Posted: Mar 09, 2025
March 9th, 2025
Did the other team even touch the puck? That's the question you'd be forgiven for asking if you only saw the scoresheet and weren't attending the bedlam that was the third and deciding game of the ACAC semifinals between the Briercrest Clippers and the Concordia Thunder as Briercrest controlled the game and overcame the heroics of Thunder goaltender Ashton Billesberger en route to a 4-1 victory.
Lucas Lapalm opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game as Briercrest dominated play and had the guests on their heels from the drop of the puck. Although Dylan Handel managed to tie things up for Concordia, the game was never in doubt as the Clippers cycled the puck and peppered Billesberger with more shots in the second period than the Thunder had in the entire game. Jacob Arsenault scored a pair and Daxton Budd added another as the celebration of the crowd could be heard from outside. Jacob Arsenault was awarded player of the game for Briercrest, while Billesberger's efforts got him the nod for Concordia.
Briercrest will now play the Red Deer Kings for the championship, starting next weekend. The Kings boast the past two league titles and will represent a tough challenge, but the Clippers knocked Red Deer out of the playoffs back in 2022 and have won all four meetings with them this season.
Assistant captain Curtis Wiebe shared his thoughts on the emotional series win: "I'm proud of the group and the way we responded. It means a lot- I love the guys that we've been going through this journey with over the past four years."
Be early on Friday March 14 to make sure you get a seat for game one of the finals- it will be historic.