OHL Alum Lemmon adds depth to already strong Tigers roster

November 26, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

Already at the top of their game in the OJHL, the Tigers are making moves to maintain their position at the top of the North Division.

Some fresh faces took to the ice at the Aurora Community Centre for the first time last week, including ex-Kingston Frontenac Mack Lemmon and ex-North Bay Battalion Kyle Locke.

They joined an already strong team core that was riding a five-game winning streak, having won sixteen of their last seventeen games.

On Friday night, the Tigers hosted the Stouffville Spirit, who were hoping to gain some ground while sitting one spot back of the Tigers in the standings.

But the Tigers came out strong, going up 2 – 0 just five minutes into the game. Lemmon gave the home crowd a show by assisting on both goals.
With the lead cut in half, the Tigers went on the powerplay after a cross-checking call midway through the first.

Cameron Morrison, sitting on the doorstep, jammed at a Jordan DaSilva rebound that went up in the air and down the goaltender’s back into the net to restore the two-goal lead.

The Tigers’ lead was cemented by strong defence in the second, keeping the Spirit players to the outside in the Aurora end and keeping scoring chances at bay.

Forward Drake Board made a great defensive effort to break up a 2-on-1 ten minutes into the frame.

However, Stouffville’s luck turned around shortly after, when a pass out in front of Tigers’ goaltender Andy Munroe rebounded off a skate right onto the stick of Spirit Christopher Brill-Morgan, who’s one-timer rang off the post and in.

That’s as close as the Spirit would get, as a career milestone for Morrison would secure a 5 – 3 victory.

Morrison picked up two more goals in the third period, earning his first junior hockey hat trick. Lemmon assisted on the final goal for a three-assist outing.

The game turned chippy in the final seconds when two fighting majors, two misconducts, and a minor penalty were handed out.

Paul Coffey’s Pickering Panthers were in town on Sunday, having won only one game in their last eight.

The game was a defensive sleeper, never even close from the start in a 3 – 1 Tigers win.

Another Tiger milestone was hit in the first period when Lemmon potted his first OJHL goal from Daniel Mantenuto and Nicholas Erb.

Mantenuto followed suit a few minutes later, and Board put home his thirteenth of the year in the second for three unanswered Aurora goals.

The Spirit broke Munroe’s shutout shortly into the third period on an otherwise solid outing. Munroe made 23 saves on 24 shots.

Lemmon, who has spent the past three seasons playing in the major junior OHL, is set to make a major impact for his hometown Aurora Tigers.
“He’s got a strong presence on the ice,” said Head Coach James Richmond. “He’s a strong player.”

On top of his four points, Lemmon has racked up twenty minutes in penalties in his three games played.

Three home games are on the docket this week, as the Tigers take on the Milton Icehawks Wednesday and prepare for the Whitby Fury and Lindsay Muskies on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

All games begin at 7.30 p.m. at the Aurora Community Centre.

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