DECATUR, IL - The Chicago Cougars Premier squad hit the ice in Decatur over the weekend for a back-to-back series against their division rivals, the Blaze. It was a weekend of contrasts—a gritty, hard-fought loss on Saturday gave way to a Sunday explosion that showcased the Cougars’ offensive arsenal in full force.
Game 1: Close, But No Cigar
The series opener had all the makings of a classic USPHL Midwest Division clash: tight checking, physical play, and clutch goaltending. Despite peppering Decatur’s Mason Cottreau with 47 shots, the Cougars fell short, dropping a 2-1 decision.
Decatur came out firing, riding the wave of home-ice energy. Seeger Trendley opened the scoring midway through the first, capitalizing on a slick feed from Liam Hilts. The Blaze doubled their lead in the second when Hilts himself buried a rebound past Sam Burcal.
The Cougars battled back in the third. Brett Tumbrink gave the bench some life with a power move to the net, snapping one top shelf to make it 2-1. However, discipline proved costly. The Cougars’ parade to the penalty box—led by Rocco Romita's 12 PIM—snuffed out their momentum. Despite a frantic final push, Cottreau was a brick wall, denying every grade-A chance down the stretch.
Head coach Josh Dallmann summed it up succinctly: “We played well in stretches, but we didn’t finish our chances. That’s the difference in this league.”
Game 2: Chicago Cougars Offensive Eruption
If Saturday was frustrating, Sunday was cathartic. The Cougars flipped the script with a jaw-dropping 8-3 demolition of the Blaze, dominating every facet of the game and unleashing their offensive depth.
After a sluggish start that saw Jesper Frunck give Decatur a brief lead on the power play, the Cougars exploded for seven goals in the second period. Yes, seven. It was a clinic of puck movement and net-front presence, with Alexander Musyakevych leading the charge. The talented sniper tallied two goals and four assists, including a dagger on the power play that left the Decatur Civic Center silent.
Brett Tumbrink added two more to his weekend total, while Rocco Romita played distributor, picking up four assists and a goal of his own. The Cougars’ special teams were firing, converting one of nine power plays and stymying the Blaze on all but one of their 11 attempts.
Goaltender Cameron Boville was sharp again, turning aside 25 of 28 shots. The only blemishes came in the third, as the Blaze added two late goals to salvage some pride.
“We played strong tonight,” said Coach Dallmann. “After last night, we wanted to show what kind of team we really are. This was Cougars hockey.”
Takeaways
Game One Goaltending Duel: Burcal vs. Cottreau was a highlight. Despite the split, both netminders showcased why they’re among the division’s best.
Discipline Matters: Chicago’s Saturday penalties disrupted their rhythm. On Sunday, they channeled that aggression into smart, physical hockey.
Offensive Depth: The Cougars proved they can roll all four lines. With Musyakevych and Tumbrink firing on all cylinders, Chicago is a nightmare matchup for any defense.
Looking Ahead
The Cougars return to Chicago to face crosstown rivals the Chicago Crush early in January. With a 10-10 record, they’re eyeing consistency to climb the standings. If this series is any indication, the Cougars are heating up at the right time.
Buckle up, Cougars fans—the second half of the season is going to be a ride. Catch all the Chicago Cougars excitement live on FloHockey.tv!
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