Aces edge Lightning, seize series control over Lady Rangers

The Stratford Humphrey Fleet Service U18 AA Aces opened their second-round of the Tier II OWHA-Southern Playoffs series against the Kitchener Lady Rangers and continued their OWHA Provincial Playdowns against the Saugeen-Maitland Lightning.

On Feb. 26, the Aces headed to Grand River Arena in Kitchener for a match against the Lady Rangers. In the first game of the second round, Stratford and Kitchener finished in a 1-1 draw. According to the current playoff rules, the first team to reach four points moves on to the next round.

Aces head coach Sean Cameron shared his perspective on the series versus the Lady Rangers.

“Kitchener is a very solid team. They are extremely well coached. We got her a lot of respect for Kitchener. So our focus is to get a home game, get two points, and then go back to their barn and hopefully go on to the next round. But you know, at the end of the day … we keep saying, ‘Why not us?’ That's how we feel.”

Stratford hosted the Lightning in Game 2 at the William Allman Memorial Arena on Feb. 28.

Josephine Binning opened the scoring for the Aces with a breakaway goal with 4:23 remaining in the first period. Early in the second period, the Lightning launched a breakaway, but Stratford's Sloan Cameron made the save. Saugeen-Maitland tied the game later in the period after forcing a turnover in the neutral zone and scoring on a breakaway.

With 4:45 remaining in the game, Stratford's team captain, Kylin Wilson, scored the winning goal. The Lightning applied pressure in the final minute with an extra attacker, but Cameron and the Aces maintained their lead to secure a 2-1 victory, keeping their championship hopes alive.

Following the game, coach Sean commented on the game and on what it meant to coach at the historic arena in Game 2.

“It means everything to us. We talked about it at the beginning of the period, how historic this place is. I just grew up around the corner here from the Allman Arena, and it's a special place to me. I played here myself, and to have my two daughters on this team and my crew here, it means a lot to me. We beat a really tough team out there, battling it out to get a 2-1 win,” Cameron said.

Both Sloan and Wilson praised the team for the way they won the game, which helped them get back in the series.

“It's huge. Saugeen has always been a rivalry. They're a great team. Gotta have some respect for them out there. Being in my last year and couldn't be prouder of these girls for pushing on for another game, to hopefully go to provincials, means everything,” Sloan said.

“'It’s an unreal experience. Honestly, I wasn't sure if we had it, because at the start of the year, we had a better rough patch, but since the new year, we've come out, and we put in the work, and it's really starting to show now,” Wilson said.

The series finale is scheduled for March 7 at 11:30 a.m. at the Mildmay Arena in Mildmay.

On March 2, the Aces secured the series lead with a 4-1 victory over the Lady Rangers at Stratford Rotary Complex. Game 3, which will determine the series outcome, is scheduled for March 5 at the Grand River Arena in Kitchener.

Stratford Aces vs. Saugeen Maitland Lightning (OWHA Provincial Playdowns)

Game 1 Aces 1 Lightning 2

Game 2 Lightning 1 Aces 2

Game 3 Stratford vs. Saugeen Maitland (Mildmay Arena) March 7, 11:30 a.m.

Series tied 1-1

Stratford Aces vs. Kitchener Lady Rangers (Tier 2 OWHA-Southern Round 2 Series)

Game 1 Stratford 1 Kitchener 1

Game 2 Kitchener 1 Stratford 4

Game 3 Stratford vs. Kitchener (Grand River Arena) March 5, 8:30 p.m.

Stratford leads series 1-0-1