Enemy Agents Infiltrate Aces, Cause Tie

In a cunning and evil turn of events, local hockey team the Black Aces were infiltrated by agents from rival squad the Bloor Battlers in their most recent game. Several Aces players were unaccountably absent from their match against the Warriors, which necessitated the recruitment of 2 men from the night's early game.

No satisfactory reason has yet been given for the manpower shortfall, but police have been called in and continue to not investigate.

All was going well for most of the game, with the recruits doing a good job of seeming to help the blackshirts in their quest to remain at the top of the COTHL standings. Plays were made, opponents were thwarted, and although no goals were scored by the callups they looked for all intents and purposes like they were really playing for the Aces.

Which makes what happened all the more dastardly.

Up 2-1 with under a minute to play, the Aces lined up for a critical faceoff in their own zone. With the recruits safely on the bench and unable to contribute in any way, the men in black were not able to prevent the white squad from winning the draw back to their sharpest shooter, who immediately fired the puck into the Aces net for the draw.

How obvious, in retrospect. The enemy players (as they shall now be called, for that is what they most certainly were) must have been instructed to give 100%, or possibly even 110% for 99% of the game, thereby luring the Aces into a false sense of trust. Then, carefully engineering a faceoff deep in the Aces zone with only seconds to play, these evildoers were to head to the bench pleading 'tiredness', thereby leaving the hapless Aces to their own devices. Such wickedness has not been seen in the COTHL in many a season.

"What I can't believe," said team barista and goaltender Raj C afterwards "is how they just drank our beer after the game like nothing happened. They left us hanging, then enjoyed a cold beverage without blinking an eye. That's just cold."

"I've never felt so betrayed" said team aromatherapist Bruce H "as I do right now. I thought those guys were on our side, I really did. The world is a dark place, let me tell you."

The tie was the second in a row for the Black Aces, who are now re-thinking their 'compact' lineup in light of this latest result. Team depillatorialist and playing coach Aubrey S was said to be considering a mandatory attendance rule for next game. He was also said to be neck deep in a hot tub in Canmore, but that's a different story.

I know Movember is over.