Joneljim Cougars played host to the Nova Major Bantams on Saturday night.  The Cougars closest rivals have been off to a hot start this season landing in first place in the NSMBHL.   The game started with back and forth action, but neither team could find the back of the net.   The Novas got one in the 2nd period, when Feargus MacDonald snuck in behind Cougars Defence and got 1 past Cougar goalie Seth Crowe.  Early in the 3rd, Ashton Paul sniped one past Colten Ellis in the Nova net on the PP to knot the game at 1.  Daymon Johnson and Jarret Baker each assisting.   Jack O'Brien made a perfect deflection from the slot on a beauty pass from Baker, Sam Gillis also assisted.   Cougars led 2-1 late, when Nova sniper Logan Timmons scored on a partial break.  This game was heading to OT, the first OT game in Cougars history.   After 5 minutes of exciting 4 on 4 hockey, nothing was solved and a shootout was needed to decide a winner.  Jacob Denny scored for the home team, but Timmons and MacDonald each found twine to give the Nova's the W.   Final score 3-2.  Crowe was solid making 23 saves, while Ellis had 25 for the W.

Sunday morning, the Cougars had to re-set and get ready for the tough Pictou County Crushers.  The Joneljim club would strike early, Baker from Denny.   The Cougars would lead 2-0 with 20 minutes to play after a Kinnon Williams goal, Paul and Camdon Langlois with the helpers.  Cougars seemed to be in the drivers seat in the 3rd after Ashton Paul scored from Williams and Langlois.  However, the experience of the Pictou club got them back in the game.  First Jake Martin swatted a puck out of mid-air to get the Crushers on the board, then Jaden Mason snuck one past goalie Owen MacPhee.  And with 11 seconds left, Martin would tie the game after walking out from the corner.  For the second straight game, the Cougars were going to OT.  2nd year forward Ashton Paul would put on the heroes hat after a beauty pass and excellent board work from Kody Francis.  Paul would make no mistake and fired one 5 hole past Crusher goalie Mitchell Cummer.   Owen MacPhee had 10 saves for the W, while Cummer had 25 in the loss