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Acadia adds former Saginaw defenceman

The Acadia Axemen hockey program are proud to announce the commitment of former Saginaw Spirit defenceman Reilly Webb. The 6’4” 200lbs defenceman from Stoney Creek, Ontario fills a big hole on the Axemen blueline left by the graduation of Liam Maaskant and Alexander Lepkowski. In the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Reilly was drafted 164th overall in round 6 by Detroit Red Wings.

Webb is described by his former Spirit head coach Chris Lazary as a quiet leader and a guy everyone wants on their roster, his gritty shut down style was a point of strength on the Saginaw blue line.

Reilly began his Junior career being drafted #33 overall in the 2015 OHL priority selection by the Hamilton Bulldogs. After playing parts of 3 seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs, in which he dealt with some injury issues, Webb was traded from Hamilton to the Saginaw Spirit.

Flourishing in his new home, he spent the next two seasons patrolling the Spirit blueline, shutting down opponents’ top lines. In the 2019-20 shortened season, he also added a career high 21 points in 50 games and was named the team’s best defenseman.

Acadia Axemen head coach Darren Burns shared his thoughts on the team’s newest addition saying, “Reilly is a very important addition for our program. He is a committed stay at home defencemen who can log a lot of minutes and is extremely hard to play against. He is an excellent penalty killer, who keeps the game simple. He brings with him an outstanding attitude and is a very well-liked player in the dressing room. This, coupled with a relentless work ethic in the gym, will help him adjust quickly to the AUS game.”

Webb becomes the 5th recruiting addition to the Acadia hockey program, joining Tyler Hinam, Cole Rafuse, Peyton Hoyt, and Nick Deakin-Poot. Welcome to the Axemen hockey family Reilly, we look forward to seeing you in an Acadia jersey this fall!

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Axemen add 4th recuit to lineup

The Acadia Axemen are proud to announce the commitment of forward Nick Deakin-Poot to the program.

The 6’4”, 225lbs Georgetown, Ontario native is known for having good foot speed, a physical style of play, blocking shots and laying big hits, while also scoring timely goals too.

Deakin-Poot started his junior career with the Guelph Storm of the OHL, playing 2 seasons with the Storm, before making the jump to the QMJHL and joining the Saint John Sea Dogs.

In 2 ½ years in QMJHL, he a scored 69 points in 127 games, including 33 goals and 142 penalty minutes. In this past shortened 2019-2020 season, Nick was named an assistant captain with the team and had a career best 33 points in 51 games.

Coach Darren Burns is excited to add Deakin-Poot to the Axemen lineup in the fall, “We believe Nick’s play is tailor made for the AUS. He is in tremendous shape, fast, big and plays a 200-foot game. He is an excellent penalty killer who thrives in the face off circle. He is also a lot to handle in front of the opponent’s net. There’s no question he has a desire to always get better.”

Deakin-Poot joins the three previously announced Axemen recruits in Tyler Hinam, Cole Rafuse, and Peyton Hoyt.  The Acadia hockey program is proud to welcome our four new recruits and we look forward to seeing you in an Axemen uniform this fall.

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Axemen add 3rd recruit to lineup

The Acadia Axemen are proud to announce the commitment of Lincoln, New Brunswick’s Peyton Hoyt to the Axemen for the upcoming season. The 5’10” 195lbs forward is a rugged winger with good speed with the ability to find the back of the net.

Hoyt is looking forward to joining the Axemen and making the jump to USports hockey, saying, “I’m happy to have joined a hockey organization with a great history. The fans can expect a very high energized player that will never give up and bring my all every night.”

Peyton was originally drafted into QMJHL #6 overall by the Cape Breton Eagles in 2015. He played his 1st three seasons in the Quebec league with Cape Breton from 2015-2018, which included 18 goals in 2017-18 campaign for the Eagles.

Prior to the 2018-19 season, he joined the Blainville-Broisbriand Armada, scoring 16 points in 31 games before being traded to Val-d’Or Foreurs where he added 18 points in 29 games. Combined between the two teams, Hoyt had his best offensive junior season with 24 goals and 34 points in 60 games.

In 2019-2020, Hoyt returned to Val-d’Or for his 5th QMJHL season and was named an assistant captain with the team and scored 28 points in just 40 games, including 14 goals.

Acadia Head Coach Darren Burns feels Hoyt will be a great fit for Acadia saying, “We are very excited to have added Peyton to our team. He is a high energy player who plays his hardest every shift. His speed, tenacity, and team first attitude will make him a strong addition to our program. We know he will be a fan favourite on the ice, in the community, and in the classroom.”

Hoyt joins Tyler Hinam and Cole Rafuse as new additions to the Axemen hockey squad. Acadia had four players graduate from the program last year, including forwards Stephen Harper & Mark McNulty, and defencemen Liam Maaskant & Alexander Lepkowski.

We are excited to welcome Peyton Hoyt to the Acadia Axemen hockey family.

