for three goals against – we haven’t had a goal scored against us all year a man up.” he said.
The team has had a full week of practice in Minden ahead of games against the St. Michael’s Buzzers Nov. 9, at S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena with puck drop 4 p.m., and the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the city Nov. 10. Ramsay said that’s allowed the coaching staff to iron out some kinks and help some injured players with their recovery.
Ryder Dagenais remains out week-to-week, but defenceman Raine Nadeau is nearing a return after missing several weeks with a hairline fracture in his leg.
Ramsay said it’s been quiet on the trade front, but he expects things to pick up later in the month.
“You have teams finding out who they are right now. Decisions are usually made in late November and early December. We’re in a good spot – we’re doing well and competing, and we still have two 20-year-old [spots] left,” Ramsay said, expecting his team will be active buyers when the time comes.
The Huskies maintained their spot within the CJHL Top 20 rankings Nov. 4, sitting in 16th.
