Tigers drop marathon game to Flyers as Fotinos searches for first win

November 25, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

It’s been a tough start for newcomer Alex Fotinos in a Tigers uniform, his first time pulling on a minor junior sweater since 2012.

Three games into his tenure in Aurora, the veteran goaltender is still looking for his first OJHL win, joining a high-potential team that had found their legs as of late, winning eight of the ten games.

Friday’s home matchup with the Orangeville Flyers proved to be the ex-OHLer’s biggest challenge yet. But it was Aurora who got on the board first, with Orangeville taking an undisciplined cross-checking penalty behind their own net just one minute in.

Drake Board notched his team-leading thirteenth of the season from in close for a 1 – 0 lead.

Only minutes later, Board was under the impression he doubled the lead stemming from a nice saucer pass from Liam Neuman on a 2-on-1, only to end his celebration after seeing the Flyer’s goaltender hugging the puck against the post.

Fotinos was beat just before the end of the period with Kyle Locke in the box for a 1 – 1 tie after twenty minutes.

Despite Aurora putting seventeen shots on net to Orangeville’s eight in the second period, both teams exchanged a goal each. Fotinos was beaten on an unlucky pass that redirected off a defender’s skate and in, while Darren Iwai lost the handle on a breakaway, only to spin and fire from the corner and find the back of the net.

There was a looming feeling of an Aurora goal on its way during the entire third period, but no such luck as the teams headed to overtime.
4-on-4 solved nothing, so the crowd was treated to some wide open 3-on-3 in double overtime.

After a number of chances both ways, a one-timer from the slot beat Fotinos with only eight seconds remaining in the fifth frame.

Board, who drew three penalties in the game in which two could have been called a penalty shot, was frustrated with the calls.

“I was pretty in the clear in a couple of situations,” he said. “It’s nice to get a call when you’re getting hooked but when you can’t capitalize it’s frustrating.”

The Tigers then played host to the Wellington Dukes at the ACC on Saturday, their second meeting in three games. The scoresheet was almost identical to the first, with Aurora opening the scoring before Wellington finished the game with three-straight of their own.

Alex Formenton had the lone goal for the Tigers.

The loss leaves the Tigers three points up on Markham in Northeast Division standings, however, they have also played three more games than the Royals.
The Tigers put their 7-3-3 home record to the test with a pair of games this weekend at the Aurora Community Centre, beginning on Friday. Proceeds from Friday’s game will go to Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program, and students with valid ID are admitted for $7 as part of the first annual “Student Night”.

The puck drops at 7.30 p.m. against the Stouffville Spirit (10-13-3), before hosting an inter-conference matchup with the Milton Icehawks (5-21-0) on Sunday.

For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.auroratigers.pointstreaksites.com.