Cougars Finish The Preseason
By Michael H. Willoughby
The Burlington Cougars finished their preparations for the 2026-2027 regular season with two home games against the Georgetown Raiders at Central Arena last week.
On August 25th, the Cougars took an early two-goal lead for the second consecutive game. Noah Nevins initiated the scoring for the home team with assists from Ethan Fredericks and Colton Byck at 3:50. Slightly over two minutes later, while shorthanded, Hayden Bondy scored his first preseason goal, assisted by Mickael Tissier, doubling the Cougars’ lead.
Georgetown climbed back to level terms before the end of the opening frame, but with 5:01 left in the second period, Andrew Bowness from Reid Forster and Mickael Tissier on the powerplay put the Cougars back in front heading into the final frame.
The Raiders tied the game with a late powerplay goal to send the contest into overtime, where the visitors stole an extra point, scoring 2:17 into the period.
Netminder Carter Vicente put on a quality performance for the Cougars with a 36-save performance.
Burlington concluded their preseason schedule renewing acquaintances with the Raiders at Central Arena on Aug. 28th.
The Cougars got on the board first with a powerplay goal from Fredericks at 3:14 with assists from Forster and Tissier. A late goal from Georgetown tied the game before the first period ended, followed by a pair of goals in the middle of the second period that put the visitors up 3-1 through forty minutes.
However, the Cougars fought back in the third period, beginning with Andrew Bowness scoring his second preseason goal, this time shorthanded, just 69 seconds into the frame. Tissier tied the game for the Cougars with assists to Bondy and Sean Short at 7:12.
A penalty shot goal from the Raiders put the Cougars behind 4-3, but 25 seconds later, Tissier tallied his second of the game from Short to send this game to overtime.
In overtime, it didn’t take long for the Cougars to pounce for the win as Short tallied his third point of the night by scoring the game-winner 45 seconds into the extra session, giving the Cougars a positive finish to the preseason with the win.
The Cougars’ season officially begins on Sept. 4th as they host the Georgetown Raiders at Central Arena in their quest for the Buckland Cup. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM.
