Harper with the lone Acadia marker

FREDERICTON, NB – The UNB Reds scored four power-play goals on route to a 6-1 win over the Acadia Axemen on Saturday. 

Chris Clapperton (Cap d’Espoir, QC) and Tyler Boland (St. John’s, NL) each scored twice for the Reds, while Kris Bennett (Brampton, ON), and Joe Gatenby (Kelowna, BC) each had three assists. 

Matthew Boucher (Los Angeles, Calif.) had a goal and an assist for UNB, while Samuel Dove-McFalls (Montreal, QC) also scored. 

Acadia actually struck first, when Stephen Harper (Burlington, ON) scored, on the power-play, at 5:42 of the first period. 

Kyle Farrell (Howie Centre, NS) won a face-off right back to Harper, who’s shot eluded Reds netminder Alex Dubeau (Mascouche, QC). 

UNB countered with their first power-play goal about two-and-a-half minutes later. 

Boucher’s shot from the face-off circle was kicked out by Axemen netminder Dawson Carty (Burlington, ON) but Dove-McFalls was right there to fire the rebound home. 

That goal sent almost 1300 stuffed animals flying onto the Aitken Centre ice and brought the game to a temporary halt. 

It was the Reds 3rd annual Teddy Bear Toss. 

1295 stuffed animals were collected and will be distributed by the Salvation Army to less fortunate children during the upcoming holiday season. 

Harper with lone marker for Acadia

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – A Panther-Axemen matchup at MacLauchlan Arena rarely disappoints and on Friday night, UPEI got the better of their rival 4-1. 

After surrendering an early goal, the Panthers (7-5-1) countered with four unanswered to grab the victory. Cody Payne broke out and matched his season total with two goals, while Kameron Kielly and Beau McCue chipped in with a goal apiece.

The Panthers were unlucky in the opening minutes, as they hit the post a couple times and saw several pucks miss just wide of the net. The same couldn’t be said about the Axemen (4-8-2), who found the back of the net at 4:28 when Stephen Harper scored off a faceoff win that eluded goaltender Simon Hofley. 

However, UPEI would get that goal back before the period ended. Troy Lajeunesse connected with Payne, who came in from the left, waited out the keeper and snuck the puck past him to tie it at one apiece. 

The Panthers hit the gas in the second and quickly took the lead at 3:42. Tanner McCabe sent the puck across the crease to Kameron Kielly, who tapped it in the open cage to pull his team ahead 2-1.

HALIFAX, NS – The Saint Mary’s Huskies (8-3-1) and the Acadia Axemen (4-7-1) faced off for the second time in less than a week at the Halifax Forum in AUS Men’s hockey action. Trailing for most of the game, the Huskies were able to tie things up and took the win in overtime.

The teams traded power play opportunities early in the game, but nobody was able to convert. 

Back at even strength, the Axemen opened the scoring at 7:55 of the first period. Rodney Southam (Saskatoon, SK) jumped on a turnover just outside the Saint Mary’s blue line and passed across to Jackson Houck (Delta, BC) who sniped a shot low corner. Liam Maaskant (Clinton, ON) also assisted 

The Huskies tied it up less than two minutes later with a power play goal, a one timer from Jake Coughler (St. Catharines, ON) that rang off the inside post and in. It was assisted by Hunter Garlent (Thorold, ON) and Dawson Theede (Brooklin, ON). 

The score was 1-1 after twenty minutes of play. 

It was a penalty filled second period, with penalties going both ways, but the only goal of the period came during 5 on 5 play and it was in Acadia’s favour. 

Harper & Corneil Score for Acadia

HALIFAX, NS – In their first meeting of the season, the Saint Mary’s Huskies stopped a two game losing streak with a 4-2 win against the Acadia Axemen in AUS men’s hockey action at the Halifax Forum.  

The game started off at a good pace, and it was the Axemen who struck first at 7:56 into the first period. Defense, Marc McNulty had some room and made his way slowly through the neutral zone before crossing with Stephen Harper (Burlington, ON) at the top of the slot. Harper’s one-timer beat SMU goalie Eric Brassard (St. Hubert, QC) for Harper’s fifth goal of the season. 

After taking a couple of penalties, the Huskies went on the power play late in the period and found the equalizing goal. With traffic in front of the net, a shot from Nicholas Welsh (Halifax, NS) was deflected by an Acadia defence. Goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) made a pad save but Logan Denoble (Peterborough, ON) was there to tap home the rebound for the Huskies. Hunter Garlent (Thorold, ON) also picked up an assist on the play. 

The teams headed into the break tied 1-1, with the Axemen having better scoring chances. Saint Mary’s struggled to control the play in the first period, with passes hitting skates and shots getting deflected away from the net. 

The second period looked very different, with SMU coming out much sharper. They dominated, leading Acadia 21-7 in shots during the second frame. 

Four minutes into the period, Bronson Beaton (Springhill, NS) was nearly at the Acadia goal line and buried a sharp angle wrist shot upstairs to take a 2-1 lead for the Huskies.  

The Axemen had some good chances on their third power play of the night after Welsh was sent to the box for a high stick. The closest they came was a nice shot from Jackson Houck (Delta, BC) and Brassard had to stretch to make the save with his toe. 

The Huskies nearly scored several minutes later, sending a puck across the crease. Flodell couldn’t get across in time, leaving the net wide open, and Axemen defense TJ Fergus (Oakville, ON) was forced to take a hooking penalty to save a sure goal. 

SMU couldn’t convert on the power play and the period ended with the Huskies ahead 2-1. They added two more goals in quick succession in the opening minutes of the third period.