Mini-curse is broken, Tigers back up on their feet

March 17, 2022 · 0 Comments

The Aurora Tigers smashed the Burlington Cougars 5-0 on the road last Friday, earning their first league victory since February 15.

Lee Chiang’s four-point night exorcised the club’s demons and broke the boys eight-game losing skid.

As Edward Hickson said in the 1800s, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

The Tigers have been trying to get out of their slump. Players have been transitioning from injured to healthy and they have been trying to get out of the rut they were currently in – and they did it with a bang.

The Tigers crossed paths with a red-hot Cougars team.

The Cougars were 4-1 in their last five regular season outings before last Friday’s matchup.

Their top player, Matthew Zebedee, had recorded eight points throughout that stretch.

This team’s offence, is ranked second in all of the OJHL. The Cougars average 4.27 goals per game and have the fourth-ranked power play.

That didn’t faze the Tigers for a second.

Cougars defenceman Kaleb Tiessen’s tripping call led to the opening goal in the first period. Ty Roberts fed Lee Chiang who rifled it past Kyle Metson.

In the second period, it seemed as if every puck that left Chiang’s stick had a chance to go into the back of the net.

He was responsible for assisting both goals in the frame. Lucas Stanojevic scored his second of the year and Matthew Godwin potted home his eighth.

In the third, Chang scored his second of the game from Hollander Thompson. Sett Ursomarzo executed the dagger with a goal late from Thompson and Justin Biraben.

As much as the Tigers broke their eight-game losing streak, Tigers netminder Nolan Boyd was also on the hunt to get back on track. He previously lost his past six starts in between the pipes.

Boyd put on a heck of a performance, stopping all 34 shots on target to earn his second shutout of the year.

The Tigers hosted the Markham Royals this past Tuesday and took on the Stouffville Spirit on the road Wednesday.

The boys will then head back out on the road north to Collingwood to seek a much-needed victory against the Colts on Friday.

Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at Eddie Bush Memorial Arena.

By Robert Belardi