The two teams who met in the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League final last March will meet tonight (7 p.m.) in Ste. Anne as the two-time defending champion Aces play their home opener against the Warren Mercs.
Ste. Anne swept Warren in four straight.
The Aces, who rallied from an 0-3 series deficit and beat the Morden Bombers in the 2022-23 SEMHL final, are on a six-season streak when it comes to winning championships.
Ste. Anne captured the final four Carillon Senior Hockey League titles before the league suspended operations and then eventually folded in 2022.
Brenden Walker and Matt Bailey scored four goals each as the Aces won their season opener 19-0 over the Portage Islanders last Sunday at Stride Place.
Mathieu Moreira and Jordan DePape each had a hat trick while singles went to Brett Lernout, Caleb Paisley, Adam Hughesman, Braden Purtill and Burke Heide. Travis Bosch made 24 saves in recording the shutout.
Clayton Dreger asked Aces coach Kevin Lansard how it felt to get on the ice and start a new season last Sunday at Stride Place