Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Axemen add talented defenceman to the roster

Photo: Courtesy: Mike Sullivan

The Acadia Axemen are proud to welcome Brayden Schmitt to the hockey program. The agile, two-way defenseman from Truro, NS joins the Axemen after playing 5 seasons in the QMJHL, most recently with the Cape Breton Eagles.

Schmitt says, “I decided to choose Acadia University because I love the Valley and the town of Wolfville. The coaching staff was extremely welcoming and kind in our talks, and with old teammates and friends currently on the team I felt it was a perfect fit for me to pursue my schooling and hockey career here. The rink and facility are top-notch and I love playing on the big ice.”

Brayden began his junior career in 2020-21 with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, being named Captain of the team in 2022. After 2 and a half years with the Armada, he was traded at the holiday break in 2022 to the Cape Breton Eagles.

In 2023-24 he recorded his best statistical season scoring 49 points in 68 games. Brayden was named an assistant captain of the Eagles in 2024-25 where he would post 27 points in just 45 games, due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. He was also named QMJHL’s student athlete of the month in February of this year.

Over his 5 seasons in the QMJHL, Schmitt played in 273 regular season games, scoring 135 points, and adding 8 points in 29 playoff games.

Axemen head coach Darren Burns is excited to add Schmitt to their defense core saying, “Bringing Brayden into our program is extremely significant on and off the ice. He personifies leadership and character and he’s a widely respected player in Atlantic Canada and in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League. He is an excellent skating defenceman who has the ability to bring the puck up the ice with ease. His ability to jump in the rush and his polished puck moving ability immediately helps a team’s transition. He plays the game with grit and passion which are key ingredients in the AUS.”

As for Brayden, he says “The Axeman fans should expect to see a smooth-skating defenceman that loves to join the rush and get involved offensively, whilst being able to get back and shut down defensively.”

Schmitt is the first announced Axemen recruit for the upcoming season and he reunites with former Eagles teammate Conor Shortall on the Axemen blueline. Stay tuned for more Axemen commitment announcements in the coming weeks. #GoAcadiaGo

Story by Chris Richards

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

For Immediate Release

Montreal Canadiens Legend Larry Robinson to Headline Acadia Hockey Fundraiser

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2025

Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Larry Robinson waves to the crowd during pre-game ceremonies to retire his No.19 in Montreal Monday Nov. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/THE CANADIAN PRESS, Ryan Remiorz)

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Darren Burns, head coach of the Acadia University men’s hockey team, announced today that Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens legend and Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman, will headline this year’s Acadia Axemen Celebrity Hockey Dinner in June.

Nicknamed “Big Bird” in part for his size (6’4’’ and 225 pounds), Robinson was a big and strong yet highly mobile defenceman. He played 17 seasons for the Montreal Canadiens and another three seasons for the Los Angeles Kings, until his retirement after the 1991–92 season. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy twice (1976–77 and 1979–80) as the league’s most outstanding defenceman and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 1978 playoffs. He was named to the league’s first and second all-star teams three times each. Larry Robinson’s name appears on the Stanley Cup ten times, six as a player, three as a coach or assistant coach and once as a scout. He turned professional in Halifax, spending 1971 to 1973 with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs of the American Hockey League before making it to the National Hockey League with the Canadiens.

“We’re so excited to have Mr. Robinson headline our silver anniversary dinner,” said Burns. “The man is a legend, one of the greatest defenceman in NHL history and a hero to generations of hockey fans. We are fortunate to have him.”

The 25th Acadia Axemen Celebrity Hockey Dinner takes place on Thursday, June 19th at the Andrew H. McCain Arena in Wolfville.  Since starting in 1998, the event has raised close to $500,000 in support of the men’s varsity hockey program at Acadia. Tickets and corporate tables are available by visiting the Acadia Box Office or calling 902-542-5500 or by visiting: https://acadiau.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2572

For further information on the Celebrity Dinner event, contact Len Hawley, Chairperson at (902) 698-9692 or via email len.hawley@acadiau.ca.

