‘I think it was beautiful’: Cobourg Cougars mark National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Cobourg Cougars’ captain Isaac Larmand (17) and North York Rangers’ captain Ben Dunlop (12) greeted those who participated in the on-ice ceremonies to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the Ontario Provincial Hockey League game on Monday, Sept. 28. /Alan Rivett photos

By sports correspondent Alan Rivett

The Cobourg Cougars honoured National Day of Truth and Reconciliation by hosting an evening to commemorate “Orange Shirt Day” in remembrance of the lost children and survivors of residential schools at their game on Monday, Sept. 28.

And Bob Watts, a member of the Six Nations reserve and a former Cobourg resident, was on hand at the Cobourg Community Centre (CCC) to take part in the opening ceremonies prior to the puck drop.

Watts played a pivotal role in the movement toward reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous children who suffered and died while attending residential schools in Canada.

He was a key figure as one of the negotiators for the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement and also led the process to set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that led to the introduction of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, which coincides with Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led movement founded in 2013 by a residential school survivor.

Watts said he was pleased with the work of the Cougars to recognize and honour the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and noted it was another tangible step toward reconciliation.

Bob Watts, one of the negotiators for the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement who also led the process to set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was among those who joined the Cobourg Cougars’ night to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at the OJHL game on Monday Sept. 28. Watts took part in the on-ice activities, including the ceremonial face-off. 

“I think it was beautiful. I’m really happy that the Cougars were really excited about doing this,” said Watts, clad in a Cougars’ orange jersey that commemorated the occasion.

Watts said he grew up in Cobourg and dreamed of being a Cobourg Cougar one day.

“The team looks amazing with their orange jerseys on,” said Watts, of the stylized jerseys that included a Wampum Belt that’s a part of Indigenous culture and history.

“And I think it was an important message that got shared with everybody about the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation,” he added.

Watts said Truth and Reconciliation events, such as the one hosted by the Cougars, show the momentum toward reconciliation has not waned, and noted public opinion polls of ongoing efforts toward truth and reconciliation rank highly with Canadians since its inaugural year in 2021.

“Yeah, I think it is catching on when you look at, you know, some of the public opinion polls, it ranks really high, so that’s good. It’s really clear that events like this that help raise awareness can only do good.”

For the Cougars, part owner/general manager Ryan Ramsay said it was the first time the organization has included the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation as part of its game-day operations, but it went over well.

“It was obviously really good. I thought the ceremonial puck drop and the people being recognized was a great thing to do and it was nice to bring attention to (National Day of Truth and Reconciliation),” said Ramsay.

North York Rangers’ goaltender Isaac Gravelle (90) kept an eye on the puck as Cobourg Cougars’ Joseph Cadorin (16) and Rangers’ Noah Gaudet-Barton (49) waited for the shot during regular-season action at the CCC on Monday, Sept. 28.

Not only did the Cougars look good in their orange jerseys, but they capped the special evening with an emphatic 7-2 victory over the visiting North York Rangers in Ontario Junior Hockey League regular-season action.

After an evenly fought first period, the Cougars found their footing in the next 40 minutes of action to down the Rangers and continue their strong play to start the OJHL season.

Cougars’ head coach Derek Smith was especially pleased to see starting goaltender Aaron Neal have a successful start to his junior hockey career, turning aside 32 of 34 shots to earn his first career junior win between the pipes.

Cobourg Cougars’ goaltender Aaron Neal attempted to see the puck through players, including North York’s Ben Dunlop (12), in front of the net during regular-season action against the North York Rangers at the Cobourg Community Centre on Monday, Sept. 28. Neal stopped 32 of 34 shots to earn the win in his first start of the season in a 7-2 victory over the visitors.

“Oh, we started off slow, but we got out legs under us,” said Smith. “I was happy for Aaron Neal. The boys battle hard for him.

“He made some big saves, and it was his first career start at this level and he got a win. It was huge, and the boys were very happy for him.”

Contributing a solid offensive effort toward the victory was forward Carter Petrie, who scored two goals and added an assist, and was named the first star of the game while also celebrating his 19^th birthday on Sept. 28.

North York Rangers’ netminder Isaac Gravelle (90) followed the puck as Rangers’ Dean Sheridan (7) and Cobourg Cougars’ Nole Faulkner (27) battled for possession in front of the net during OJHL regular-season action at the CCC on Monday, Sept. 28. The Cougars prevailed 7-2.

“It was a great night,” said Petrie, who recorded his fourth and fifth goal of the young season against North York. “It was awesome to do that on my birthday, and I had a couple of great passes from my teammates.”

The win over North York came on the heels of a 5-4 shootout win over the Pickering Panthers in Pickering on Saturday, Sept. 26 and a 5-4 overtime loss to the Markham Royals in Markham on Thursday, Sept. 24.

Cayden Smith and Jonny Brooks scored in the shootout to give Cobourg the margin of victory over Pickering. Regulation-time scorers were Brooks, Chase Del Colombo, Nole Faulkner, and Briir Long.

Long, Petrie, Colton Bain and Jayson Synnott, with his first of the season, scored for the Cougars (5-0-0-1-1-0, third in East Conference) against the East Conference-leading Markham Royals who are a perfect 10-0 to start the season.

The Cougars play in Pickering on Friday, Oct. 2, and at home against the Collingwood Blues on Saturday, Oct. 3.