NEWS

The OJHL announced today that Aurora Tigers netminder Andy Munroe (photo credit - Brian Watts/OJHL Images) has been named the Gongshow Gear Goaltender-of-the-Month for the second time this season after posting a 1.42 goals against average and three shutouts in eight games played.

The veteran netminder captured the award for the second time on the strength of a 6-2-0 record in January that helped the Tigers clinch the North Division title for the third consecutive year.  Munroe allowed just 11 goals in 8 games played, while stopping 219 shots for an impressive .952 save percentage.  Munroe posted three shutouts in his eight starts, including a 37 save shutout over division rival Lindsay and a pair of shutouts over conference opponents Wellington and Kingston.

"It is a great honour to receive the Goalie-of-the-Month Award for the second time this season," said Munroe.  "Our team has played exceptional this year and they make each game a lot easier for me. I wouldn't be the goaltender I am today without the help of my coaches, teammates and family. This award is as much theirs as it is mine. I'm so thankful to have been given this honour again and I look forward to seeing what our team can do in the playoffs."

"The Aurora Tigers would like to congratulate Andy on his second Goalie-of-the-Month Award," said Tigers General Manager and Head Coach James Richmond.  "He has been the team's backbone throughout the season giving us a chance to win every night. We wish Andy continued success."

Aaron Taylor of the Stouffville Spirit was runner-up to Munroe as the Goaltender-of-the-Month. Taylor also posted a 6-2-0 record in January, with a .946 save percentage, to lead the Spirit's resurgence and place them alone in second place in the North Division standings, solidly in a playoff position.

Born on January 27, 1994, Andy Munroe grew-up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Keswick, Ontario, ultimately finding his way to the York-Simcoe Express 'AAA' organization.

Munroe was a member of the Bantam Express in 2008-09 that won the OMHA title and competed at the OHF Provincial Championship that was held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.  The following year as a minor midget, Munroe and his teammates had another successful season.  They worked their way to a spot in the prestigious OHL Cup tournament, where they ultimately fell 2-1 to the powerhouse Toronto Marlies in the semi-final as Munroe earned Player of the Game honours .  With the scouting fraternity taking notice, the talented backstop, who posted a 1.88 goals against average during the season, would be selected by the Peterborough Petes in the 7th round, 138th overall, in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection.

Wanting to keep his collegiate options open, Munroe made the move south of the border, spending the next two seasons at Holderness Prep School in Plymouth, New Hampshire.  He would be named one of the club's captain during his second season and helped lead the club to the championship game of the New England Prep School Athletic Conference.  Munroe would make 40 saves as Holderness fell 3-2 in overtime to the top-ranked Kimball Union Academy and following the season was named a co-recipient of the Holderness Coaches Award.

Pursued by numerous junior clubs, Munroe chose to join the CCHL's Pembroke Lumber Kings for the 2012-13 season after attending spring and summer prospect camps.  Splitting the season with teammate Darren Smith, Munroe would play 30 regular season contests, while posting a respectable 14-12-1 record with two shutouts, a 2.95 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.  His play during the season, earned Munroe a spot on Team CCHL Yzerman that would finish as runner-up at the 2012 Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge that was held in Wellington, Ontario following a 1-0 loss in a shootout to the OJHL East Division All-Stars.

On the move once again during the off-season, Munroe found himself close to home for the first time in three years when he joined the Tigers.  His season got off to a bit of a slow start when faced with an illness, but he quickly got back on track, teaming with OJHL Goaltender-of-the-Year Kevin Entmaa to form one of the league's most formidable tandems.  Munroe's brightest moment came during the North-East Conference Semi-Final when he was forced into action during game seven of their series versus Cobourg after Entmaa fell ill.  Standing on his head throughout the game, the lanky netminder stopped 46 Cougars shots en route to a 2-1 victory, earning the Tigers a trip to the Conference Final.  He would also take over for Entmaa during the OJHL Championship Series versus Toronto Lakeshore as they ultimately finished as runner-up, falling in six games.

Picking up where he left off in 2013-14, Munroe took over from Entmaa as the Tigers starting netminder this season and has led them once again to the top of the OJHL standings, posting a league-high 17 victories with a 2.56 goals against average and .908 save percentage.  Once again he would compete at the Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge, this time suiting up for Team OJHL Coffey and splitting the netminding duties with Austin Washkurak.  With the Tigers firing on all cylinders, Munroe looks to finish the job that came so close to fruition last season.