Aurora Tigers

Aurora Tigers
City Aurora, Ontario, Canada
League Ontario Junior Hockey League
Founded Circa 1913
Home arena Aurora Community Center
Colours Black, Yellow, and White
              
Owner(s) Jim & Rita Thomson
General manager Jim Thomson
Head coach Thomas Milne (2015-16)
Media Rogers T.V, Fasthockey
Franchise history
19xx-1963 Aurora Bears
1963-1985 Aurora Tigers
1986-1993 Aurora Eagles
1993-Present Aurora Tigers

The Aurora Tigers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Aurora, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League but also used to be a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League, Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League, and the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

History

The Aurora Tigers were first formed in 1967 as a member of the Metro Junior "B" league. In 1972, the most viable teams were pulled from the Metro and into the OHA Junior "A" league. The Tigers stayed on board until 1985, and as the financial situation of the league changed and became less viable, the Tigers folded.

In 1987, Aurora's financial interests were intrigued into coming back. With the OHA Jr. "A" now folded, the Central Junior "B" and Metro Junior "B" were consistently being judged as the heirs to the Junior "A" title. The Aurora Eagles joined the Central Junior "B" league and stayed there until 1992.

In 1991, tired of the indecisiveness of the Ontario Hockey Association in creating the next Junior "A" league, the now renegade Metro Junior "B" league declared themselves Southern Ontario's only Tier II Junior "A" league. The league even helped form the Canadian Junior A Hockey League in 1993. The forwardness of the new Junior "A" league drew the interest of the Aurora franchise. They joined the league in 1992, reverting to the old "Tigers" nickname. The Tigers won the Metro league title in 1997 and moved to the OPJHL—a year before the Metro folded.

A new era of the Tigers started in 1997. The old Central Junior "B" league was promoted to Tier II Junior "A" in 1993 and became the OPJHL. Since 1997, the Tigers have had winning seasons 8 out of 9 seasons. In 2002-03, the Tigers had an amazing season (only losing 3 times) but came away with no hardware in the playoffs. In 2003-04, the Tigers had an unbelievable season. With a 47-2-0-0 record, the Tigers won the Buckland Cup as OPJHL Playoff Champions, the Dudley Hewitt Cup as Central Canadian Champions, and the Royal Bank Cup as Canadian Junior "A" National Champions.

2003-04 Season and Playoffs

Dudley Hewitt Cup

The Tigers gained a ticket to the Dudley Hewitt Cup by winning the Buckland Cup as OPJHL champions. The Tigers started out against the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. Soo failed to win their league but gained a ticket to the DHC as their competitor in the final was the DHC Host. The game proved to be close, but the Tigers prevailed 3-1. In the second game, the Tigers faced the Fort William North Stars, Champions of the Superior International Junior Hockey League. The Tigers shutdown their tough opponents with a 4-0 win. The North Stars, of a relatively new league, are the elite of the Thunder Bay area. Their third game saw them defeat the NOJHL Champion North Bay Skyhawks 5-3, which earned them a bye to the DHC final.

The North Bay Skyhawks defeated the Fort William North Stars in the Semi-final to meet the Aurora Tigers in the DHC final. The Final, to determine a birth to the Royal Bank Cup 2004, ended up in a decisive 5-1 victory for the Tigers.

Royal Bank Cup 2004

The Aurora Tigers started off their Royal Bank Cup 2004 tournament against a well-rested host team, the Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The Storm defeated the Tigers by a score of 4-2, their last loss of the season. Game two was against the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League, the Doyle Cup Champions, defeating them 4-2. The next game pitted the Tigers against the Anavet Cup Champions Kindersley Klippers from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The Tigers won by a score of 5-0. The fourth round robin game saw the Tigers defeat the Fred Page Cup Champion Nepean Raiders of the Central Junior A Hockey League by a score of 3-1.

The Tigers finished tied for first in the round robin, but second by tie breaker. In the Semi-final, they drew the Nepean Raiders again but this time beat them in convincing fashion 7-2. Kindersley upset the hosts 4-3 in the other Semi-final, drawing a lopsided 7-1 victory for the Tigers against the Klippers in the Final, earning them their first Royal Bank Cup.

2006-07 Season and Playoffs

The Tigers finished the 2006-07 season with the top record in the OPJHL and as the top ranked team in all of the CJAHL —44 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie.

