The 2018-2019 Carillon Senior Hockey League’s regular season schedule is over.

The reigning champion Ste. Anne Aces clinched first place and the Lac du Bonnet Blues forfeited their final two games and will not be facing the La Broquerie Habs in the survivor series.

“It’s a tough situation for them,” said Aces defenceman Pat Normandeau. “Not having enough guys, some injuries and the travel. Then trying to find imports to go all the way to Lac du Bonnet - it’s tough for them.”

The Aces won 17 of 20 regular season games and suffered just one regulation loss.

Ste. Anne finished seven points ahead of the second place Grunthal Red Wings.

“Grunthal put in a good effort this year and gave us some good challenging games,” Normandeau said. “We had to fight right to the end. Now we control our own fate.”

The third place Red River Wild, who face the Red Wings in Grunthal Thursday night in game one of their best-of-seven semifinal, registered an overtime win and a shootout loss against the defending champs this season.

“They’re a tough physical team that play a hard game all the time and they come prepared to play.” commented Normandeau. “They bring their whole team, they just grind you right to the ground and they try to beat you that way. If it comes down to playing them or Grunthal in the final then it’s going to be a really tough series either way.”

The Aces will open the playoffs against the Habs in La Broquerie on Wednesday night and Normandeau says the CSHL champions will be going hard for a four-peat.

“It’s our goal, that’s for sure. We don’t want to lose. That’s everybody’s mindset. We know we have a good team and we know we can do it again. It’s at the top of our list.”

Ste. Anne is also looking to win a Hockey Manitoba Provincial Senior AAA Championship which would mean a trip to Rosetown and a chance to earn a spot at the 2019 Allan Cup in Lacombe, Alberta.

The Aces are scheduled to play the Norway House Bruins in a best-of-three series which begins Saturday in Ste. Anne with that winner to face the South East Prairie Thunder in the provincial final.

Normandeau says coach Kevin Lansard has been thinking about the Allan Cup for awhile.

“We won three CSHL championships in a row and then we finally got that provincial championship,” said Normandeau. “There was another thing at the top of his list and once we got the other two out of the way he wanted to go for this big gun. I think we have one of the best teams we’ve ever had this year. With the addition of some good skilled guys, I think that’s when he knew that he had to go for it this year.”

photo courtesy Shannon Normandeau