-30-

Media Contact:

David Salter

709-315-7868

david.james.salter@gmail.com

Posted on Posted in Game Recaps

UNB Sweeps Best of 5 series, 3-0

The UNB REDS completed a semifinal sweep of the Acadia Axemen with a 4-1 victory Monday in Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey action.

The win secured a 3-0 series victory for the REDS, who advance to the AUS championship against the winner of the Saint Mary’s-Moncton series.

Ethan Ernst scored Acadia’s lone goal on the power play at 1:03 of the third period, assisted by Brady Burns. Cole Nagy won 12 of 18 faceoffs, while goaltender Thomas Couture made 38 saves on 42 shots.

UNB opened the scoring at 2:24 of the first period on a power-play goal from Kale McCallum, assisted by Cole MacKay and Benjamin Corbeil. The period saw multiple penalties, including a high-sticking call on UNB’s Sam McGinley at 14:27, but Acadia was unable to capitalize.

UNB extended its lead in the second period with two goals from Sean McGurn at 12:38 and 15:38. The REDS outscored Acadia 2-0 in the frame and maintained their shutout heading into the third.

Ernst’s goal early in the third brought Acadia within two, but UNB responded quickly when MacKay scored on the power play at 4:26. Acadia’s Bailey Peach had taken a minor penalty and a 10-minute misconduct for checking from behind.

McGurn led UNB with two goals and a plus-four rating, while McCallum and MacKay each contributed a goal and an assist. Corbeil added two assists, and Cody Morgan finished with a plus-four rating.

Posted on Posted in Game Recaps

Axemen return home for Game 3 on Monday night

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS scored three times in the first period and three in the third on route to a 7-1 win over the Acadia Axemen on Friday night and a two-games-to-none lead in their best-of-five Atlantic University Sport semi-final series. 

The game was played before a sellout crowd of 3374 spectators at UNB’s Aitken Centre. 

Macauley Carson (Midhurst, ON) scored four goals to lead the REDS. He was named Tim Horton’s Player of the Game. 

The fourth-year REDS’ forward opened the scoring just 2:55 into the first period when he took advantage of an Axemen turnover, skated in alone and lifted a backhand past Acadia goaltender Thomas Couture (Levis, QC) for a short-handed goal. 

His second goal came five minutes later. 

Liam Kidney (Enfield, NS) scored Acadia’s only goal at the 10:40 mark of the first, but Peter Reynolds (Fredericton, NB) restored UNB’s two goal lead a short time later. 

Cody Morgan (Gilford, ON) pushed UNB’s lead to 4-1 with the only goal of the second period. 

Carson added two more in the third and Reynolds got his second of the game. 

Cole Huckins (Upper Kingsclear, NB), Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC), and Justin Nolet (Mississauga, ON) all had two assists for the REDS. 

Carson’s four-goal game came a night after Morgan recorded a hat trick in UNB’s 5-2 win in the series opener. 

Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC) made 18 saves on 19 shots for the win in the UNB net. Couture made 35 saves on 42 shots. 

The Axemen will host the third game of the series Monday night. Game time is 7:00pm. 

The winner of this series advances to the AUS Championship Series and qualifies for the U SPORTS Championship, in Ottawa, March 20-23. 

 

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics 

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics 

Posted on Posted in Game Recaps

Couture with 56 saves for Acadia

FREDERICTON — The UNB Reds defeated the Acadia Axemen 5-2 on Thursday in Game 1 of their AUS semifinal series.

Cody Morgan led the way for UNB with a hat trick, including a power-play goal and the game-winner. Sean McGurn and Oliver Peer each added a goal and an assist, while Kale McCallum finished with a plus-three rating. Goaltender Samuel Richard made 15 saves in the win.

Cam MacDonald had a goal and an assist for Acadia, scoring on the power play. Marc Boudreau netted the other Axemen goal, while Brady Burns recorded two assists. Thomas Couture made 56 saves in a strong performance despite the loss.

