OAK FOREST, IL - The Chicago Cougars Elite wrapped up their regular season with a weekend that perfectly encapsulated their campaign: dominant road performances, gritty comebacks, and a taste of heartbreak. Now, with the regular season in the rearview mirror, the Cougars turn their attention to the divisional playoffs, where the stakes are higher, the hits are harder, and every shift matters.
Friday, February 21: Chicago Cougars Extinguish Decatur Blaze 10-0
The Cougars kicked off their final weekend of the regular season with a statement-making 10-0 demolition of the Decatur Blaze in Decatur, Illinois. From the opening faceoff, it was clear that the Cougars were in playoff form. Jakub Potoczny set the tone early with a goal just over six minutes into the first period, and the floodgates opened from there.
The second period was an absolute masterclass in offensive hockey. Six goals in 20 minutes, including a pair from Gianni Annicchiarico and a snipe from Kennelly Clinton, left the Blaze shell-shocked. By the time Timothy Boyd buried one with 13 seconds left in the period, the game was well out of reach. Kole Wendt was a wall in net, stopping all eight shots he faced for the shutout.
Key Stats:
Jakub Potoczny: 1 goal, 3 assists
Gianni Annicchiarico: 2 goals, 1 assist
Kennelly Clinton: 2 goals, 1 assist
Kole Wendt: 8 saves, shutout
Coach Anthony Rohde’s Take: “This was a complete team effort on the road. We came out with energy, executed our game plan, and didn’t let up. That’s the kind of hockey we need to play moving forward.”
Saturday, February 22: Cougars Complete the Road Sweep with 4-0 Win
The Cougars kept their foot on the gas Saturday, shutting out the Blaze once again, this time by a score of 4-0. Jason Williams opened the scoring late in the first period, and Bryce Denne added another before the intermission to give the Cougars a comfortable lead. Kyle LaMantia and Timothy Boyd added insurance goals in the second and third periods, respectively, while Andrew DiSilvestro stood tall in net, stopping all 25 shots he faced.
The Cougars’ defense was suffocating, limiting the Blaze to just 25 shots and killing off all penalties. The Blaze, meanwhile, looked like a team that had already thrown in the towel, struggling to generate any meaningful offense.
Key Stats:
Jason Williams: 1 goal, game-winning goal
Bryce Denne: 1 goal, 1 assist
Andrew DiSilvestro: 25 saves, shutout
Coach Anthony Rohde’s Take: “Back-to-back shutouts are hard to come by in this league, let alone on the road. Our guys were disciplined, focused, and executed the game plan to perfection. Andrew was fantastic in net, and our D-core was rock solid. But now we turn our attention to the playoffs. That’s where it really matters.”
Sunday, February 23: Heartbreak in Overtime Against the Chicago Crush
The weekend finale was a barnburner back in Chicago, as the Cougars squared off against their cross-town rivals, the Chicago Crush. The Crush struck first, with Christopher Frachalla finding the back of the net late in the first period. Joshua Yeates extended the lead early in the second, but the Cougars clawed their way back into the game.
Kennelly Clinton got the Cougars on the board with a power-play goal late in the second period, and Andy Gonzalez tied the game with just 17 seconds left in regulation, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived, as Yeates netted the game-winner just 1:06 into overtime, handing the Cougars a heartbreaking 3-2 loss.
Key Stats:
Kennelly Clinton: 1 goal
Andy Gonzalez: 1 goal, 1 assist
Nate Maurin: 28 saves
Coach Anthony Rohde’s Take:“It’s a tough pill to swallow. We battled back, showed a lot of character, and forced overtime. But in this league, you can’t make mistakes in OT. We’ll learn from this and be better next time. The Crush are a great team, and we’ll see them again soon.”
Regular Season Standouts:
Jeffrey Schroeder: The Cougars’ leading scorer finished the regular season with 18 goals and 27 assists, proving to be the engine that drives the offense.
Jakub Potoczny: The playmaker was in fine form all season, racking up 10 goals and 23 assists.
Kole Wendt: Wendt was a rock in net, posting a .925 save percentage and a shutout.
Looking Ahead to the Playoffs:
The Cougars finished the regular season with a record of 22-19-0-1, securing their spot in the divisional playoffs. While the OT loss to the Crush was a tough way to end the regular season, the Cougars have plenty of reasons to be optimistic heading into the postseason.
Key Factors for Playoff Success:
Offensive Firepower: The Cougars boast a deep and talented forward group, led by Schroeder, Potoczny, and Clinton. If they can continue to produce at even strength and on the power play, they’ll be a tough out.
Defensive Discipline: The Cougars’ defense was a strength down the stretch, and they’ll need to maintain that level of play in the playoffs. Limiting turnovers and staying out of the penalty box will be crucial.
Goaltending: Whether it’s Wendt, Maurin, or DiSilvestro in net, the Cougars will need their goalie to steal a game or two.
Coach Anthony Rohde’s Final Word: “We’ve worked hard all season to get to this point. The playoffs are a new season, and anything can happen. We’re focused, we’re hungry, and we’re ready to make some noise.”
The Cougars’ playoff journey is right around the corner, and if their regular season finale was any indication, they’re ready to leave it all on the ice. Buckle up, hockey fans—this is where the real fun begins. Catch all the Chicago Cougars action live on FloHockey.tv!