In the playoffs, they first swept the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 4-games-to-none. They then beat the Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-2. In the Division final, they defeated the Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-1. In the Conference final, they defeated the Hamilton Red Wings 4-games-to-1 and then defeated the Wellington Dukes 4-games-to-1 to clinch the Buckland Cup as OPJHL Champions.

Dudley Hewitt Cup

In late April, the Tigers drove North to Iroquois Falls, Ontario to compete for their second Dudley Hewitt Cup. In the tourney opener, the Tigers defeated the NOJHL Champion Soo Indians 4-1. They then went the next night and beat the SIJHL Champion Schreiber Diesels 6-3. In the final game of the round robin, the Tiger beat up the host Abitibi Eskimos 7-0 to clinch first place and a bye to the tournament final. In the final game, the Tigers defeated Schreiber Diesels 10-0, having outshot them 67-23 and earning a birth to the Royal Bank Cup 2007.

Royal Bank Cup 2007

The Tigers started off with a 4-2 win over the Selkirk Steelers (MJHL). Aurora then suffered a disappointing loss to the Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL), 5-3. They then took out their frustration on the host Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) with a 6-3 victory and then flexed some muscle with a 7-4 dismantling of their most anticipated opponent, the Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL). With a 3-1 record in the round robin, the Tiger clinched first place and the early semi-final against the 4th seed Pembroke Lumber Kings. The rematch was ugly, with the Lumber Kings leading 2-1 at one point. The Tigers tied up the game to force overtime and then tournament MVP, Top Forward, and Scoring Champion Daniel Michalsky scored the winner early in the extra frame. The Tigers went on to face Prince George in the final as they had disposed of Camrose 3-2 in fifth overtime the night before. By early in the third, the Tigers had built up a 3-0 lead and held on to win 3-1 to win their second Royal Bank Cup in four years.

Accolades

The Tigers finished the season with a combined 73 wins, 10 losses, and 1 tie. Their 2006-07 accolades include the Regular Season Crown, the #1 CJAHL National Ranking, the North Division Championship, the North/West Conference Championship, the OPJHL Buckland Cup, the Ontario Hockey Association Championship, the Ontario Hockey Federation Championship, the Dudley Hewitt Cup, and the Royal Bank Cup as the Best Junior "A" Team in Canada.