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Kings County native to suit up for Acadia

The Acadia Axemen are pleased to announce the commitment of Harmony, Nova Scotia’s Cole Rafuse to join the Acadia hockey program this fall for the upcoming 2020-21 season.

Cole who suited up for the Valley Wildcats Major Midget team in 2014-15 scoring 31 points in 34 regular season games, went on to be drafted in 2015 into the QMJHL as the first pick in the second round (20th overall) by the Val-d’Or Foreurs.

After 29 games with the Foreurs, Rafuse joined the Acadie-Bathurst Titan for the next 3 ½ years, winning the 2018 QMJHL Championship & then the 2018 Memorial Cup as the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) champions.

Acadia head coach Darren Burns was happy to officially add Rafuse to the Axemen hockey program saying, “We are very excited that Cole has chosen to attend Acadia. He is a player we have always had a lot of respect for, as he has a team first attitude, thinks the game well and has won a Memorial Cup. We believe he is going to be a player who will get better every year. He exudes leadership and character and is well aware of the responsibilities that come with playing hockey at Acadia. There is no question he is the type of player that teams need to be successful in the AUS conference. I know everyone in the Valley will be so excited to have one of their own in an Axemen uniform. It’s exciting for everyone here, it’s just a perfect fit for us all.”

The 6’1, 210 lbs forward had personal bests in 2018-19 with the Titan scoring 16 goals and 31 points in 66 games. He also was named an assistant captain of the team that season.Read more »

By Posted on Posted in Game Recaps

Both teams now prepare for next week’s University Cup

FREDERICTON, NB – The UNB Reds are the 2020 Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey champions after defeating the Acadia Axemen 5-1 in game three of the best of three championship series.

Alexandre Goulet (Disraeli, QC) scored three goals to lead the Reds in a 5-1 win over the Acadia Axemen on Friday, in the third and deciding game of their AUS championship series. 

The game was played before a sell-out crowd of 3374 at UNB’s Aitken Centre. 

Goulet was named the Subway Player of the Game, while Reds goaltender Samuel Harvey (Alma, QC) was named the most valuable player of the AUS playoffs. 

Friday’s game began with both teams playing a close, tight-checking game. 

They played a scoreless first period, but the capacity crowd didn’t have to wait long for a goal in the second period. 

Oliver Cooper (Fredericton, NB) fired a quick shot from the slot that beat Axemen goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) at the 2:51 mark. 

UNB’s Mark Rassell (Calgary, AB) started the play, rushing the puck in on a partial breakaway, but firing the puck over the Acadia next. The Reds gained possession of the loose puck in the corner, before working it in front to Cooper. 

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Third and deciding game goes Friday night in Fredericton

WOLFVILLE N.S. – The University of New Brunswick Reds forced a game three to decide the AUS Championship with a 6-0 win over the Acadia Axemen, backstopped by a solid performance from Samuel Harvey in goal.

Cristiano Digiacinto noted that the bounces didn’t go their way in tonight’s game.

“I felt we came out and did what we had to do, had a couple of unlucky bounces that didn’t go our way and we really kept it going. The second period was completely ours. I felt we were in their end the whole time. It’s just unfortunate the bounces didn’t go our way.”

The Reds were first to get the lead in a must-win game for them. Samuel Dove-McFalls capitalized on his chance after a strong net drive from Stephen Anderson resulted in the open net opportunity for Dove-McFalls. The goal was also assisted by Patrick Watling and came just shy of four minutes into the opening period.

UNB struck again with 7:32 remaining in the first. Forward Mark Rassell doubled the Reds’ lead after the Axemen goaltender had trouble controlling the rebound of Matt Boucher’s shot, and Rassell slid the loose puck underneath Flodell from the edge of the crease. The goal came just a second after concluding a powerplay and was also assisted by Matt Murphy.

The Reds led 2-0 after the first period of play.Read more »

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Flodell makes 52 saves in victory

FREDERICTON, NB – The Acadia Axemen scored a pair of first period goals on route to a 3-1 win over the UNB Reds, in Fredericton, on Monday, in game one of the Subway Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey championship series. 

Rodney Southam (Saskatoon, SK) scored the eventual winner, short-handed, at 15:10 of the first period, and Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) stopped 52 of 53 shots to earn the win in net. 

Flodell was named the Subway Player of the Game. 

“I think our mindset was just to throw everything at them,” said Flodell. “I think that worked out for us and we found a way to win. That’s what good hockey teams have to do. That’s a good hockey team over there. They’re working hard, they’re here for a reason and we’ve got to keep it going.“ 

The visitors opened the scoring, at the 5:53 mark of the first period. 

Stephen Harper (Burlington, ON) broke into the Reds zone and put a shot on Reds goalie Samuel Harvey (Alma, QC). 

Harvey made the save, but the rebound went right to Cristiano Digiacinto (Hamilton, ON) and he made no mistake, putting the Axemen up 1-0. 

