The fourth place Wings take on the West leaders, Burlington, tonight at the Dave. It is the first appearance this season in Hamilton for the Cougars. The teams split the two games played at the Wave. The Cougars have the second-highest point total in the OJHL at 72 from 43 games, Newmarket has 74 from 44. They have scored the most goals (247) and have won 18 of their 22 road contests.
It looks like the Red Wings will have to be content with fourth spot overall in the West as they trail the third-place Raiders by eight with two games in hand and the second-place Blades by ten, also with two games in hand.
The fans at the Dave tonight will get to see two of the top three point-scorers in the League and four of the top ten. The Cougars' Phil Brewer leads all players with 89 points and in third place is the Red Wings' Zach Hyman with 85. The Cougars' Patrick Marsh, who leads the team in goals with 36, is tied for fourth with 80 points and the Wings' Matt Carey, who missed the game in Oakville with a an injury, is in sixth spot with 79.
Other Cougar players with high point totals include Chris Carr on 60, Patrick Stillar on 58 and Jason Popek with 54. Luke Juha is second in points for a defenceman with 42, six behind Vaughan's Anthony Mastrodicasa.
With the return of Mike Christou from a one-game suspension and hopefully Christain Powers and Carey from injuries it would be an almost full-strength lineup for the red and white.
Whenever these two clubs meet it always produces a good contest and tonight should be no exception.
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