Final word from Aurora Tigers’ David Iacono

March 26, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Jeff Doner

This is the first in a series of Q&As with with some of the Aurora Tigers Junior A players who are moving on to the next step in their hockey and academic careers.

First up is slick skating defenceman David Iacono. David is moving on to Sacred Heart University in Connecticut to play Division 1 hockey and study math after a very successful half season with the Tigers. Good luck, David!

David Iacono

Born: Scarborough, ON (now lives in Newmarket)

Age/birthday: April 29, 1993

Seasons with Tigers: 1

Shoots: Left

Position: Defenceman

Past: Played with Markham Waxers (OJHL) 2009-2011 and then with Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) 2011-2012 before joining the Tigers this past December.
Season Stats: GP 19 – G 1 – A 13 – PTS 14 – PIM 44

Best memory playing with Tigers: “At the end of the season when we clinched first. It was something that we came back from being down eight or 10 points when I first started playing with them and then by the end of the season we clinched first. That’ll be the biggest thing I’ll remember.”

What’s on tap for next season: Going to Sacred Heart University to study math and play hockey.

Why this school? “It’s a division 1 program and they offered me a pretty good scholarship and it’s a really good academic school. I saw it as an opportunity to step in and play right away.”

Hobbies: “I like to golf and play lacrosse (but not competitively).”

Favourite movie: “Stepbrothers”

Favourite sports movie: “Mighty Ducks for sure.”

On your ipod: “Mostly country and a little bit of house. Lee Brice is one of them.”

Favourite hockey team: “I like the Philly Flyers. They‘ve always been an exciting team to watch play.”

Favourite NHL player: Erik Karlsson.

Any other sports? “Not really. My whole family has just been brought up with hockey and we played lacrosse as well growing up.”

Which super hero would you want to be, why? “Superman. He can fly and get some girls.”

Who is your hero/idol/role model? “My grandfather. He passed recently, but he was always just so supportive and he always just wanted what’s best for me. He was just a hardworking guy who never really had much growing up.”

Favourite subject in school: “Math. I’m going to school for it.”

Who will win the Stanley Cup this year? “I’d say the Blackhawks, because they’ve been pretty unbelievable so far this year.”

Best thing about playing for the Tigers: “Being close to home and being around a pretty great off-the-ice group of guys. JR [coach James Richmond] was always supportive – he’s not really the yelling type, but he’ll tell you when you’re doing stuff wrong and was really supportive of me going to school even though I could play one more year. He’s just a great coach and a great guy off the ice as well.”

What type of hockey player are you, what are you known for? “Probably my skating and passing ability. I think I see the ice well. I think of myself as a guy who likes to move the puck well and make those difficult passes.”

Best accomplishment on and off the ice: “Last year I played for Canada West – the prospects – that was a pretty big accomplishment. Clinching first place overall. Off the ice, I’ve been honour roll my whole high school career, so maybe that’s a good thing.”

What are you going to do with your summer before school starts? “I’ve got to start working right away and start saving some money and just working out. I’ll probably start getting out on the ice once or twice a week, but nothing very exciting – just working and working out. I’m going to be working construction.”

If you had a motto, what would it be: “Just be the best you can be and the rest will fall into place.”

Are you superstitious? “I don’t like to think of myself as a superstitious guy, but I have my ritual things that I always have to do. I always put on the left side of my equipment first, so I start with left shin-pad, left skate, left elbow pad. I always take the same route to a game. I don’t like to detour anywhere and I like to listen to the same music on the way to a game.”

Any good pranks/funny stories with Tigers: “Putting a cup of water under a guy’s helmet, so when he pulls it out he gets a full cup of water in his equipment. It can kind of ruin a guy’s day,” he says with a laugh.

Stance on fighting in hockey: “I think it has its place in the sport, but I don’t think it should be used unnecessarily. I believe it should be used as a way to stand up for your teammates. I don’t think it should be used so that one guy just goes out and beats another guy up just to show how tough he is. I think it belongs, but not unnecessarily and I don’t think staged fighting belongs in the game. It should only happen in the moment.”

Coach’s comment [James Richmond]: “David made an immediate impact to the Tigers’ power play after coming to Aurora after a year and a half out in B.C. He was a key player in helping the team win the north division title. By coming back to Ontario and playing a key role for the Aurora Tigers, David was able earn the NCAA Division 1 scholarship he had been striving for. We wish David the very best and success at Sacred Heart University over the next four years and would like to say, ‘thank you’ for his time well spent in Aurora.”