Acadia Survives Late Scare To Continue Winning Streak

Axemen Edge Tommies 7-6 in Overtime

A great moment prior to the game, as Acadia University raised a Don Wells banner to the rafters. The late Wells, was a player for the Axemen, Coach, and Athletic Director between 1964-1999.
A great moment prior to the game, as Acadia University raised a Don Wells banner to the rafters. The late Wells, was a player for the Axemen, Coach, and Athletic Director between 1964-1999.

The Acadia Axemen welcomed the St. Thomas Tommies to Andrew H. McCain Arena in Wolfville Saturday night. The Axemen were riding a two game winning streak going into the game. What was supposed to be a convincing win for the Axemen turned into a 7-6 overtime nail biter.

The Tommies struck first on a strange bounce that beat rookie netminder Robert Steeves early in the first. Then they sat back and watched as the Axemen began a 19 shot barrage on their netminder. Luke Lee-Knight allowed five goals as the Axemen simply rolled over the Tommies in the first. When the dust settled, the Axemen had built a comfortable 5-1 lead. Mike Cazzola scored twice, with Liam Heelis, Remy Giftopoulos, and Matthew Pufahl adding singles. Ranklyn Campbell replied for the Tommies.

Acadia held a 19-14 advantage in shots in the first period.

The game seemed well in hand. When St. Thomas replaced Lee-Knight with Tyson Teichmann in goal, it seemed to be a sidenote. But St. Thomas proved what happens when hard work meets opportunity. They drew upon an incident in which their goaltender got run over behind his net. The incident sparked the Tommies to a new level. They scored three times in the second, two on the power play, to draw within one goal when the period drew to a close.

Zach Hodder scored twice, with Brandon Childerley adding a single. Teichmann turned out to be the ace in the sleeve of the Tommies, as he stuffed all 15 shots the Axemen threw at him. The Axemen outshot the Tommies 15-11.

The third period turned into a sluggish affair, with the Axemen trying to nurse the one goal lead, and the Tommies desperately trying to tie the game. The Axemen had three straight power plays, and while the Tommies bent, they didn’t break. They kept pressing, but when Heelis scored his second goal of the game late in the third, it seemed as though Acadia had dodged a bullet.

The Tommies had one last trick up their sleeve. Instead of wilting, they surged forward. Two goals by JC Campagna tied the game in the dying seconds. When the buzzer sounded to end the third period, the score read 6-6, and the game was headed to overtime.

St. Thomas outshot Acadia 13-12 in the third.

It was apparent when the overtime period started that Acadia had a new sense of urgency. It took all of thirty-two seconds for Acadia’s Travis Gibbons to end the game with his second of the season, pulling victory from the jaws of defeat and sending the Wolfville crowd home happy.

Acadia managed the only two shots of the period.

It is a win like this that sends the message that a team is not invincible. Acadia learned that no lead is safe, and that they will need to play a full sixty minutes to compete with the AUS powerhouses.

The Axemen now take their show on the road as they travel to Antigonish to take on St. FX on October 22. They then return home to face the UNB Reds on October and Moncton on October 25. Game times are 7:00pm.

You can follow all the action on AVR 97.7FM as Len Hawley brings you the live action on radio. You can also tune into www.austv.ca to watch the games on the internet, and follow @axemenhockey and @openingfaceoff on Twitter for live updates throughout the game.

Game story submitted by Justin Halbersma Staff Writer at Vavel USA (www.vavel.com)