Ace Hardware Finishes Perfect Regular Season with 6-4 Victory Over Hepp's Salt

Pellicci Ace Hardware had already secured first place entering Thursday night's regular season finale at Braemar Arena, but an unbeaten season was still on the line. Hepp's Salt, meanwhile, was looking to build momentum heading into the playoffs while improving its position in the standings. The two teams met earlier this summer with Ace Hardware skating away with a 5-2 victory, and Thursday's finale would determine whether the league leaders could complete a perfect regular season.

Ace did, but not without earning it.  Answering every challenge Hepp's Salt presented, Pellicci Ace Hardware erased multiple deficits and closed the game with two late goals to secure a 6-4 victory, finishing the regular season a perfect 6-0. As fate would have it, the two clubs will meet again next week in the opening round of the Celly League playoffs.

Hepp's Salt wasted little time proving this wouldn't resemble the first meeting. With 14:55 remaining in the opening half, Bailey Gray carried the puck deep into the offensive zone before finding Jillian Klein, whose quick touch pass set up Taryn Richter alone in front. Richter snapped the puck home to give Hepp's Salt an early 1-0 lead.

Ace Hardware answered just two minutes later.  Patient puck movement around the offensive zone eventually opened space in the slot where Masyn Mullin found Alexa Van Straaten. Without hesitation, Van Straaten slid a pass across to Ellie Zakrajscheck, who buried a quick shot with 12:55 remaining to even the score.

The back-and-forth continued with these two teams who had mid-season tempo rolling up and down the ice. With 11:55 left in the first half, Nora Stepan found Mia Sutch cutting into open ice through the middle of the zone. Sutch gathered the pass in stride and finished cleanly to restore Hepp's Salt's lead.

Ace once again refused to trail for long and with sustained pressure late in the half kept the puck in the offensive zone, and with just 39 seconds remaining before intermission, Dylan Berman moved the puck across to Meredith Jensen, who stepped into the play and fired home the equalizer to send the teams into halftime tied 2-2.

The second half continued at the same pace showing little drop off and that the player's summer conditioning is dialed int.  With 27:23 remaining, Cate McCoy forced a turnover below the goal line and quickly centered the puck to Masyn Mullin, who finished from close range to give Ace Hardware its first lead of the evening.

Hepp's Salt immediately answered and Gray once again created the opportunity, finding Sutch cutting into the slot for her second goal of the night with 16:25 remaining. Just one minute later, Lily Mortenson threaded a pass to Taryn Richter in front, and Richter finished to tie the game at 4-4, giving Hepp's Salt new life.

The deadlock lasted only until Ace tool control when they needed it most. Settling the pace and controlling possession through the neutral zone, Ace spent extended shifts in the offensive end before finally breaking through with 4:50 remaining. Meredith Jensen carried the puck into the zone and spotted McCoy finding open space between the circles. McCoy stepped into the pass and snapped the eventual game-winning goal past Lauren Larson.

Needing offense late, Hepp's Salt pulled Larson for an extra attacker with just over two minutes to play, but Ace Hardware's composure never wavered. After forcing a turnover, Maeve Kelly found Lola Reid streaking through center ice, and Reid calmly slid the puck into the empty net with 54 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Ace Hardware's balanced offensive push continued to be its trademark throughout the regular season. Lola Reid scored twice, while Ellie Zakrajscheck, Meredith Jensen, Masyn Mullin and Cate McCoy each added a goal. Jensen finished with a goal and three assists, while Alexa Van Straaten contributed two assists in another outstanding playmaking performance.

Hepp's Salt was led by Mia Sutch's two-goal effort, while Taryn Richter added a goal and an assist. Bailey Gray and Jillian Klein each recorded two assists as Hepp's Salt generated quality scoring chances throughout the evening.

Sedona Blair stopped 17 of 21 shots to earn her sixth win of the summer, while Lauren Larson turned aside 18 shots despite facing steady pressure throughout the second half.

Ace Hardware closes the regular season unbeaten at 6-0, finishing atop the Celly League standings while outscoring opponents 32-12. Hepp's Salt heads into the postseason with a better performance than the final score suggests, and after pushing the league's lone unbeaten team deep into the second half, the playoff rematch between the two clubs promises to be one worth watching.