The Stettler Imperials came up bust when facing off against the Irma Aces on Jan. 27 in Stettler.
Stettler’s Erik Rost got scoring started early, finding the back of the net just over a minute into the game’s opening period.
However, the Irma Aces struck back mere moments later when Taylow Schubada tied things up on the powerplay.
After the first intermission, the Imperials came out swinging; Rost scored his second of the night just under three minutes into the period, then picked up the hat-trick just before the halfway mark.
Devan Shanks piled onto Stettler’s lead with a powerplay marker with 9:30 left in the frame.
Following Shanks’ goal, the Aces seemed to come alive with an offensive outburst.
Tristan Hofer found the back of the net with just under seven minutes left in the period, and then Tyler Fischer scored on the powerplay with just under two minutes left.
Reid Roland tied the game with just two seconds left in the period.
Both teams seemed to find their defensive footing again in the third period; Schubada scored his second of the night with around 13 minutes left in the period, before Kieran Rost found his way onto the scoreboard, tying the game with 3:30 left in the period.
Finishing the third in a tie, the two teams headed into four-on-four sudden-death overtime action.
Overtime ended with a goal by Irma Aces Ross Herzog.
The final score was 6-5 for Irma.
Irma scored on three of four powerplay attempts while Stettler managed to take advantage of just one of six manned advantages. Irma accrued 20 minutes in penalties and Stettler accrued eight.
Shots on goal were 48-35, favouring Stettler.
The overtime loss puts Stettler at 19 points for the season, tied for second place. They are back in action at 7 p.m. on Feb. 3 when they host the seventh-place Delburne Outlaws.
Stettler competes in the East Central Senior Hockey League.
