The Aspen Leafs 14UAA team started the national tournament with any team's toughest challenge, a game one matchup against the top ranked team in the nation.  In the first game of the tournament, the Leafs faced off against the Monroe County Edge, from Rochester, NY.  It took the first period before Aspen settled in and adjusted to the pace.  After giving up two first period goals, Aspen's Alexa Paoli lit the lamp just over five minutes into the second period.  Later in the period, the top ranked Edge regained their two-goal cushion on the power-play.  Aspen was unable to generate offense in the third period, but they displayed their defensive game by holding a talented hockey team scoreless .  

In game 2, the Leafs faced the number 2 ranked team in the nation, the North Shore Vipers from Massachusetts.  The Vipers displayed their experience scoring their first goal in the first period, two in the second and three in the third to claim a 6-0 victory.  In their third game of the tournament, the Leafs faced the Shoreline Sharks from Connecticut.  Aspen's Bella Borski opened the scoring off an assist from Hayley Heinecken midway through the first period for the Leafs first lead of the weekend.  Less than a minute later, however, the Sharks tied the game and never looked back.  The Leafs would give up another goal in the first period, two in the second and one in the third to suffer their third defeat of the tournament 5-1.  With the loss, Aspen was eliminated from their national championship quest.  

Although the outcomes didn't favor the Leafs, the experience gained was invaluable.  Facing three talented teams from the east coast provided the Aspen girls a window into girls hockey at the highest levels.  The Shoreline Sharks advanced to the championship game on Monday after defeating the Bay State Breakers 3-2.  They will face the Black Cats from River Falls, WI to determine the National Championship.