 The Aces were able to finish off Pownal on home ice on Friday night with a 5-3 win, so once again the league's strongest rivalry over the last few seasons will face off to determine a league champion. It's not hard to argue that these two teams have been a step above the competition this season, with combined records of 58-11-2. Better yet, if you take out the games they played against each other, that record becomes 53-6.
This matchup could go down to the wire if their regular season matchups are any indication. Three of their six games went to overtime and the Flames had an almost non-existent goal scoring advantage of 30-29. The Aces had the better record of 3-1-1-1 in those games.
These teams have met in the post-season every year since North River returned to the league in 2005, with the Aces winning the in the finals last season and their quarter-final matchup in 2006, while the Flames took their semi-final matchup in 2007.
If North River were to take the title, it will be their first since 1997 and avoid losing in the finals for the third straight season, while the Aces are looking for their fourth Island Championship in the last seven years.
The winner will travel to Barrington, NS, for the Maritime-Hockey North Junior C Championships April 2-5th.
Game one goes Sunday night in Tignish at 6:30, with game two scheduled for Tuesday night at 7:20 at APM Centre. More details on the schedule will follow.
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