The Aces Hockey Academy opened the game with relentless pressure, outshooting South Sask Academy 9-4 in the first period. Their offensive push paid off midway through the frame when Bo Zinter, assisted by captain Cooper Schenk, found the back of the net to give the Aces an early 1-0 lead. The physical nature of the game began to show as South Sask took a tripping penalty late in the period, but the Aces couldn't capitalize on the power play before the intermission.
South Sask Academy came out with renewed energy in the second period, dramatically turning the tide with a 12-14 shot advantage. Jack Butler evened the score early in the period, and then Zachariah Thompson, with a helper from Kane Schwabe, put the visitors ahead 2-1. However, the Aces responded quickly as Keenan Fedun buried a crucial equalizer, assisted by Matthew Swietach, to knot the game at 2-2 heading into the final frame. The period saw tempers flare, with South Sask's Sawyer Noga taking a cross-checking minor and Ryder Moon called for hooking, while Aces' Griffin Kijek was also sent off for tripping.
The third period belonged to the Aces, who controlled the play with a 10-5 shot advantage. Just over a minute into the period, Bo Zinter struck again, netting the game-winning goal to complete his impressive two-goal performance. Despite a late push from South Sask, the Aces' defensive effort and ability to capitalize on key opportunities secured them a hard-fought 3-2 victory in a game that featured multiple momentum swings and standout performances from players on both sides.
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