Weekend Tourney Rush Sets U13 A Back to Reality In Weekend Home
Stand
The Romeo Pet Hospital PeeWee A Aces found their stride at the Waterloo Ravens Fall Challenge Cup Tourney November 4-6. Led by eventual tourney MVP sharpshooter Micki McDonald, who would net 7 in the tournament, the girls cruised their way to the final going undefeated in their pool including a tense 2-2 tie with the North Bay Ice Boltz in pool play. They made their way through the knockout rounds only to find the Ice Boltz awaiting their revenge in the Cup final. Down 2-0 after 2 , the girls led by goals from Jule Cameron and Micki McDonald rallied back to tie in the third. Carali Hugill brought the Aces up 3-2 and then Cameron scored again go up a pair mid-way through the third period. Un-wavered, the Ice Boltz struck again late to tie 4-4 at the end of the regulation to force the extra frame. This is where Cameron found MVP McDonald wide-open in center ice and made no mistake to bring victory to the Aces. A sweet win for a determined group led by a solid team of mentors who are dedicated to their overall success.
The tourney victory did not come with out sacrifice. Ace sniper Hugill joined Linley Porter and Claire Donnelly, already on the IR, onto the injury list, although hope returned with a healthy Claire Donnelly having recovered from her upper body injury to return the Aces to the regular season home stand this past weekend.
The Aces faced the Cambridge Road Runners Saturday in a late afternoon match at the RBC pad. Having celebrated the success off their championship weekend, the Aces stride needed to be found and the Roadrunners allowed nothing from the still jubilant Ace side. Cameron opened the scoring early, while the roadrunners responded in kind for a 1-1 first period. The roadrunners tested Ace backstop Reese Flanagan again and again in the second tiring out a short benched Ace D. The third brought more rubber to Flanagan and the Roadrunners finally solved the Ace netminder late in the third going up 2-1. Everyone knew the Aces would not have this. And 22 seconds later Jule Cameron fought hard at the net and snuck in her second of the game tying Cambridge 2-2.
The Aces would host the Woodstock Wildcats Sunday – where the impact of the short bench would slow the girls – and the Wildcats took advantage. Coach Ryan Porter tried to bolster his offence bringing up sharpshooter Teya Anderson to no avail, the Wildcats would prevail 2-1. Myla Burdett scored in the loss for the Aces as they find themselves at an even .500 with a 2-2-2 record good enough for 3rd in the central west division.
With a healed Linley Porter returning, The Aces look forward to more tournament glory this weekend as they host the Aces Festival Cup November 18-20.