Feb 03, 2020 | Sean Cameron | 447 views
Humphrey Fleet Service Atom A Aces Take Over First Place
The Humphrey Fleet Service Atom A Aces moved into first place overall with a 7-0 victory over the St. Thomas Panthers, January 25.
The Aces came out flying in the final regular season game knowing a win would secure home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Just over three minutes in, Emma Van Nes fed Abby Van Bakel and she found Jayda Dietz out front and she ripped a one timer into the net. Then a minute later, with the Aces shorthanded, Emersyn Miller's shot was stopped but Linley Porter was there to backhand the rebound past the netminder for a two goal lead with 5:29 to play in the first. Chloe Rison came up with a couple of huge saves as the Panthers pushed hard during the remainder of their power play. Seconds after killing it off Maren Marshall fed Dietz and she stepped over the blueline and ripped it low glove side for a three goal lead. Van Nes found Miller in the neutral zone and she put on a clinic undressing the netminder with a last second deke with 50.2 seconds to go in the first. Dietz was hungry for her third of the game 30 seconds into second, her shot was stopped but the rebound came out to Kylin Wilson at the point. She stepped in and rifled a shot bar down to make it 5-0. The Aces continued to dominate offensively but weren't rewarded again until Van Bakel took a pass from Van Nes with a minute left in the frame. She banked it off the boards and slipped behind the defender before ripping a shot bar down with 43 seconds remaining. Forty nine seconds into the third, Eden Fraser sent Miller in on a breakaway. She snapped a beauty into the top corner to make it 7-0. The Panthers refused to give up and were almost rewarded seconds later but Rison came up with a huge skate save to keep her shutout bid alive. She was tested on a three on one rush at the last second but was up to the challenge. The win moved the Aces into first place in the west division of the Lower Lakes Female Hockey League. They finished the season with an 18-4-0 record. They will face the St. Thomas Panthers in the first round. The Aces are back in action at the London Devilettes tournament, January 31 to February 2.