Cougars Claw for Playoff Berth!

Cougars Men’s Curling has gotten underway at the CCAA National Championships. The Cougars opened the tournament with a matchup against the SAIT Trojans. After blanking the opening end, the Trojans took a single in the second end, stole 2 in the third and another single in the fourth to give them a commanding 4-0 lead. The Cougars would get one back in the fifth, but would concede singles in the following two ends, losing their opening match by a score of 6-1.

In their second draw, the Cougars faced off against a familiar foe, the Mohawk Mountaineers. The Mountaineers would strike first with a single in the first end. The Cougars would blank the second end before adding a single of their own to tie the game at 1. Both teams would exchange singles over the next two ends keeping the score tied 2-2. Mohawk would take 2 with the hammer in the sixth end, ultimately leading to a 4-2 victory for Mohawk.

In their second match on Day 2 of CCAA action, the Cougars and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Ooks looked to improve upon their first day results. Both teams exchanged singles through the opening 3 ends giving the Cougars a 2-1 lead. The Ooks would respond with a single in the fifth to tie things up at two apiece. Sault College would orchestrate a masterclass in the sixth end notching 3 points, but the Ooks responded with three points of their own setting up a decisive eight end. The Cougars would manage the single and earn their first win of the championship.  The Cougars would finish the second day of action with a 1-2 record, good for fifth in tournament standings.

In Day 3 of CCAA action, the Cougars faced off with the representatives from Quebec. The Cougars started fast and furious, taking 2 points in the first end, stealing 2 in the second, and stealing four in the third end. The Cougars gave up a single in the fourth end but cruised to a 10-2 victory over Gaillards du Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

In the back half of Day 3, the Cougars went head to head with Red Deer Polytechnic Kings. The Kings got on the board first with a single in the second end. The Cougars would respond with a single of their own in the third before blanking ends four and five. The Kings would get 2 points in the sixth end, taking a 3-1 lead. Sault College would blank the seventh end and would successfully take 2 in the eighth end to set up extra ends and the Kings with the hammer. With a flair for the dramatics, the Cougars would steal a single in the ninth end, improving their tournament record to 3-2, good for third place in round robin standings.

The Cougars are back in action for the final day of round robin play on Thursday as they face off with Assiniboine College and the Humber Hawks.