Tigers have 18-point lead in league standings after two more wins

January 15, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Jeff Doner

Midway through the season, the Aurora Junior A Tigers were dealing with a few key injuries, but were still managing to win hockey games.

They have kept that torrid pace through the schedule, while at the same time distancing themselves from the rest of the pack.

Last week, the Tigers won two more games to give them 57 points thus far and an 18-point lead over the second place Pickering Panthers in the North Division standings with 14 games remaining.

“We’re getting a lot of wins,” said forward Calvin Higley, who collected four points in two games last week. “We had a rough start at the beginning of the year, but as a 20-year-old it’s good to see a lot of wins, and be looking at the playoffs and be in first place. It’s awesome.”
The Tigers’ first win of the week came against Pickering on Friday night.

The Panthers gave the Tigers a run for their money, but it was Kory Kennedy that provided the game winner in the third period when the score was knotted at 2 – 2.

Kennedy’s power play goal at 3:30, assisted by Higley and Dylan Sikura, made it 3 – 2, and then Kennedy potted an empty netter with 22 seconds left to add insurance for his team in the 4 – 2 win.

Kevin Entmaa stopped 23 of 25 Pickering shots for the win.

Saturday vs. Lindsay

After three straight on the road, the Tigers returned home for a tilt against the Lindsay Muskies on Saturday night.

Both teams were fighting for an early lead to start, but as the period wore on, the Tigers smelled blood and took advantage.

“I thought that the first five or six minutes were what you’re going to see a lot of over the next month and a half with two teams trying to feel each other out like they would in a playoff game,” said head coach James Richmond. “I thought we were the better team early on and then when we the first goal, that kind of took the wind out of their sails a little bit.

“Then when we got the second and third one, when I looked over at their bench, every player on their team was sitting down and when you see that you know you’ve taken the wind out of their sails.”

Kennedy scored the game’s first goal at the 10 minute mark in the first, but before the first was over, Michael Laidley, Sikura and Higley would each score to give the Tigers a 4 – 0 lead.

The second and third periods would be more of the same, as the Tigers continued to press a relentless attack against the Muskies.

Alex Gilmour and Curtis Warren (shorthanded goal) made it 6 – 0 in the second and Kennedy and Mihkel Poldma added goals in the third.

Aurora goalie Andy Munroe played a solid game between the pipes and carried a shutout through the game until the Muskies put one on the board with five minutes remaining.

Munroe made 24 saves in the win.

Richmond said he was pleased with the way his team played in both games and praised his secondary scorers and roll players for filling the voids left by injured forwards Robert Angiolella and Adam DiBrina.

“Guys that don’t normally get a lot of ice got a lot of ice last night and they [Liam Neuman, Drake Board and Alex Gilmour] played really well.”
Neuman played for St. Andrew’s College last year and eventually found his way back to Aurora with the Tigers. Richmond said his addition, along with Austin Rigney, made them feel comfortable enough to not make a move at the recent trade deadline.

“We were able to grab him and he’s a really good utility forward – he has played centre, left wing and right wing for us since he’s been acquired. He’s been great for us.”

This week, the Tigers will stay at home for games against Stouffville (Friday night at 7.30 p.m.) and St. Michael’s (Saturday night at 7.30 p.m.).