The Aberdeen Cougars found themselves on opposite ends of the spectrum to start their boys’ hockey season this past weekend.

The Cougars edged Brandon Valley 4-3 in overtime on Saturday night before falling to Oahe 6-2 on Sunday at the Odde Ice Center.

It was an exciting finish to Aberdeen’s first league contest against Brandon Valley. Trailing in the closing minutes, the Cougars pulled their goalie with 2:16 left in the game to get an extra attacker and the strategy worked to perfection as Briggs Medill scored about 10 seconds later.

The game went into overtime where Brady Oswald found the back of the net for the game winner two minutes into the extra period.

“Our goaltender Andrew Weisenburger made some big saves to keep us in the game,” said Cougars coach Dana Myhre.

Medill finished with a goal and three assists, while Wheeler Malsam added a goal and an assist.

“Our top line (Malsam, Medill, Oswald) had a big night of us,” Myhre said.

Jaxon Danielson scored on a power play in the third period.

The Cougars had a hard time stopping Oahe on Sunday.

“Pretty disappointing effort after (Saturday’s) game,” Myhre said. “Played pretty good in the first period.”

Carter Vilhauer and Oaklee Wurtz scored in the opening period to stake the Cougars to a 2-1 lead. However, Oahe responded with four second-period goals to take control.

“Got into a lot of penalty trouble in the second period and it kind of took the wind out of our sail,” Myhre said. “Just didn’t have the energy or the drive in the last two periods, and got sloppy defensively and started chasing the puck around.”

The Cougars also played a friendly on Friday, hosting Dickinson, N.D. Aberdeen lost 5-2 in a game that Myhre said was closer than the final score.

“It was a really competitive and very physical game,” Myhre said. “I thought we played pretty well, had a lot of scoring chances, but just couldn’t get the puck in the net as much as we needed.”

The Cougars now take a break before facing Sioux Falls East on Dec. 13 in Sioux Falls.

Oahe Capitals 1 4 1 – 6

Aberdeen Cougars 2 0 0 – 2

First Period: 1, OC, Dylan Dodson (Brecken Fuhrman), 14:31; 2, AC, Carter Vilhauer (Austin Schmit, Jaxon Danielson), 11:45; 3, AC, Oaklee Wurtz (Remington Hosley, Danielson), 8:55.

Second Period: 4, OC, Jim Neddo (unassisted), 12:51; 5, OC, Ayden Behm (Logan Anderson), 11:03; 6, OC, Cooper Beastrom (Aiden Bauder, Behm), 5:40; 7, OC, Ian Schwitzer (Asher Vanden Bos, Anderson), 5:16.

Third Period: 8, OC, Dodson (Bauder, Fuhrman), 8:13.

Shots on Goal: Oahe Capitals 31; Aberdeen Cougars 32.

Goalies: Oahe Capitals, Jace Hand (30 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Andrew Weisenburger (26 saves).

Brandon Valley Ice Cats 0 2 1 0 – 3

Aberdeen Cougars 0 1 2 1 – 4

First Period: No scoring.

Second Period: 1, BV, Justin Pederson (Maxwell Peters), 15:30; 2, BV, Peters (Lynden Pyle), 9:59; 3, AC, Wheeler Malsam (Teegan Medill, Briggs Medill), 3:28.

Third Period: 4, AC, Jaxon Danielson (Carter Vilhauer, B. Medill), 13:04; 5, BV, Pederson (unassisted); 6, AC, B. Medill (Trayke Roehrich), 2:05.

Overtime: 7, AC, Brady Oswald (Malsam, B. Medill), 8:01.

Shots on Goal: Brandon Valley 34; Aberdeen Cougars 45.

Goalies: Brandon Valley, Cole Clites (41 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Andrew Weisenburger (31 saves).