Southam’s goal, about nine minutes later, made it 2-0 Acadia after one period. 

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Acadia now looks to close out series on Tuesday night

HALIFAX, N.S. – The Saint Mary’s University Huskies men’s hockey team staved off semifinal elimination with a 6-2 win over the Acadia Axemen. The Axemen headed into the game up two games to none in the series, but home-ice advantage worked in the Huskies favor as their playoff hopes stay alive for at least one more game.  

The Huskies opened the scoring less than three minutes into the period after a flurry of shot attempts. After a wrist shot from the point, Keith Getson (Bridgewater, NS) grabbed the rebound, but goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) made a nice stop. Joel Bishop (St. John’s, NL) got the puck, however, and passed it to Dawson Theede (Brooklin, ON) who put it over Flodell and into the net.  

Halfway through the period, Bishop fought to carry the puck into Acadia’s zone. He was taken down near the corner, but got the puck to Noah Zilbert (Fredericton, NB), who threaded it through the slot to Stephen Johnson (Moncton, NB). Johnson got the puck to the net before Flodell could come across to stop it, making it 2-0 for the Huskies. 

In the second half of the period, the Axemen had some sustained pressure, forcing the Huskies to ice the puck several times. Acadia got 14 shots on net in the first period, but the bulk of scoring opportunities belonged to the Huskies. Acadia’s best chance came midway through the period when a one-timer from Loch Morrison (Christopher Lake, SK) rang off the post. 

Saint Mary’s extended their lead, however, with four and a half minutes to go. A shot from the point from Sam Dunn (Hamilton Township, ON) was redirected by Zilbert. Flodell made the initial save but Sam King (Hampton, NB) put the rebound home. 

Conor McGlynn added another tally for the Huskies with just over a minute left in the period. Picking up a bouncing puck in the neutral zone, he rushed down the left-wing and fired a slap shot top corner. 

On the next play, Acadia had a good scoring chance on a three on two, but goalie Eric Brassard (St. Hubert, QC) was solid and kept them off the board. 

The Huskies led 4-0 heading into the second period. 

Special teams made the second period an exciting one. Early on, over a minute of four on four hockey led to end-to-end chances. Midway through the period, Acadia had a five on three advantage. Their good puck movement caused the Huskies to scramble a few times, but the penalties ended with no scoring. 

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Digiacinto leads the way with 4 points in win

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen hockey team take a 2-0 lead in the AUS best of five semifinal series on a 5-2 win over the visiting Saint Mary’s Huskies.

Cristiano Digiacinto picked up two goals and two assists in the Axemen win over the Huskies and was named the Subway Player of the Game.

“Playing our game and not worrying about the other team. If we do what we do best, we are going to win games. I think if we keep doing what we do and sticking to our game plan is something that is going to make us successful throughout the playoffs and leading into the Nationals,” said Digiacinto following the game.

A repeat of game one between the Axemen and Huskies, the opening period was scoreless.

Digiacinto opened the six goal second period on a deflected Ross MacDougall shot from the high slot to give the Axemen a 1-0 lead at the 5:06 mark of the second frame on the powerplay.

The Huskies tied the game four minutes later after the Axemen coughed up the puck in their own end. Anthony Repaci fed Dawson Theede across the crease for the first of two Huskie powerplay goals in the second period.

Senior forward Stephen Harper replied at 13:26 of the second frame with another Acadia powerplay goal to give the Axemen a 2-1 lead that would last only three minutes.

Saint Mary’s scored their second goal with the man-advantage when Dawson Theede’s wide shot went off the end boards and came out to Alex Peters who sent a high blocker side shot over Logan Flodell’s shoulder.Read more »

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Flodell stops 33 shots in victory

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The unranked Acadia Axemen opened the best of five semifinal series with a 4-1 win over the U SPORTS No. 9 ranked Saint Mary’s Huskies.

Axeman Logan Flodell was named the Subway Player of the Game stopping 33 of 34 shots for the win. Flodell was recently named the AUS Most Valuable Player by the AUS head coaches.

Flodell praised the effort by his defensive unit during a hard-fought game against the Huskies.

“Our D worked on picking up sticks around the net. That’s what they wanted to do was throw pucks around my feet and get rebounds and they did that pretty well tonight and our defense battled hard,” noted Flodell following the game.

The opening period was scoreless with the Huskies out-shooting the host Axemen 11-5, but the game opened up after five and half minutes into the second frame.

Third-year forward Cristiano Digiacinto scored the series-opening goal after tapping in a pass across the crease from teammate Tate Olson.

The Axemen pushed the lead to 2-0 on a Mason McCarty goal a minute and eighteen seconds later. McCarty picked up the loose puck in front of the Huskies’ net after a feed from Owen MacDonald.

The Huskies cut the lead in half on a late second period goal when Joel Bishop picked up a turned over puck on a misplay behind the net.Read more »