Apex Title Wave Mops Clinch Southeast Division Crown, Earn Trip to PIHA Finals

The Apex Title Wave Mops are heading to Colorado Springs after a thrilling two-game sweep of the Champion Asheville Aces in the Southeast Division Minor Final. The Mops showcased a balanced attack, resilient defense, and clutch performances to claim the series 2-0, securing their spot in next month's PIHA Finals.

Game 1: Mops Control Play, Hold Off Late Push from Aces

Game 1 saw the Mops make an immediate statement, dominating the opening period and capitalizing on key scoring chances. Colton Henley struck first just over a minute into the game, giving Apex an early lead. They continued to press offensively, and Gino Lamanna doubled the advantage at the 1:47 mark. As the clock wound down, Jeremy Havill buried a rebound off a Chris Martinez setup with just three seconds left, giving the Mops a commanding 3-0 lead heading into intermission.

Despite being outshot 21-9 in the second period, Asheville found a way to battle back. Dan Dean finally broke through for the Aces at 11:10, finishing off a strong shift from Jake Kopitzke and Austin Gomez. Six minutes later, Justin Wood capitalized on a turnover and cut the deficit to 3-2, shifting momentum in Asheville's favor.

However, Apex's defense, anchored by Bradley McHugh in net, held firm. McHugh made a series of clutch saves as Asheville pushed for the equalizer, stopping 25 of 27 shots in total. The Mops would get a late insurance goal from Henley at 5:46 to seal a 4-2 victory and put the Aces on the brink of elimination.

Game 2: Overtime Thriller Sends Mops to the PIHA Finals

Facing elimination, the Aces came out determined in Game 2. The first period was a tight, physical battle, with both teams limiting quality scoring chances. Asheville’s defense, led by Tyler Gilbert and Marcus Stucker, kept the Mops off the board early. Meanwhile, Apex’s Tyler Bartle matched his counterpart in net, making key stops to keep it 0-0 after one.

The deadlock broke in the second period when Asheville’s Austin Gomez converted a feed from Sam Desrocher at 2:28, giving the Aces their first lead of the series. They extended their advantage less than two minutes later when Gilbert and Michael Borst combined for a well-executed rush, with Gilbert finishing to make it 2-0.

Apex refused to let the game slip away. The Mops answered at 1:53 with a determined effort from Hunter Bardua, who buried a loose puck in front to make it 2-1 heading into the final frame.

With the season on the line, Apex continued to press, and their persistence paid off. Just 1:53 into the third, Daniel Kraus found an opening in the slot and wired a shot past Brandon Shirley to even the game at 2-2. The remainder of regulation saw both teams tighten up defensively, knowing that one mistake could end their season.

In overtime, the tension was palpable, with each team generating chances. Asheville came close to winning it when Jake Kopitzke nearly stuffed in a wraparound attempt, but Bartle made a sprawling save to keep the game alive. Moments later, Apex's TJ Moffitt found a loose puck in the neutral zone, skated in on a partial breakaway, and fired a shot past Shirley at 7:59, clinching the win and sending the Mops to the PIHA Finals.

Bartle was exceptional, turning away 27 of 29 shots, while Shirley made 27 saves in a valiant effort for Asheville.

Mops Join Semi-Pro Team in Colorado Springs

With the victory, the Apex Title Wave Mops will join their organization's semi-pro squad in Colorado Springs next month for the PIHA Finals. The team has proven they can win close games, handle adversity, and get timely contributions from key players—all attributes they’ll need as they chase a national title.

For the Aces, their season comes to a tough end, but they showed plenty of fight, nearly forcing a Game 3 with a strong defensive effort. With a solid core and strong goaltending, they are sure to be a force in future seasons.

Now, the Mops set their sights on the PIHA Finals, ready to take on the best teams from across the country.