Mar 02, 2020 | Sean Cameron | 496 views
HFS Punches Ticket To Provincials
The Humphrey Fleet Service Atom A Aces qualified for provincials after picking up four big points on the weekend.
Saugeen Maitland Lightning descended on the Molson Arena, February 22 but it was the Aces who struck first. The Aces controlled the play and shut down the Lightning offense. With 3:11 remaining in the first, Emersyn Miller won the draw and Linley Porter tapped it back to Miller and she snapped a beauty up top to open the scoring.Early in the third, Miller was hauled down. The Aces had several chances but weren't able to capitalize until just after the penalty ended. Jayda Dietz expertly tipped Emma Van Nes' point shot after the feed by Abby Van Bakel, with 7:39 remaining in the second. Then 28 seconds later Ava Harmer and Jule Cameron combined for a beautiful tic-tac-toe play with Eve Binns and she backhanded it through the five hole for a three goal advantage. The Lightning switched goalies to try to stem the tide and it gave them a boost. Chloe Rison was tested immediately and came up with two big saves in tight. Less than two minutes later Van Nes' point shot ricocheted off Jayda Houben into the net to give the Aces a four goal cushion. Dietz also assisted. Late in the second, the Lightning snuck through the Aces suffocating defense and Rison made a huge save and then quickly controlled the rebound. Seconds later the Aces gave up another breakaway and Rison made a huge pad save and then again on a one-timer on a pass out front to preserve the 4-0 lead after two. In the third, she made a big blocker save as the teams exchanged chances. Unfortunately her shutout bid ended midway through the third. She made the first stop but the Aces couldn't control the attacker and they snapped it home. The Lightning tried to take advantage of a power play opportunity but Rison made several great saves down the stretch to clinch the 4-1 victory. The win set up the chance to secure a berth in the provincial championship with a win over South Huron, February 23.Knowing what was on the line, the Aces were pumped heading into the contest with the South Huron Sabres but they knew it wasn't going to be easy given the teams previous goaltending duels. The teams exchanged chances with both goalies making great saves but it remained scoreless after one. In the second, the hard fought battle continued, literally. The Sabres tried to take the lead but Malaika Kibedi snagged one that seemed destined for the top corner. Then when one of the Sabres took too many liberties with the Aces' tender, Ava Harmer stepped in and was sent off for roughing. Kibedi returned the favour with several great saves on the penalty kill. The Aces had numerous chances to break the deadlock but were denied or just missed.The tight checking continued in the third and both goalies shone. Fortunately, Van Nes fired another missile from the blueline that found the top corner after it was redirected by Van Bakel with 1:03 remaining. The 1-0 victory means the Aces advance to the provincial championships, April 3-5 in Toronto. The Aces now shift their focus to the Lower Lakes playoffs. They face the Woolwich Wild, February 28, 29 and March 1 in the best of three semifinals. Puck drop is at 6:15 p.m. at the Molson Arena, February 28 and at the RBC Arena, March 1, at 10 a.m. if necessary. The Aces will then switch back to the provincial playdowns, March 2 when the Aces host the Huron Heat at 7:15 p.m. at the Molson Arena and the South Huron Sabres at the RBC Arena, March 4 at 7 p.m.