MILTON, ON - FEBRUARY 14: Austin McKillop #72 of the Milton Menace makes the save as Cam Lang #20 of the Caledon Admirals and Graeme MacAuley #23 of the Milton Menace battle in the crease during the first period at the Milton Memorial Arena on February 14, 2025 in Ontario, Canada (Photo by Tim Bates / OJHL Images)
The Milton Menace have hit the ice moving with their first two preseason games.
On Friday, August 15th, they welcomed the Aurora Tigers to the Sherwood Community Centre on Main Street West.
It was a pair of goals in the 1st period that started things off for Milton. The first of which came from the returning Gabriel Ciarallo. That was followed up by Brody Leet, who spent last year with Caledonia in the GOJHL. Milton led 2-0 after 20 minutes of action.
In the second period, Aurora would get on the board to pull it within one. Less than five minutes later, the Menace take back their two-goal lead. Nicolas Gilby was the goalscorer. He spent one game with the Menace last season, and 49 with the Pelham Panthers of the GOJHL. It was 3-1 Milton after two periods of play.
Veteran Nathan Catalano would score at the midway point of the final frame. That was quickly followed by a goal from Alec Stewart, who comes from the LaSalle Vipers in the GOJHL and spent the last three seasons competing for a role with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.
Milton beat the Tigers 5-1.
In net for Milton was Owen Byers to start the game. He got the win after switching with Liam Karbowski after the halfway mark in the second period.
Despite being from Barrie, Byers has been working on his game south of the border the last few years. If he makes the Menace, this will be his first official season in Canada since playing 21 games for the Blyth Hockey Academy AAA team in the 2021-2022 season. He stopped eight of nine shots.
As for Karbowski, he’s a 15-year-old who played with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16 AAA team last season. He stopped all four shots he faced.
A second game against the Tigers was played on Sunday, August 17th at the Aurora Community Centre.
This game was a bit closer, both in the final score and the shot count.
Ivan Fabjan kicked off the scoring in the first minute, getting the Menace on the board. That was followed up by another preseason goal for Gilby, and then Fabjan’s second of the game. It was 3-0 Milton after 20 minutes of play.
The Tigers would score to start off the second period, but Andrew Giljanovich would take back the three goal lead before the end of the frame. It was 4-1 Menace after two periods of play.
In the final period, Aurora would find twine, but it was not enough.
Milton beat Aurora again, this time 4-2.
All-star netminder Austin McKillop started the game for Milton. He stopped 15 of 16 shots. He was then replaced in the second period by Kyle Munro, who made 16 saves on 17 shots.
Menace fans will know McKillop, who served as the Menace starter for most of last season, earning himself an all-star nod (as a substitute). He played in 33 games, providing a .909% save percentage for Milton.
Munro is 16-years-old and is seemingly fighting for the back-up role behind McKillop. He spent last season with the Mississauga Rebels U18 AAA team, and was previously with the Toronto Titans AAA organization. Munro was one of 18 netminders to suit up for the OJHL Combine last season, playing in two games and winning both.
Next up for the Menace is a preseason game against the King Rebellion on Sunday, August 24th. That’ll be at the Iceland Arena in Mississauga at 4:30 p.m.
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