Aces outlast Red Wings in OT thriller

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This article was published 24/03/2019 (1859 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With senior hockey played at its very best, the Ste. Anne Aces edged the Grunthal Red Wings 6-5 in overtime in a gripping game Sunday night in Grunthal as the Aces claimed their incredible fourth straight Carillon Senior Hockey League championship.

The Aces beat the Red Wings 4-2 in the championship series, ironically by the same margin they beat the Red Wings in the finals last season, also winning game six in overtime.

Local product Brenden Walker, the former captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings, who has been a driving force this season in his first year with Aces, was the hero last night for the visitors scoring three goals, including the winner five minutes into the first overtime.

It was a dramatic comeback for the Aces in the game as it looked like this one was headed back to Ste. Anne for game seven on Tuesday.

Ste. Anne led 2-0 after the first but the Red Wings came to life in the second and took a 4-3 lead into the third, extending it to 5-3 on a goal by Remi Laurencelle midway through the period.

Russell Trudeau, with his second of the game, narrowed the Grunthal lead to 5-4 as he scored with 6:36 remaining in regulation and then shockingly just 16 seconds later Keith Grondin tied it for the Aces as the Red Wings were back on their heels.

But Grunthal had a golden opportunity to end the game as they started the overtime period with a two-man advantage but could not get the winner by Guy St. Vincent.

Rounding out the scoring for the Red Wings in the game were Derek Gingera, Joel Schreyer, Landon Plett and Lee Christenson.

The Ste. Anne Aces will now represent the CSHL at the Hockey Manitoba Senior ‘A’ Provincial Championships, being held Mar. 28 to Apr. 6 in Winnipeg.