Stratford Aces fighting for a postseason spot, Hawkins commits to Michigan

The Stratford Humphrey Fleet Service U18 AA Aces are in a battle for a playoff spot as the OWHA-Southern regular season winds down to the final month.

Kylin Wilson, Meghan Graham and Brooklynn Ahrens explained to the Times what it means to be in the Aces’ leadership group.

“It's honestly such an honour. Like, I came into the organization last year. I came in with a bunch of older girls, and I looked up to them a lot. And to be able to fill a spot like they did last year is just an honour to me, and I'm trying my best to fill it coming in so young,” Wilson said.

“I was really honoured to be part of the leadership group this year. Last year, we had some really strong people that I definitely look up to. I really want to kind of put into action what they laid down last year, which is just the idea of humility and hard work and just lifting each other up and just a real competitiveness and wanting to win, but we still like winning together as a group,” Graham said.

“I got here this year. It's my first year on the Aces team and I'm really enjoying it. Everyone's just a big family. We all work together well, the dressing room dynamics are awesome, and everyone's super nice, especially the coaches. So, I'm really enjoying it,” Ahrens said.

“It's great being a role model for the other girls on our team. I've been really enjoying that.”

On Jan. 21, the Aces announced defenceman Bronwyn Hawkins has committed to play for the University of Michigan-Dearborn next year. Hawkins commented on joining the university program.

“I'm very grateful for all the support I've gotten from all my coaches over the years and teammates and everything. I'm just excited to go there next year and just see what the next chapter holds for me,” Hawkins said.

Heading into the weekend game against the first-place Waterloo Ravens at the Stratford Rotary Complex on Jan.24, the Aces are in the eighth and final playoff spot, one point ahead of the Owen Sound Ice Hawks, with a record of 4-8-3.

The Aces are coming off a critical 1-1 draw against the Kitchener Lady Rangers on Jan. 18. Head coach Sean Cameron says the team is feeling confident going into another pivotal test against Waterloo.

“We're battling for a playoff spot and every point that we can get is important to us. I was so impressed with the girls last week. That's a big point to pick up, and we're trying to make a push for the playoffs, and every point counts,” Cameron said.

“So, this week at practice, we were focusing on some fundamentals. It's just executing the game plan, and as we've kind of grown, we had a new team, and as we've been growing, the girls are getting used to the system. They're starting to execute in the system, and we're seeing results. It's been great, and Waterloo is going to be a tough game for us, for sure.”

Wilson says the team expects to improve and secure a playoff spot.

“The focus for our upcoming games is to get seven points to get into the playoffs and not have to worry about other teams helping us out. I think with the work we're putting in at practice, we should be able to get there. Girls have been working hard, putting in the work, so we should be good,” Wilson said.

The Ravens opened the scoring halfway through the first period. Stratford had two powerplay opportunities in the opening frame but were unable to generate a goal.

The game remained 1-0 through two periods until Graham, on the powerplay, buried the loose puck past the Waterloo net to tie the game with 2:45 left. But heartbreak ensued over 30 seconds later as Waterloo scored from a tight angle near the Stratford blueline for the winning goal. Waterloo added one more with 23.2 left to seal the win.

Despite being rewarded with the loss, Aces netminder Sloan Cameron stood tall in between the pipes for the home side throughout the game and kept the division leaders in check.

Cameron says the team fought hard and will take this game as part of the young squad's learning process.

“They were good today. We played with them for two solid periods. We went back and forth with them. In the third period, we finally got one squeak by their goaltender, and then we gave one up in the last two minutes,” Cameron said.

“Then they put the empty net goal in. So, it hurt a little bit, but it's back to the drawing board, and sometimes you've got to learn a lesson the hard way.”