CIS No. 8 Hockey Axemen improve to 4-1
Heelis scores second hat-trick in three games
story courtesy of acadiau.ca 30/10/2013 11:32 pm
WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Acadia captain Liam Heelis has had the hot stick of late, scoring eight goals in his last three games including a trio tonight against the Dalhousie Tigers.
A third year forward, Heelis did something rare in modern hockey, scoring three straight beginning in the second period, for a natural hat trick. His dominating play led the Axemen to a convincing 5-0 victory over the winless Dalhousie Tigers and was given the game’s first star on a unusual Wednesday night match up.
Rookie goaltender Brandon Glover recorded his first win of the season in fashion, stopping all 27 shots he faced including numerous acrobatic saves. He was awarded the third star for his brilliant performance.
Tyler Ferry and Mike Cazzola had Acadia’s other goals, to improve Acadia to 4-1 and tied for first place in the AUS conference with the CIS No. 2 ranked UNB Varsity Reds. UNB has one game in hand.
Acadia wins its third straight game in convincing style, jumping out to an early lead and holding on to it for the entire game.
Wendell Vye made 45 saves for the Tigers in the loss.
Rookie Ferry opened the scoring midway through the opening frame with his first regular season goal, scoring on a harmless looking wrist shot using the Dalhousie defensemen as a screen.
Cazzola also scored his first of the season, going high far side on the man advantage. This was one of four points for Cazzola in tonight’s game, receiving the game’s second star honours.
Following the Ferry and Cazzola goals, it was the Liam Heelis Show. Heelis scored three goals in 23 minutes on eight shots. Both of his first and second period goals were off the post and in. The first goal, a one-timer, while the second on a point blank shot from the slot.
Heelis’ third goal however was a beauty, beating Vye between the legs on a slap shot from the bottom of the circle after a great feed by Cazzola. Liam leads the conference with 8 goals and three assists for 11 points. Teammate Mike Cazzola trails Heelis with one goal and 7 assists.
After a large scrum in the final frame, five misconducts were handed out, including Wolfville native K.C. Brown, Geoff Schemitsch, Scott Trask for Acadia, and Dan Joyce and Andrew Langan on the Tigers’ side.
The Axemen host the 1-3 Saint Mary’s Huskies – a rematch of the second round of the AUS playoffs last year where the Huskies come out on top. Acadia will be looking for a different result this time around.