Acadia downs Moncton 5-2

Axemen Victory Sets Up Winner Take All Final Game

The Acadia Axemen and the UNB Varsity Reds have been battling each other all season for first place in the AUS conference.  It seems only fitting that it comes down to the final game of the regular season.

The Axemen secured their place in this regular season classic by dumping the Moncton Blue Eagles 5-2 in Wolfville.  After a scoreless first period, the Axemen went to work.  Playing without leading scorer Liam Heelis, the Axemen still jumped out to a three goal lead on goals by Dylan Anderson, Brett Thompson, and KC Brown.  Acadia ruled the rink in both goals and shots, much to the delight of the Wolfville crowd.  At the end of two periods, the shots read 23-12 in favor of Acadia, and the Axemen seemingly had the game well in hand.  With UNB holding a sizeable lead in their own AUS action against the Dalhousie Tigers, the date with destiny seemed set.

Not so fast.

Moncton roared out of the gate in the third, scoring two quick goals – one by Alex Noel and the other by Simon Lecroix – to narrow the lead to one goal.  The crowd fell silent, as Moncton (ranked 10th in the country in CIS standings) seemed intent on making sure the Axemen wouldn’t have a chance to play for 1st the next night.

Acadia goaltender Evan Mosher flashed the leather to rob Moncton of a sure goal with a lovely glove stop, and the Axemen took over again.  Scott Trask scored less than a minute after the Bleu Eagles’ second goal, restoring a two goal lead until Dylan Anderson found the net again with a long wrist shot that fooled Moncton netminder Adrien Lemay, opening up a 5-2 lead – a lead they wouldn’t lose.  The Axemen shut down any Moncton attempts at a comeback, ensuring their final regular season game would be, as they say, for all the marbles.

Final shots on goal favored Acadia 35-19.

Watch the video recap of the game:

UNB did their part, dumping Dalhousie 7-0, and now the Varsity Reds travel to Acadia Arena for the first place showdown.  The Axemen hold a 2-1 season record against the Reds, but those games are history.  It all comes down to this…Acadia vs. UNB, in Wolfville, February 15th, at 7:00pm.  With first place on the line, one will expect both these teams to bring their very best.

You can follow all the action on www.austv.ca, as well as on Twitter by following @axemenhockey or @openingfaceoff.  But if you live in the Wolfville area, get to the rink, get your tickets, and loudly support your Acadia Axemen as they go for first in the AUS!

Game story by Justin Halbersma of openingfaceoff.net