Aces draw with the Hornets in Game 2

The OWHA-Southern Tier-II Consolation Semifinal series between the Stratford Humphrey Fleet Service U18 AA Aces and the Oakville Hornets is tied after two games, following a 3-3 draw on March 23 at the Stratford Rotary Complex.

In the first period, the Aces opened the scoring with 4:38 remaining when Rhyan Davy located the loose puck in front of the Oakville crease and scored into the open net. Just 22 seconds later, Josephine Binning capitalized on an Oakville defensive error, giving the Aces a quick 2-0 lead. Stratford held onto the lead after successfully killing off the late-period Oakville power play.

The Hornets narrowed the Aces' lead to 2-1 only 2:50 into the second period. As the game progressed, the Aces were on the powerplay on three separate occasions but were unable to score.

Oakville tied the game at 2-2 just seconds after their powerplay expired early in the third period. Brooklynn Ahrens ended the Aces’ powerplay scoring woes with 9:54 left in the final frame and gave the home side a 3-2 lead. On Stratford’s sixth powerplay of the game with 4:33 left, the Hornets capitalized on a tough bounce in the Aces goal, and the puck got deflected off netminder Callie Aldridge and back in the net for the game-tying goal.

Stratford preserved the tie with the successful penalty kill late in the period. As a result, the two teams sit at two points each, with the winner-take-all Game 3 set for the Joshua Creek Arena in Oakville on March 27.

Stratford head coach Sean Cameron summarized the outcome of Game 2 and the importance of executing the game plan in Game 3, with the championship berth on the line.

“Oakville is a very strong team. We came out really hot, got two really nice goals that, you know, kind of changed the swing, and then we let Oakville back into it a little bit, but at the end of the day, we came away with the point,” Cameron said.

“We've got to get more shots on net. We've got to get more quality shots as well. So for us, it's just about pucks on net and sending our next girl in to pounce on the rebounds when the opportunity comes, and hopefully we come away with a victory.”

Stratford Aces vs. Oakville Hornets (OWHA-Southern Tier II Consolation Championship Semifinals)

Game 1 – Aces 3 Hornets 3

Game 2 – Hornets 3 Aces 3

Game 3 – Stratford vs. Oakville (Oakville Joshua Creek Arena) March 24, 7 p.m.

Series tied 0-0-2, as of press time