Season-by-Season results

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Results Playoffs
1950-51 20 6 14 0 - 74 127 12 6th Metro BDid not qualify
1953-54 32 9 23 0 - 105 191 18 8th Metro BDid not qualify
1954-55 Suburban C
1955-56 16 6 10 0 - -- -- 12 5th Suburban D DNQ
1956-57 20 16 3 1 - -- -- 33 1st Suburban C Lost Semi-final (Brooklin)
1957-58 26 13 12 1 - -- -- 27 4th Suburban C Lost Semi-final (Brooklin)
1958-59 28 18 10 0 - 152 106 36 3rd Metro BWon League (West Toronto)
Lost SC Final (Sarnia)
1959-60 28 10 11 7 - 127 132 27 5th Metro BLost Quarter-final (Toronto)
1960-61 Did Not Participate
1961-62 32 14 13 5 - 171 175 33 3rd Metro B
1962-63 23 17 4 2 - -- -- 36 1st SubJCHL Lost Semi-final (Stouffville)
1963-64 28 22 5 1 - -- -- 45 1st SubJCHLLost Final (Lindsay)
1964-65 26 8 17 1 - -- -- 17 7th SubJCHL Lost Final (Lindsay)
1965-66 32 25 4 3 - -- -- 49 1st SubJCHL
1966-67 30 25 2 3 - 177 88 53 1st SubJCHL Won League (Georgetown)
Lost CSC Final (New Hamburg)
1967-68 36 7 26 3 - 151 243 17 10th Metro BDid not qualify
1968-69 36 15 15 6 - 150 149 36 5th Metro B
1969-70 36 17 14 5 - 166 145 39 6th Metro BLost Quarter-final (Markham)
1970-71 44 17 21 6 - 218 197 40 7th Metro B
1971-72 44 17 20 7 - 165 195 41 7th Metro B
1972-73 44 20 20 4 - 194 190 44 5th OPJHLLost Quarter-final (Toronto)
1973-74 44 24 12 8 - 221 180 56 5th OPJHLLost Final (Wexford)
1974-75 44 20 16 8 - 192 178 48 7th OPJHLLost Quarter-final (Wexford)
1975-76 44 15 21 8 - 175 203 38 11th OPJHLDid not qualify
1976-77 44 19 17 8 - 198 188 46 5th OPJHLLost Quarter-final (North Bay)
1977-78 50 23 22 5 - 278 278 51 5th OPJHLLost Quarter-final (Dixie)
1978-79 50 17 29 4 - 212 267 38 8th OPJHLLost Quarter-final (Dixie)
1979-80 44 26 14 4 - 291 224 56 3rd OPJHLLost Semi-final (Royal York)
1980-81 44 15 29 0 - 221 280 30 11th OPJHLDid not qualify
1981-82 50 31 15 4 - 310 252 66 3rd OJHLLost Quarter-final (Markham)
1982-83 48 9 33 6 - 197 319 24 9th OJHLDid not qualify
1983-84 42 4 34 4 - 168 370 12 8th OJHLLost Quarter-final (Dixie)
1984-85 48 34 11 3 - 358 210 71 2nd OJHLLost Final (Orillia)
Lost DHC Final (Orillia)
Lost MCC Semi-final (Penticton)
1985-86 Did Not Participate
1986-87 44 25 15 4 - 270 225 54 2nd OJHLLost Final (Owen Sound)
1987-88 44 25 13 6 - 248 194 56 4th CJBHLLost Division Semi-final (Barrie)
1988-89 42 17 22 3 - 207 214 37 9th CJBHLLost Division Quarter-final (Vaughan)
1989-90 42 11 24 7 - 160 207 29 13th CJBHLLost Division Quarter-final (Newmarket)
1990-91 42 22 15 5 - 205 170 49 5th CJBHLLost Division Final (Orillia)
1991-92 42 22 15 5 - 201 185 49 6th CJBHLLost Final (Milton)
1992-93 48 24 22 2 - 227 221 50 6th Metro ALost Quarter-final (Muskoka)
1993-94 50 20 26 4 - 235 268 44 10th Metro A Did not qualify
1994-95 50 26 17 7 - 232 177 59 4th Metro ALost Quarter-final (St. Michael's)
1995-96 52 28 18 6 - 255 206 62 6th Metro A Lost Quarter-final (Niagara)
1996-97 50 42 5 3 - 342 138 87 1st Metro A Won League (Caledon)
1997-98 51 27 17 6 1 226 196 61 3rd OPJHL-PLost Division Semi-final (Newmarket)
1998-99 51 31 12 6 2 216 155 70 4th OPJHL-CLost Division Semi-final (Collingwood)
1999-00 47 27 15 5 0 150 130 59 4th OPJHL-NLost Division Quarter-final (Stouffville)
2000-01 49 18 29 0 2 189 271 38 5th OPJHL-NLost Division Quarter-final (Collingwood)
2001-02 49 30 15 3 1 193 150 64 3rd OPJHL-NLost Conference Final (Brampton)
2002-03 49 44 2 2 1 265 103 89 1st OPJHL-N Lost Final (Wellington)
2003-04 49 47 2 0 0 290 79 94 1st OPJHL-N Won League (St. Michael's)
Won DHC (North Bay)
Won RBC (Kindersley)
2004-05 49 33 13 2 1 222 136 69 1st OPJHL-NLost Conference Final (Georgetown)
2005-06 49 35 8 4 2 210 112 76 1st OPJHL-N Lost Division Final (Stouffville)
2006-07 49 44 4 1 0 260 99 89 1st OPJHL-N Won League (Wellington)
Won DHC (Schreiber)
Won RBC (Prince George)
2007-08 49 33 12 - 4 250 138 70 3rd OPJHL-N Lost Conference Final (Oakville
2008-09 49 37 11 - 1 228 150 75 3rd OJHL-PLost Division Semi-final (Huntsville)
2009-10 56 32 18 - 6 265 227 70 7th OJAHL Lost Quarter-final (Oakville)
2010-11 50 22 25 - 3 161 207 45 6th OJHL-N Did not qualify
2011-12 49 28 13 - 8 188 163 64 3rd OJHL-N Lost Division Semi-final (Stouffville)
2012-13 55 32 17 - 6 186 156 70 1st OJHL-N Lost Conference Quarter-final (Lindsay)
2013-14 53 38 12 - 3 220 122 79 1st OJHL-N Lost Final (Lakeshore)
2014-15 - - - - - - - - - -
2015-16 54 28 17 1 8 174 137 65 2nd of 6 Nor Div
7th of 11 NE Conf
14th of 22 OJHL
Lost Conf. Quarters 2-4 (Dukes)

