Hockey Axemen take first place in standings prior to Break

story courtesy of hockey.acadiau.ca 01/12/2013 12:39 am

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – A highly anticipated match up was set as the CIS No. 3 ranked UNB Varsity Reds visited the CIS No. 4 Acadia Axemen in Wolfville.

With over 1700 in attendance for this Saturday night match up at the Acadia Arena, the game was one of the more physical games of the year, including numerous penalties on both sides, totaling a combined 72 minutes.

Starting right off the opening draw the ice seemed to be tilted in Acadia’s favour. Third year forward Joel Ridgeway opened the scoring 13 minutes into the game and was given the game’s Subway third star. Ridgeway was in the right spot at the right time, when all he had to do was poke the puck into the net, as the UNB goaltender Charles Lavigne lost track of the puck. Acadia would hold onto the 1-0 lead into the locker room.

UNB’s Tyler Carroll opened the second period with a powerplay goal at the 3:10 mark to tie the game at one a piece. Teammate Marc-Antoine Des took the initial shot and Carroll fanned on the rebound, but it was enough to cross the line and count for the V-Reds first and only goal.

After a collection of penalties for both teams in the third, Acadia came out on top with a two minute power play. Axeman Mike Cazzola netted the eventual game winner with just under four minutes remaining in the second frame to give Acadia a 2-1 lead. Cazzola wristed a shot past UNB netminder Charles Lavigne for his fourth goal of the season.

Second year Axeman, Dylan Anderson, scored a beautiful shorthanded goal early in the third by first intercepting the puck, then coming in on a two-on-one with Liam Heelis. Deciding to keep the puck to himself, Anderson cut across from the forehand to backhand, sliding the puck underneath the arm of Lavigne.

Assistant captain Colin Archer scored the insurance goal, putting Acadia up 4-1 late in the third. Archer earned himself the games second star for his goal.

With just over five minutes remaining in the game, senior Chris Owens hammered the nail in the coffin with his seventh goal of the season to give the Axemen a 5-1 win over the UNB Varsity Reds.

A massive hit at center ice by Mike Thomas resulted in Travis Randell lying on the ice and KC Brown stepping up for his teammate, dropping the gloves instantly without any hesitation. Brown and Thomas will both received fighting majors and game misconducts on the play. Further supplementary discipline is possible.

Acadia’s Evan Mosher improves to 9-1-0 on the season, making 27 saves in the win over the Varsity Reds. Joel Ridgeway received the game’s first star award and has now scored goals in back to back games. The Axemen out-shot UNB by 15 in a 43-28 advantage and were good on two of five powerplay opportunities, while UNB was one for four on the man advantage.

With Exams and the Holiday Break, the Axemen will have a four week rest before hosting an exhibition game against Guelph Gryphons for a New Year’s Eve daytime game starting at 1pm. The Varsity Reds will remain home over the Holidays, jumping back into action in exhibition play on Sunday Dec. 29 against the St. Thomas Tommies at the Pete Kelly Challenge. The next time both teams meet again is Friday January 17 in Fredericton.

With the 5-1 victory, Acadia now jumps into sole possession of first place in the AUS standings with 24 points (11-1-2), 1 more than reigning national champion UNB (11-2-1).