Burlington Courgars to honor two alumni

Press Release

The Burlington Cougars will introduce a new Red Carpet as we honour two of our Alumni and present their Jersey banner to be hung at the Wave Twin Rinks prior to this Saturday’s home game.
 
This week we are honouring two brothers who were both former Cougars very successful NCAA players and businessmen in Burlington. Ron and Mike Smitko will be honoured in our pre-game presentation.
Ron played with the local Burlington Rep Eagles from novice to Minor Midget, then with the Cougars for 1989 to 1991, attended Brown University for four years, and came back to Burlington to coach the Cougars from 1997 to 2000 and settled in as a local businessman with SSQ Financial Group in an Account Executive role.

Mike Smitko grew up playing in the Burlington system before joining the Cougars1995/96 and spending four seasons with the club before heading off Potsdam State University on Scholarship. He  graduated in 2004 and returned to Burlington as a local businessman and began a coaching career in minor hockey in 2007 mentoring young hockey players.

If you want to meet the team along with Mike and Ron Smitko the Cougars are holding a team dinner at Nines Brickbar and Grill after the game, all fans receive 15% discount with a ticket from any game this season.

Fans mark November 11th on your calendar as the Cougars will be having an Alumni game with Cougar Alumni playing a select team from the Burlington Oldtimers at 1:30 p.m. Come relive some great old times with players from the past including players from the 1981 Championship team.
Cougars are looking for businesses and individuals to partner with the team to provide top notch junior hockey. The Cougars are a non-profit team and rely on contributions to make the team a success.  GM Mark Hetherman said “we have an extensive partnership program that assist partners with program advertising, internet banners, and free Cougar tickets to match the contribution.”


(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)