Playoffs

Original OPJHL Years

Toronto Nationals defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Seneca Flyers 4-games-to-2
Aurora Tigers defeated North York Rangers 4-games-to-none
Wexford Raiders defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-1
Wexford Raiders defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none
North Bay Trappers defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-3
Dixie Beehives defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-1
Dixie Beehives defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Belleville Bulls 4-games-to-3
Royal York Royals defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-2
Markham Waxers defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-1
Dixie Beehives defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated North York Red Wings 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Newmarket Flyers 4-games-to-3
Orillia Travelways defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) 4-games-to-none
Third in 1985 Centennial Cup round robin (1-2)
Penticton Knights (BCJHL) defeated Aurora Tigers 8-5 in semi-final
Aurora Eagles defeated Richmond Hill Dynes 4-games-to-2
Owen Sound Greys defeated Aurora Eagles 4-games-to-none

MetJHL Years

Aurora Eagles defeated Bramalea Blues 3-games-to-1
Muskoka Bears defeated Aurora Eagles 4-games-to-2
St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Aurora Eagles 4-games-to-2
Niagara Scenic defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-3
Aurora Tigers defeated Durham Huskies 4-games-to-none
Second in round robin quarter-final (4-2)
Aurora Tigers defeated Quinte Hawks 4-games-to-2
Aurora Tigers defeated Caledon Canadians 4-games-to-none METJHL CHAMPIONS

OJHL Years

Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Markham Waxers 3-games-to-1
Collingwood Blues defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-1
Stouffville Spirit defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none
Collingwood Blues defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Parry Sound Shamrocks 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Couchiching Terriers 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-none
Brampton Capitals defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Bramalea Blues 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Collingwood Blues 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-2
Aurora Tigers defeated Georgetown Raiders 4-games-to-1
Wellington Dukes defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-2
Aurora Tigers defeated Lindsay Muskies 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Collingwood Blues 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Oakville Blades 4-games-to-2
Aurora Tigers defeated St. Michael's Buzzers 4-games-to-2 OPJHL CHAMPIONS
First in Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin (3-0) RUDDOCK TROPHY CHAMPIONS
Aurora Tigers defeated North Bay Skyhawks (NOJHL) 5-1 in final DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONS
Second in 2004 Royal Bank Cup round robin (3-1)
Aurora Tigers defeated Nepean Raiders (CJHL) 7-2 in semi-final
Aurora Tigers defeated Kindersley Klippers (SJHL) 7-1 in final ROYAL BANK CUP CHAMPIONS
Aurora Tigers defeated Syracuse Jr. Crunch 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Huntsville-Muskoka Otters 4-games-to-2
Aurora Tigers defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-2
Georgetown Raiders defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-3
Aurora Tigers defeated Bancroft Hawks 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Collingwood Blues 4-games-to-1
Stouffville Spirit defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-2
Aurora Tigers defeated Buffalo Jr. Sabres 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-2
Aurora Tigers defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Hamilton Red Wings 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Wellington Dukes 4-games-to-1 OPJHL CHAMPIONS
First in Dudley Hewitt Cup round robin (3-0) RUDDOCK TROPHY CHAMPIONS
Aurora Tigers defeated Schreiber Diesels (SIJHL) 10-0 in final DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONS
First in 2007 Royal Bank Cup round robin (3-1)
Aurora Tigers defeated Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL) 3-2 OT in semi-final
Aurora Tigers defeated Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) 3-1 in final ROYAL BANK CUP CHAMPIONS
Aurora Tigers defeated Orangeville Crushers 3-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Stouffville Spirit 4-games-to-1
Oakville Blades defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-2
Aurora Tigers defeated Collingwood Blues 3-games-to-1
Huntsville Otters defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-2
Oakville Blades defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Orangeville Flyers 3-games-to-1
Stouffville Spirit defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-1

Sutherland Cup Appearances

1959: Sarnia Legionnaires defeated Aurora Bruins 4-games-to-2 with 1 tie

Player famous from another sport

Anwar Hared scored the first ever goal of Somalia national bandy team in the 2014 Bandy World Championship.

Notable alumni

External links


Preceded by
Humboldt Broncos
Royal Bank Cup Champions
2004
Succeeded by
Weyburn Red Wings
Preceded by
Burnaby Express
Royal Bank Cup Champions
2007
Succeeded by
Humboldt Broncos
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