Feb 24, 2018 | RNyenhuis | 529 views
Week One of Playoffs Provide Challenges and Rewards for Aces Novice C
Aces Provide a tight challenge for Division 2 opponent at the end the week they are tied for first in WOGHL Divisional Playoff
The Stratford Kinsmen Novice C Aces started their local round robin provincial playoff against the South Huron Sabres Sunday at the RBC Arena. The Sabres C team played the 2017-18 season in a division above the Aces and were the challenge the girls needed to continue to improve their level of play. Play was end-to-end for much of the game as net-minder and game MVP Reece Flanagan provided solid pipe to pipe goal-tending stopping a flurry of Sabre shots throughout the game. Mid-way through the second, Pippa Nyenhuis attempted a pass up ice intended for team-mate Gianna Nickel. The puck proved to be too far for Nickel and was sent up ice and ended up fooling the Sabres netminder and putting the Aces up 1-0. Flanagan kept up her domination of the net, covering the bottom of the net sprawling left and right for every shot the Sabres could muster. Eventually the pressure from the the Sabres found the Ace goal twice late in the game and the girls suffered their first playoff loss 2-1.
Tuesday's First Divisional Match-up put the Aces up against their Divisional foe the BAD Blazers in what proved to be revenge for the the Blazer girls who were stripped of the seasonal divisional title in the 11th hour by the Aces. The Aces were put of their heels early and the Blazers did not relent. The Aces were shut-out 6-0 on the road.
The Aces began a home and home series against the West Oxford Inferno Friday night in game two of the WOGHL divisional playoff at the RBC arena. Determined to make up for their loss Tuesday, the girls came out of the gates on fire. Pippa Nyenhuis opened the scoring in the first, and followed it up by setting up Charlee MacFarlane to put the Aces up 2-0. Emerie Smith squeaked one in at the buzzer at the end of the 2nd period putting the girls up 3-0. The Inferno responded in the third but that was soon squashed by a beautiful blue line set up by Adele Helson to a wide open and waiting Katie Wheal to bring the Aces up 4-1 mid way through the third. The Inferno slid another past net-minder Maeve Moss but an extra insurance goal by Jule Cameron late int he third sealed the Aces win 5-2 in front of a Friday night home crowd.
The Aces traveled to Embro to meet the Inferno 18 hours later on Saturday Morning to continue where they had left off the previous evening. This game was a memory maker for the Stokes-Helson cousin connection as the blue-liners both netted their first Ace goals of the year in a dominating 5-1 win over the Inferno. Stokes consistent game by game hustle culminated into her first goal but it also earned her this game's MVP. Wheal, Smith and Nyenhuis rounded out the Aces scoring while game net -minder Reece Flanagan, destined for her 3rd shutout had her fortune spoiled by a late third period spoiler by the Inferno.
The Aces now find themselves tied with the Blazers with 4 playoff points in divisional play and look forward to meeting the 2nd place overall WOGHL first division Mitchell Meteors for the first time this season in their second provincial play down game Sunday afternoon.