NotesThe stage was set for the championship game against the Lambton
Attack. Up to this point, a commitment
to team work, a tenacious style of play and a no-quit attitude had proven the
winning recipe for the Aces. As they
filed out of the locker room and made their way to the ice, you could see the
determination written on their faces.
With just one glance we knew, it was Eye of the Tiger time.
From puck drop to final whistle the fans were treated to some of the
best, fast-paced, action-packed, gritty, nail-biting hockey they had ever
seen. Scoring opened early in the second
when a Lambton forward banged home a fortuitous rebound, giving the Attack the advantage. Undaunted, the Aces stayed committed to their
game plan with sustained pressure and keen positional awareness. Their efforts were rewarded when a shot by
Taylor Neeb slipped through a sea of defenders, beat the goalie, and knotted
the game at one.
It would all come down to the third period. Which team would claim
the championship? Action resumed at a
break-neck pace, the intensity continued to build. Mid-way through the third, a
Lambton tripping penalty gave the Aces a man advantage. With 55 seconds left in the power play, Devan
Taylor took control of the puck, skated across the blue line and rifled a shot
that deflected off the net-minder’s blade and into the net, giving the Aces
their first lead of the game.
Sensing the game slipping from their fingers, the Attack threw
everything they had at the Aces squad.
But this was not the first time the Aces had faced adversity. Throughout the tournament the Aces had built
a resiliency based on a foundation of playing as a single, focused, relentless
unit. And it was with that determination that the Aces repelled Lambton’s
attack. With momentum securely in their
grip, the Aces pressed the attack, not satisfied to rest on a one goal
lead. With minutes left in the third,
Avery Faulhafer found the back of the net putting the Aces one step closer to
victory.
On the ensuing face off Lambton took control of the puck, pulled
their goalie for the extra skater and went on the attack. The Aces swarmed to the puck, chasing the
Lambton players back into the neutral zone, and as the final seconds ticked off
the clock, the Aces began to celebrate the hard-earned Festival Cup
Championship!
Well done Aces!
Article by: E. Wheal