Tigers rebound after breaking 8-game winning streak

January 29, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Jeff Doner

The Aurora Tigers were served their first loss in eight games last week, but followed up with another big win on Saturday to put them back on the right track.

The loss came at home on Friday night against the Georgetown Raiders in a close match.

“We had a bit of a roll going into that game, but we came out a little flat and there were a lot of opportunities we missed to put the puck in the net,” said forward Alex Gilmour. “We pressed hard at the end of the game and had a penalty shot near the end, but a couple of bounces didn’t go our way and they ended up coming out with the win. They played us hard.”

It was a fast paced game right from the start, and Georgetown got on the scoreboard first period.

The Tigers didn’t let the game get away from them, but Georgetown took a 2 – 0 lead just three minutes into the second period.

Five minutes later, Tyler Boston finally scored to pull the Tigers to within one goal. Drake Board and Callum Fryer were credited with the assists.
The Tigers pushed hard in the third period, outshooting the opponent 15 – 5, but they couldn’t bury the tying goal and were forced to accept the 2 – 1 loss.

“They came out with a lot of speed and intensity,” said Gilmour. “It was a challenge for us, but we just tried to hold our own in there. Obviously coming off eight wins in a row, it was a pretty good run for us, but hopefully we can start a new one this week.”
That’s exactly what the Tigers did the next night in a win over the Milton Icehawks.

However, it wasn’t the typical Tigers victory, as they allowed five goals against with OJHL goaltender of the month Kevin Entmaa in net.

“Again, they put in a quick one against us at the beginning of the game under two minutes in and I think it kind of put us back on our heels a little bit and we got a little nervous about them scoring the first goal,” Gilmour said. “But eventually in the third period we came back with a couple great goals by Michael Laidley and Taylor McCloy helped us out with the comeback in the third and we ended up taking the game.”

Milton did take a 1 – 0 lead within the first minute of the game, but veterans Robert Angiolella and Kory Kennedy gave the Tigers a 2 – 1 lead before the period was over.

Milton stormed back in the second with four goals (one shorthanded), to put the Icehawks up 5 – 3. Calvin Higley scored the lone Tigers goal in the period.

In order to get back in the game, the Tigers struck a blow with a power play goal by Taylor McCloy just 21 seconds in.

Then Laidley provided the heroics scoring the next two goals to put the Tigers ahead 6 – 5, which ended up being the final score.

This week the Tigers also got a strong veteran player back in Adam DiBrina. Gilmour said having him and Angiolella back has been a big boost to the team.

“It’s been huge getting those guys back in the lineup,” he said. “It was a big loss having those guys out, but we were still finding ways to win with guys stepping up to fill those rolls, but now with them back we’re even stronger.”

The Tigers will host Hamilton on Wednesday night, before taking to the road for four straight games into February.