The streak ends at nine

ANTIGONISH, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen’s nine game winning streak comes to an end with a 4-3 overtime loss to the host StFX X-men.  X-man Spencer McAvoy knocked in an Evan Mosher rebound to give StFX the win while the Axemen pick up a single point for the overtime loss.

Third  year forward Liam Heelis opened the scoring with a short-handed goal in the first period on a turnover giving the first year captain a breakaway that he put high under the bar at 15:20.

StFX tied the game early in the second period when Zackary MacQueen slid a loose puck under Mosher. Heelis scored his second of the night and thirteenth of the season on the powerplay at 11:30 in second frame, giving Acadia a 2-1 lead after two periods.

The X-men replied in the third period with two unanswered goals to tie the game at three. Ted Stephens scored on the powerplay eleven minutes into the final frame on the two man advantage. At 16:35, Michael Kirkpatrick punched in the tying goal to put the game into extra time.

McAvoy’s goal, four minutes into the overtime period, was his second of the regular season. StFX’s Drew Owsley stopped 22 of 25 shots, while Acadia’s Evan Mosher handled 34 shots in three periods and four minutes of overtime. The loss is Mosher’s first this season.

The X-men improve to 6-5-1 and sit in third place, trailing Acadia and UNB by eight points. UNB and Acadia are deadlocked in a first place tie with a 10-1-1 record. Acadia wraps up the first half of the regular season before the Christmas break at home this weekend against Moncton on Friday followed by Saturday’s matchup against UNB. StFX will be on the road against UPEI and St. Thomas.