Tigers roll over Spirit, improve to winning record

October 8, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

Things are starting to turn around for last year’s OJHL North Division Champion Aurora Tigers, as they earned two crucial wins last week to put their record above .500 for the first time this season.

The Stouffville Spirit were at the Aurora Community Centre last Friday for the second match of the year between the two teams.

The Tigers dominated early in every aspect of the game, with the defence holding steady at the blue line to keep the puck in the Spirit zone.

Liam Neuman opened the scoring with his third goal of the year midway through the first, beating the Spirit goaltender blocker-side with a sharp wrister from the right circle.

A few minutes later, John Curran and Daniel Mantenuto went in on a clear-cut 2-on-1. Mantenuto ripped a hard shot off the crossbar and down into the pads of Spirit goalie Aaron Taylor.

However, Mantenuto would get a second chance on the powerplay later in the period when Curran poked the puck out front to a wide-open Mantenuto, sliding it under the goaltender for a 2 – 0 Aurora lead.

“He curled around the side of the net and just got it to me in front,” he said. “All I had to do was put it in.”

In only his first year in the OJHL, Mantenuto has racked up six points over the first seven games.

The two-goal lead was not quite indicative of the play, as the Tigers outshot the Spirit 20 – 4 in the period and could have easily run away with the game early.

But the floodgates did open in the second when five minutes in, Nicholas Erb picked up the puck shorthanded off a bad giveaway by a Spirit defender, walking right out front uncontested and going five-hole on Taylor. Erb had two goals and two assists on the night.

By the end of the second period, the Tigers held a comfortable 5 – 1 lead.

In typical blow-out fashion, a scuffle broke out after the whistle midway through the third that saw five different skaters head to the penalty box.
By the final buzzer, the Tigers had won 7 – 1 in a game where they put 52 shots on net.

“It was tough losing against Georgetown [last Sunday] so a win tonight was unreal,” said Mantenuto. It felt great to bounce back with a big win like this.”

Marcus Semiao picked up the win in his first junior start in net, and credited his teammates with the victory.

“My team played really well in front of me, it made it easy to win. They kept the puck to the outside, I didn’t have to make too many tough saves.”
Semiao allowed one goal on twenty-one shots.

The Tigers were in Pickering to face the Panthers one day later, who were just coming off a week-long break in their schedule.

It was clear the Tigers offence was still hot following their production the night before, as a couple of powerplay goals in the first from Marty Lawlor and Drake Board helped the visiting team to an early 3 – 1 lead.

While Pickering crawled back to tie the game early in the third period, Cameron Morrison’s fifth of the year gave the Tigers their second win in a row.

Andy Munroe was back between the pipes for the Tigers, stopping 23 of the 26 shots he faced.

Now with a 4 – 3 record, the Tigers are on the road for both games this week, in Whitby on Friday and Oakville on Saturday.

Forward Liam Neuman will miss Friday’s game due to a gross misconduct at the end of last Saturday’s game. Neuman has three goals and one assist through seven games this year.

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