Solid goaltending leads Tigers to OJHL playoff berth

January 28, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

For the fourth year in a row, Aurora’s Junior A Tigers are heading back to the OJHL playoffs.

The clinch comes on the back of a perfect week for the North Division leaders, coming up with six of a possible six points.

A trip up Yonge Street Thursday night had the Tigers facing the Newmarket Hurricanes in a game that was largely over from the start.

Captain Michael Laidley put the Tigers on the board just thirty seconds into the contest, while goaltender Andy Munroe locked it down at the other end of the ice, stopping all thirteen shots he faced in the first.

He would eventually stop 25 of 26 in a 4 – 1 Tiger victory.

Friday’s weekly home game had the Tigers matched up against the Kingston Voyageurs, a team fighting to stay relevant in league standings.
The Voyageurs would mar their game with careless penalties, earning three stick penalties in the first period while the Tigers outshot the visitors 18 – 7.

Midway through the second, when a roughing-after-the-whistle call put the Tigers on the power play once again, Johnny Curran picked up his team-leading 54th point of the year putting one in off the post.

Kingston has six separate minor penalties in the frame.

With the Kingston net empty and almost three minutes left on the clock, the Tigers were left with plenty of time to put the game away for good.
Vince Figliomeni did just that with a nice hustle to beat a defender to a loose puck, potting his second goal as a Tiger since joining the team from Mississauga earlier this month.

Munroe made 33 saves in his third shutout of the season in the 3 – 0 victory.

It was a career highlight on Saturday for the team’s backup and “future of goaltending”, according to head coach James Richmond.

Marcus Semiao brought his wins column into double digits in a 5 – 2 routing of the North York Rangers.

He remains almost flawless on the season, sporting a 10-0-1 record while maintaining a 1.91 goals-against average.

Board picked up two goals in the game to continue an impressive campaign of his own, passing the 20-goal plateau.

Having already more than doubled his point production from the 2013-2014 season, Board told The Auroran earlier this year that he hoped to use his speed to his advantage, a trait he has certainly made good on.

“I think it helps me with my size,” said Board, weighing in around 150 lbs. “I just try to work my way around the guy.”

He has matched his 21 goals this season with an additional 24 assists, and credited his teammates with his success.

“It’s a team game, everyone’s working hard out there.”

With just over a handful of games left on the regular season schedule, the Tigers are now looking to clinch the North Division title for the third straight year.

Standing in their way this week are the Lindsay Muskies and the Mississauga Chargers, two basement-dwelling franchises sitting at the bottom of their respective divisions.

They face the Muskies on the road Friday at 7.30 p.m.

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