The Miller Aces have advanced to the Zone 4 High School Hockey League final for the first time in seven years and the Morden Thunder forced a deciding third game in their series with the Morris Mavericks.


Aces 3 Tigers 2
Miller Collegiate will play for the Zone 4 High School Hockey League championship banner for the first time since the 2010-2011 season. Miller defeated the Pembina Tigers 3-2 Wednesday night in Manitou and swept the best-of-three semifinal in two games straight. Kirby Sawatzky of the Aces and Jaden Van den Bussche of the Tigers scored in the first period. Colton Harder's shorthanded goal 5:45 into the third period gave Miller a 2-1 lead. Parker Sawatzky made it 3-1 as he scored an empty netter with 58 seconds left but the Tigers made it interesting when Brett McDonald scored with 20 seconds remaining in regulation to get Pembina within a goal. Aces goaltender Declan Enns faced 20 shots. Tigers netminder Tanner Harms made 25 saves.


Thunder 5 Mavericks 4
Owen Dimitruk made 47 saves as Morden edged Morris 5-4. Zach Wood, Evan Wuerch, Cameron Brunn, Justin Hobbs and Andrew Boucher did the goal scoring for the hometown Thunder who evened that semifinal at a game a piece. Cody Clark had a pair of goals for the Mavericks and singles went to Jordan Keck and Daniel Isaak. Morris goaltender Ryan Coulombe faced 25 shots. The deciding third game goes Saturday (8 p.m.) at the Morris Multiplex.