Semiao leads Tigers to fourth-straight win with shutout

October 18, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

The Junior A Aurora Tigers are once again starting to look like the OJHL finalists of last season.

The Tigers were in Whitby for the second game of a three game road trip last Friday to take on the Fury.

An early Whitby goal put the road team in an early hole, however, solid defence and a goal each from Keaton Ratcliffe and Marty Lawlor had Aurora up by one heading to the second.

After potting three more unanswered in the middle frame, the Tigers put the game out of reach with a four goal lead, taking the game by a score of 5 – 3.

Tigers goaltender Andy Munroe made 18 saves on the 21 shots he faced.

The next night’s matchup against the Oakville Blades turned into a goaltending battle, as neither Aurora’s Marcus Semiao nor Oakville’s Daniel Mannella were willing to give one up in the first.

Michael Longato gave a spark to the Tigers midway through the second period, netting his first goal of the year and first in a Tigers uniform.
Eric Williams doubled the lead less than a minute later, a lead that the team would ride to the end of the match on the solid goaltending from Semiao.

Semiao has had an incredible start to his junior career, holding onto a 0.50 goals against average having allowed one goal in two games played.
A 2013 OHL draft pick of the Ottawa 67’s, Semiao posted an impressive 1.65 GAA in his minor midget season with the AAA York-Simcoe Express.

“He’s just been a solid kid in the net. He’s working hard, you know…he’s the future goalie of the Tigers. (Andy) Munroe ended up second in the league last year, and has been just great for us. I see Semiao cutting his teeth this year, and being the future of our goaltending,” says Coach James Richmond.

Solid backstopping is best complemented by a solid offence, with the Tigers having found the back of the net eighteen times over the last four games.

And the fifteen rookie skaters are providing the brunt of the offence.

Cameron Morrison, Daniel Mantenuto, and Nicholas Erb have combined for 22 points so far in a Tigers sweater, a statistic not going unnoticed by the coaching staff.

“Guys are stepping up, I think they’re getting more and more comfortable,” said Richmond.

Veteran players are also finding their roles, as Richmond said team captain Michael Laidley has been one of the team’s best players over the last two weeks.

“He’s been very good for us, as he usually is.”

Laidley was named the game’s first star Friday in Whitby, earning a goal and two assists.

The Tigers now sit fourth in the OJHL North Division, however their positioning is deceiving – they have played only nine games this season, while each other divisional rival has played between twelve and fourteen.

They now return home for a game post-press time Wednesday against the Pickering Panthers, before a weekend home-and-away Saturday and Sunday against the Wellington Dukes and Toronto Jr. Canadiens, respectively.

For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.auroratigers.pointstreaksites.com.