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The Auroran http://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran/tigers-come-back-strong-after-holiday-break/ Export date: Thu Jul 4 9:23:20 2024 / +0000 GMT |
Tigers come back strong after holiday break By Jeff Doner The Aurora Tigers Junior A hockey club didn't show any rust from the holiday break, coming back to collect two wins over the Wellington Dukes and the Toronto Jr. Canadiens last week. It started on Friday night when they headed to Wellington for a good, hard-fought match that ended up going right to a shootout. “It was honestly a tough game and I think that's what playoffs is going to be like,” said veteran forward Kory Kennedy. “It was a pretty good matchup. We were going back and forth and luckily we won it in the shootout.” The game looked fairly even across the board in shots, chances, penalties and all regulation scoring was done in the first period. Wellington struck first at 5:43, but Kennedy replied less than five minutes later to tie it up. Taylor McCloy was credited with the only assist on the goal. Things would go back and forth from there on out, with only three minor penalties called between both teams. “The refs were pretty good and it actually wasn't a chippy game at all,” Kennedy said. “I felt they came out strong and we were offset a little bit by it, but I thought we played strong for the rest of the game and we really took it to them.” The game went undecided in the final two periods and in the five minute overtime, so it took a goal by Michael Laidley to win it in the shootout for the Tigers. According to the shot clock, Kevin Entmaa made 39 saves for the victory. On Sunday, the Tigers once again took to the road for a game against the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. “The first period it was a little slow and we needed to get our legs under us, but other than that it was pretty good,” said forward Drake Board. “They came out flying at us for the first seven or eight minutes and it was pretty tight. Their goalie played really good in the first period and then we got that power play goal. We just took off and they couldn't keep up to us.” Defenceman Eric Williams scored the first goal of the game just 46 seconds into the second period on the power play. Dylan Sikura and Calvin Higley earned the assists. The Tigers then proceeded to pad their lead in the third period, with three unanswered goals from Curtis Warren, Laidley and defenceman Callum Fryer to seal a 4 – 0 win. It was Fryer's first goal of the season. “We played pretty well as a unit. I thought that all four of our lines contributed and that shows that our secondary scoring is working for us and our goalie is playing amazing too,” added Kennedy. Kennedy said the team has shook off the rust from the break and believes the group is stronger now than at any other point in the season. “We're pretty deep and I think that goes unnoticed,” he said. “Teams will try to match our top line, but our secondary scoring and our defence really comes through on the penalty kill and we don't really allow a lot of goals.” The Tigers will be back in action this weekend when they visit Pickering on Friday night and then on Saturday at home against Lindsay. “I think they both give us a little bit of trouble, but as long as we come out as strong as we can and not take them for granted…we just have to play them like they're a top team and not sit back.” After those games, the Tigers will play their next six of seven at home. Something Kennedy and his teammates are looking forward to. “Come the end of the season those home games will play a big part and we won't have to travel and worry about the long drive and I think those will help us out.” |
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Post date: 2014-01-08 14:37:33 Post date GMT: 2014-01-08 19:37:33 Post modified date: 2014-01-15 14:33:04 Post modified date GMT: 2014-01-15 19:33:04 |
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