The Athabasca Aces jumped out to an early lead and held onto it for more than half the game, but eventually succumbed to the Devon Barons last Saturday on home ice.
“We were just not together as a team there. The guys were just not bearing down. We gave too many odd-man rushes,” said coach Curtis Creaser of the 4-2 defeat that will not help the Aces’ standing: second last in the nine-team league.
The first period, however, was a different story, as the Aces opened scoring and seemed to hold all the cards for 20 solid minutes.
“We came out hard, and we came out like we should. We played hard in the first,” said Creaser. “The first half of the second period we struggled.”
It was in the opening minutes of the second that Aces goalie Jeff Creaser showed he was made of sterner stuff than perhaps the Barons anticipated, blocking shot after shot.
“It was a pretty fast game. Jeff played really well in goal,” said coach Creaser.
But with less than two minutes left in the second, a Devon player scored on a breakaway.
“When they scored that … goal, right away — that hurt,” said Creaser. “And then in the third, it was like we were beat because we came out of the second 1-1. And the mentality and the attitude almost seemed a little bit dead.”
During the third, the Barons scored two goals in a matter of seconds. Although the Aces were able to score a second goal, the final half of the third was scoreless — this despite the fact that Devon players were on a steady parade to the penalty box.
Keith Reade, who scored both the Aces’ goals, was a bright spot in the melee.
“Last time we played these guys before Christmas and beat them, he had four points, and then tonight he had both of our goals. He just goes hard to the net,” said Creaser. “He’s got a great shot.”
Creaser said Reade is not yet eligible to participate in playoffs; however, that eligibility may be moot if the Aces slip to last place in the league, which would end their playoff hopes.
“He’s only played two games for us, and if he gets one more in, he’ll be eligible to play playoffs, if we make it. He’s a very valuable player when he’s here — pretty intense and gritty.”
As for the less-than-stellar elements of the Aces’ game, Creaser was introspective.
“As a coach, you want to take some responsibility, because you’ve got to get the guys prepared to play, and you’ve got to pick the guys that go out on the ice.”
The Aces have two more chances to pull themselves up in the standings, or at least stay out of last place.
“We have two more games left, and if we don’t finish ahead of (current last-place team) Rocky Mountain House, then we don’t make playoffs,” he said.
The Aces’ final regular season home game is Jan. 25 at 8:30 p.m. at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex against south division leaders Drayton Valley.
