Case in point this past weekend during the Notre Dame Hounds Showcase tournament in Wilcox, as the Cougars opened with a 3-1 win over Elite 15 powerhouse Northern Alberta before falling 2-1 to Edge School for Athletes and dropping a 3-2 decision to OHA Edmonton.
PHA now holds a 7-5-1-0 record, good enough for third place, three points behind Northern Alberta and Burnaby Winter Club in first.
Cougars 3, Northern Alberta 1
PHA proved plenty opportunistic in their showcase-opening win, taking a 2-0 lead out of the first period and leading 3-1 through two despite being outshot 48-21 in the game.
Jackson Allan and Carter Wickenheiser each had a goal and an assist, while Cade Kennedy added the Cougars’ other marker.
Bodee Weiss was exceptionally solid in goal with a 47-save performance.
Edge 2, Cougars 1
Neither team appeared to have much interest in playing at even strength, as PHA would go 0-for-10 on the power play while giving up a shorthanded goal and Edge would go 1-for-9 with the man advantage, with their lone marker standing as the game-winner.
All the scoring came in the first period, with Edge taking a 2-0 lead before McLaren Paulsen scored with 1:44 to play in the frame.
Dazza Mitchell made 31 saves in the close loss.
OHA 3, Cougars 2
Edmonton took a 2-0 lead into the third period, but Wickenheiser and Tate Schofer scored a minute apart midway through the third to tie the game 2-2.
Alex Mack would score the game winner for OHA with 4:51 to play.
Weiss had 34 saves in goal.
The Elite 15s are back in action during the Nov. 9 weekend when they host Northern Alberta for a pair of games at Barkman Arena. Game times are 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday.
The Midget Varsity Cougars had the weekend off from CSSHL play and are also on the ice at home this weekend, with a trio of games against International Hockey Academy. Game times are 7 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.
