ROLLING MEADOWS, IL - The Chicago Cougars Premier squad brought intensity to their latest matchup against the cross-town rival Chicago Crush, but despite a valiant effort, they came up short in a 4-2 loss at West Meadows Ice Arena. The game was a gritty, fast-paced affair, filled with momentum shifts, physical play, and moments of brilliance that kept the 224 fans in attendance fully engaged.
First Period: Chicago Cougars Draw First Blood
The Cougars set the tone early, playing with purpose and precision. Defenseman Brandon Behnke broke the ice at 7:39, firing a rocket from the point off a crisp setup by Jeffrey Schroeder and Kennelly Clinton. Behnke’s goal, his first of the season, gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead and ignited the bench. The penalty kill unit also came up big, shutting down a pair of Crush power plays to maintain the advantage heading into the first intermission.
Second Period: Crush Take Control
The Crush responded in the second period, led by their captain, Spencer Kauke. Kauke struck twice, first at 5:40 with a sharp-angle shot and again at 10:18 on a perfectly executed play involving Jason Gongol and Logan Fernandes. Kauke’s second goal, a blistering wrister from the slot, showcased why he’s one of the league’s most dangerous scorers. The Cougars pushed back, outshooting the Crush 10-8 in the period, but couldn’t solve Aidan Wysoglad, who stood tall in net for the Crush.
Third Period: Cougars Rally, But Crush Seal It
The Cougars came out determined in the third period, quickly capitalizing on a power play opportunity just 1:00 in. Nikolay Ouriashev pounced on a rebound from a Rocco Romita shot, tying the game at 2-2 and energizing the Cougars’ bench. However, the Crush answered swiftly, as Logan Fernandes netted the game-winner at 2:48, finishing off a chaotic scramble in front of Cameron Boville. The Cougars pressed hard in the final minutes, pulling Boville for the extra attacker, but Jason Gongol iced the game with an empty-net goal at 19:11 to secure the 4-2 victory for the Crush.
Key Takeaways
Spencer Kauke was the standout performer for the Crush, scoring two goals and continuing his dominant season (19-24-43 in 29 games).
The Cougars’ power play showed improvement, converting once on five opportunities, but they couldn’t find the equalizer late in the game.
Cameron Boville delivered a strong performance in net for the Cougars, making 29 saves, including several key stops to keep his team within striking distance.
Coach Dallmann’s Perspective
Cougars Head Coach Josh Dallmann shared his thoughts after the game: “We had stretches where we played the way we needed to, but against a team like the Crush, you have to bring it for a full 60 minutes. Kauke’s a special player, and he made us pay tonight. I liked the way we fought back in the third, though. We’ll take the positives, learn from the mistakes, and be ready to go next time.”
Looking Ahead
The loss drops the Cougars to 14-15-0-0 on the season, while the Crush improve to 21-6-2-1 and extend their winning streak to eight games. The Cougars will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next challenge, with hopes of turning the tide in what has been a tough season series against their cross-town rivals.
For now, the Crush hold the upper hand in Chicago, but the Cougars are far from done. As Coach Dallmann emphasized, “This isn’t the end of the story. We’ll see them again, and we’ll be ready.”
Stay tuned, Cougars fans. The battle for Chicago hockey supremacy is far from over. Catch all the action live on FloHockey.tv!
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