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Aurora Minor Tigers U13 AA crowned champions of OMHA




The Aurora Minor Tigers U13 AA defeated the Oakville Rangers in the finals 6-0 to bring home the OMHA gold medal for their age group this month.

This is the first major peewee team in the organization to win the OMHAs since 2007.

The tournament, held in Kingston, ON, was the first tournament experience of the year for the group.

“Because of COVID, all of our tournaments were cancelled. It was our first away experience of the year,” said Head Coach Eric MacMillian. “For all ages, tournaments and staying in hotels is one of the highlights. These are the things they remember the most from their minor hockey days. I can recall every tournament I ever went to. So, for them to get the chance to do it, running around the halls and meeting kids from other teams, regardless if we won or not, the experience was fantastic for them.”

Heading up there Thursday night, the Minor Tigers entered this final tournament with an undefeated regular season record. MacMillian said this group finished the year with a 19-0-2 record.

In the first game Friday morning, the Tigers took on the Kingston Canadians. The boys won a tight bout 1-0 in front of a packed arena.

Scoreless late in the third, Max Daniels found the breakthrough assisted by Lucas Desnoes.

In the second game against the Oakville Rangers, the Tigers lit up the Rangers 7-2. Christopher Russo led the team with a hattrick, Daniels scored twice and Dante Chaplin and Alex Chan got in on the fun.

In the final game of the preliminary round, the Tigers took down local rival Caledon Hawks 3-1. The Hawks were already eliminated from the tournament. Russo got his fourth of the tournament and Daniels contributed another two goals.

“We won that one and the message there was to set good habits for the semifinals so we're not having to correct things for the semifinals. Keep doing the right things so that when we go to the semis the next morning, it's ingrained in us,” MacMillian said.

In the semifinals, the Tigers went up against the Belle River Canadians.

“We didn't know a lot about a lot of the teams there, but Belle River is sort of out of the way. [We really] didn't know what we're up against. They went up 2-0 in the first period, with two power play goals. We were a little worried,” MacMillian said.

But the Tigers, fought back and through the adversity they have barely experienced all year long, managed to find a way to shut down the Canadians and advance to the finals.

Carmelo Quarterone recorded two goals and Christopher Virgilio led the team with three points in the game to send the Tigers off to the OMHA finals.

In the finals, the Tigers completely shutdown the Oakville Rangers. Karson Stickle opened the scoring, followed by two goals from Desnoes, Ethan Brown, Chaplin and Sebastian Kanyi to give the boys the gold medal.

With this victory, the Minor Tigers will advance to the OHF provincial tournament in Sudbury. MacMillian, said they're not done yet.  

MacMillian, Assistant Coaches Craig Donaldson, Steve Smith, Chuck West and Kory Dickout, Trainer Andrew Desnoes and Team Manager Bonnie Kilpatrick would like to thank the team for their tremendous play and sportsmanship over the course of the season – and to the parents, for their outstanding support.

A big shout out also goes to the players beginning with goaltenders Jack Lamanna and

Billy Macmillan, to defenceman Blake Donaldson, Ajax Chan, Charlie West, Dylan Greening

Dennis Genc, Ethan Brown and forwards Sebastian Kanyi, Lucas Desnoes, Dante Chaplin, Max Daniels, Ian Smith, Karson Stickle, Carmelo Quarterone, Christopher Russo and Christopher Virgilio, who made the magic happen on the ice.

By Robert Belardi

 

 


Post date: 2022-04-21 18:43:15
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