Aurora Tigers extend losing streak to six games

October 26, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Coutepatte

If not already confirmed, last weekend proved the Aurora Tigers are in a freefall.
Three more losses, all by lopsided scores, have left the Tigers squarely in the basement of the OJHL’s North division, as well as the league itself.
Outscored 27 – 4 over a course of three games against the Trenton Golden Hawks, Kingston Voyageurs, and Mississauga Chargers, a record of 2-15-0-2 finds the Tigers in a last place tie with the Lindsay Muskies, Orangeville Flyers, and Milton Icehawks.
The kicker, however, is the Tigers have played four more games than any of its counterparts.
Joe Montesano, the Tigers’ play-by-play man, says the Tigers are a young team that “need to come together and gel.”
“They are making young mistakes right now defensively, which will be easily corrected with seasoning in this long season in the OJHL.”
Those defensive mistakes cost the Tigers ten goals against the Trenton Golden Hawks on Friday night, a game which saw the Tigers outshot 44 – 14 throughout sixty minutes. Evan Spencer, one half of Aurora’s sole productive duo offensively alongside Mel Melconian, scored Aurora’s only goal in the third period in a 10 – 1 game.
The almost 250 fans who came to see Saturday’s match with the rival Kingston Voyageurs at the Aurora Community Centre on Saturday were left with only disappointment, as a five-goal third period sewered the Tigers with a final score of 11 – 1.
Melconian scored the only Tiger goal on the powerplay in the second period.
The game was the second in a row that saw an Aurora goalie get the hook, with neither Jake Sabourin and Brayden Lachance finding much luck against their high-scoring opponents.
Sunday’s matchup with the Mississauga Chargers was the Tigers’ best shot at redemption, facing a team that has struggled just as hard in the early season.
Instead, Aurora allowed a shorthanded goal in the first period to open the scoring, off a giveaway in the neutral zone that led to a breakaway.
Mississauga doubled their lead off a nice tip in front a short way into the second, while Steven Mclean’s first in a Tigers uniform cut it in half a few minutes later.
A period of three unanswered Mississauga goals in six minutes in the third period was eventually what did the Tigers in, while Adam Petric delivered a too little, too late marker in the final two minutes of a 6 – 2 loss.
“Right now, I will compare them to the Leafs,” said Montesano. “They have been in many games going into the third period and they are young and need to learn how to close.”
To add insult to injury – the win was Mississauga’s first road win of the season, leaving Aurora and the Lindsay Muskies as the only two teams in the OJHL without a road win.
The Tigers will get a chance to leave Lindsay (2-11-0-2) behind when they visit the Muskies on Friday evening, before returning home Saturday to host the Stouffville Spirit (10-2-1-1).
Sunday’s weekly home game against the Voyageurs will be a challenge defensively, after giving up eighteen goals to the team from Kingston through two games so far.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.auroratigers.pointstreaksites.com.