TheCounty Aces were founded in 2014 as an expansion team in theMaritime Junior A Hockey League[3] The Aces were part of the Roger Meek (later renamed the EastLink North) Division and were theMaritime Junior A Hockey League's 12th team, bringing balance to the two divisions (6 teams each).[4]
In their first two seasons, the Aces were one of the top draws at the gate despite their on ice struggles.
After playing their last game in the EastLink North Division Semifinal on March 23, 2019, rumours began to swirl around the future of the franchise in St. Stephen. Ownership kept the fans and community waiting to hear about the future of the team, although people in the community (including Mayor Allan MacEachern) felt the future did not look good for the team.[5] On April 10, 2019, a local group came together, with the support of the town council, to try and purchase the team and keep it in St. Stephen. However, by that time an announcement was set for April 15 in Fredericton, and neither the League nor the team responded to the requests for a meeting.[6]
On April 15, the Maritime Junior A Hockey League announced that the St. Stephen Aces had been sold to Global Centre Ice Inc. of Fredericton. The deal had been pitched to the League in March 2019, and the League had voted at that time in favour of the deal. The team was renamed asFredericton Junior A Red Wings, with plans to begin play at Fredericton'sGrant-Harvey Centre in the Fall of 2019.[7]
