Resilient Aces move forward

The Stratford Humphrey Fleet Service U18 AA Aces enjoyed an excellent week, advancing to the semifinals of the OWHA Southern Tier-II Championships and earning a spot in the OWHA Provincials.

The Aces visited the Grand River Arena in Kitchener for Game 3 on March 5, holding a three-point to one (1-0-1) series advantage and requiring either a win or a draw in regulation to advance.

Brooklynn Ahrens scored for the Aces midway through the first period, but Kitchener equalized with less than five minutes remaining in the first. The Lady Rangers then took the lead 46 seconds into the second period. Although Stratford had two power plays during this period, they couldn't create significant scoring chances. With 2:03 remaining in the period, Kitchener extended their lead during a brief power play.

The Aces continued to struggle on the powerplay during the third period, while the Lady Rangers clinched Game 3 by scoring an empty net goal with 1:41 remaining. With Kitchener's win, the series would be decided in a 10-minute overtime.

After a back-and-forth first half of overtime, Ahrens scored on the rebound to give the Aces a 1-0 lead with 5:05 remaining in the period. Kitchener was pushing for an equalizer and pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with 1:13 left, but Skylar Macey scored into the empty net, sealing the victory and series for the Aces.

Macey and Ahrens, filled with joy, shared their thoughts on overcoming the Game 3 loss and coming back in extra time to win the series.

"It feels incredible. It was obviously really nerve-wracking going into overtime, but being able to put one in early and then put an empty knuckle and just really sealed it up and made it feel really good," Macey said.

"We kind of forget the game, because it just kind of starts fresh. It goes back to zero-zero, so just to kind of start as you're starting a game, just getting heck on the bench to get ready for it.

"But this is what it feels like to be an Ace, and it's fantastic to score a goal, to lock it in, and it's just an amazing feeling, for sure," Ahrens said.

"We gotta walk in for those 10 minutes, and it's just a switch of a mindset. We just had to forget the game that happened before and the periods, and we just need to get a goal and secure it."

Head coach Sean Cameron expressed pride in the team for overcoming the tough loss in Game 3 and rallying back to secure the series-clinching victory in the extra period.

"Well, it was kind of interesting. Because the scenario was set up the way it was, they beat us in the first game, and then we went to the extra 10-minute period. And you know, it was just a total mind switch, and the game was over, and then we had to go out there for the four-on-four overtime. I'm just so proud of those girls," Cameron said.

On March 7, the Aces travelled to the Mildway Arena in Mildway to face the Saugeen Maitland Lightning in another series-deciding matchup, this time for a spot in the provincial tournament later in the month.

Forward Macey Fischer scored the sole goal for the Aces on the powerplay, with one second left in the second period. In the third period, goaltender Callie Aldridge and the Aces successfully maintained their one-goal advantage, securing qualification for the OWHA Provincials, which will be held in Etobicoke and Mississauga from April 7-9.

Cameron reflected on another series-clinching win and on the progress the team has made this season.

"It means everything to us. And you know, we started back in August, and we had a plan. Sometimes plans don't work out the way you always think they will. But we focused, we got prepared, and, you know, we put the work in. We had a fairly new squad this year with 12 new girls on our team, and it took us a little extra time, but, man, the second half of the season, I'm just so proud of those girls. Winning today is a huge victory," Cameron said.

"We played a very good team in Saugeen Maitland, it means everything to us, especially winning one nothing. It just shows how tight the two teams were, both games. Game One was 2-1. Game Two was 2-1, and Game Three was 1-0. When you have a tight series like that, it's all about the details, and we were able to pull out the win today."

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

Game 1: Aces 1 Lightning 2

Game 2: Lightning 1 Aces 2

Game 3:  Aces 1 Lightning 0

Stratford wins series 2-1

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 1 Kitchener 4

Game 4: Stratford 2 Kitchener 0

Stratford wins series 2-1-1