UNB opened the scoring just 1:06 into the game on McGurn’s goal, but MacDonald responded for Acadia at 2:11 on the power play. Morgan then struck twice for the Reds, scoring at 5:47 and again at 10:22 with the man advantage to give UNB a 3-1 lead after the first period.

Boudreau cut the deficit to one at 7:06 of the second, but Morgan completed his hat trick at 13:02 to restore UNB’s two-goal advantage. The Axemen had chances on the power play in the third but couldn’t break through, and Peer sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 17:55.

Game 2 is set for Friday night in Fredericton, with puck drop at 7 p.m.

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Acadia faces tough task against USports #1 ranked Reds

The Acadia Axemen advanced to the AUS semi-finals in dramatic fashion, sweeping the StFX X-Men 2-0 in their best-of-three quarterfinal series. However, they now face a much steeper challenge as they take on the USports No. 1-ranked UNB Reds in a best-of-five showdown, beginning Thursday at 7 p.m. in Fredericton.

UNB’s Dominance

The defending UCup champions have been nearly unstoppable over the past two seasons. After going undefeated last year from exhibition through playoffs, UNB followed up with a 28-1-1 record this season, suffering just one regulation loss and one overtime defeat.

The Reds boast an offensive powerhouse, with five of the top six AUS scorers on their roster. Emmit Sproule led the way with 43 points, finishing second in the conference behind SMU’s Derek Gentile. Freshman Peter Reynolds was the league’s top goal-scorer, netting 21 goals in 30 games, while offensive defenseman Kale McCallum added 39 points in just 27 games.

Between the pipes, AUS Second Team All-Star Samuel Richard anchored UNB with a stellar 1.48 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage, finishing the season 21-2.

After a 12-day break since their last game on February 15, the question remains—will UNB show signs of rust, or will they simply be fresh and well rested.

Acadia’s Momentum

The Axemen enter the series with confidence and momentum, not only from sweeping round one, but also from their dramatic comeback in Game 2, erasing a two-goal deficit in the third period to win by two.

Head Coach Darren Burns praised his team’s resilience:

“In round one, we liked the way our players handled adversity and setbacks—whether it was early penalties in Game 1 or falling behind extremely early in Game 2, but we continued to play well. Coming back to score four in the third period says it all. Our guys’ trust and belief in what they were doing was crucial.”

Acadia showcased a balanced attack in the quarterfinals, with six different goal scorers. Regular-season leading scorer Brady Burns has yet to find the back of the net in the opening round of the playoffs, but others have stepped up, including Liam Kidney (4 points in 2 games) and captain Peyton Hoyt, who is from Lincoln, NB, which is just outside of Fredericton, scored twice for the Axemen. Burns and AUS All-Rookie Team member Cam MacDonald will be counted for their offensive punch in this series.

Goaltender Thomas Couture will be a key factor in this series, as he has proven capable of stealing a game on any given night and the Axemen will need his stellar play against the high octane Reds attack.

Looking ahead, Coach Burns emphasized the importance of staying true to their game:

“We just need to continue playing to our capabilities. We aren’t the same team we were in September. The players have worked hard and stayed committed. Belief is important. AUS hockey is incredibly competitive, and the postseason is short—it’s all about embracing the moment and doing everything you can to make it last.”

Series Schedule

  • Game 1: Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 pm in Fredericton
  • Game 2: Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 pm in Fredericton
  • Game 3: Monday, March 3 at 7 pm in Wolfville
  • Game 4 (if necessary): Tuesday, March 4 at 7 pm in Wolfville
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, March 6 at 7pm  in Fredericton

🎟️ Get your tickets for Game 3 at the Acadia Box Office or online at acadiau.universitytickets.com.

📺 Watch the road games live on AUStv.ca or listen to Len Hawley and Dave Salter’s call of the game on AVR 97.7 FM and avrnetwork.com.

#GoAcadiaGo