In a game that had all the drama of a minor league hockey classic, the Cougars clawed back from a late deficit to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over U13 Phantom 309. The contest was a tale of two periods of scoreless hockey followed by a breathtaking third period that saw all five goals scored in a frantic, back-and-forth showdown. With the shots heavily tilted toward the Phantom net—28 to 21 through the first frame alone—the story of the game ultimately belonged to the Cougars' resilience and a goalie who stood tall when it mattered most.
The third period exploded into action at 12:15 when Yuvraj Verma (#3), assisted by Amit Offengenden (#13), broke the deadlock with an even-strength goal that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. But Phantom 309 responded quickly, capitalizing on a Cougars penalty. Grace Fox (#73) had been sent off for slashing at 14:51 of the second period, and though the penalty had expired, the Cougars' discipline issues lingered. At 10:26, Jaxson Krueger-Mrzljak (#12) buried a short-handed goal to level the score, stunning the home bench and shifting momentum. Just minutes later, at 2:22, Zachary Andermatt (#5) put the Cougars back ahead with an even-strength tally, but the lead was short-lived. Krueger-Mrzljak struck again at 1:38, this time with help from Grace Fox (#73) and Theo Chan (#36), knotting the game at 2-2 and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
With time winding down and the Cougars needing a hero, they got one on the power play. Phantom's Simon Baynes (#86) was sent off for tripping at 0:28, and the home team made him pay. At the 0:22 mark, Amit Offengenden (#13) fired home the game-winner, with Yuvraj Verma (#3) drawing the assist. The Cougars' netminder, Lucas Biggelaar (#7), had been under siege all night—facing 28 shots and turning aside 26—but his calm in the final minute sealed the win. Phantom's Bentley Klemola (#74) took the loss despite making 18 saves on 21 shots in a valiant effort. For the Cougars, the victory was a testament to their never-say-die attitude and a power-play unit that delivered when it counted most.
U13 BRONCOS
