Hockey playoff season is alive across the province. The same truth applies to the Ste. Anne Aces.
The Aces are currently in a best-of-five semifinal series of the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League (SEMHL) against the Portage Islanders.
Star forward Caleb Paisley helped the Aces pull out the 6-5 game one win in overtime on Wednesday night to put them 1-0 against the Islanders.
“It was crazy. It's what you want, and everybody's cheering and happy to be around,” Paisley recalls, talking about the locker room atmosphere after the win. “It's definitely a culture that we wanted to build there, and we're ready to keep rolling as a team.”
Paisley says that the league provides more than just hockey.
“I was excited to play against some older guys and guys that I haven't played against in a while because they've been playing pro or whatever. It's been a lot of fun playing against some Pistons guys that I grew up watching back in 2013. It's different when you get older. You're a lot closer in the age gap, it feels like. It's been cool creating connections and seeing where everybody's kind of at in life, but then also come together and just playing good hockey,” he explains.
To him, the opportunity to play in Ste. Anne is a bonus as they have received “incredible support from the community.”
Game two of the series will go on later tonight in the Ste. Anne Arena and the puck drops at 7:30 PM. Paisley invites the community to pack the barn.
“We love the noise, and it's a lot different playing in the small rink versus maybe an empty or big one. It's going to be a big impact with our horn going. The kids are crazy when we're coming out of the gate. More the merrier,” he says.
He adds that those who watch can expect “fast-paced” and “aggressive” action.
“We like to push the pace and be on the puck, hit bodies and throw pucks on net. I think it's going to be a good one.”
The Aces travel to Portage la Prairie on Sunday for a back-to-back game three of the series.
With files from Dave Anthony.
