Axemen add Chris Owens

AUS/CIS All-Star defenceman returns for 5th year of Eligibility

Chris Owens pictured last season in the CIS University Cup tournament in Saskatoon. (Photo By Calvin So/CIS University Cup)
Chris Owens pictured last season at the CIS University Cup tournament in Saskatoon. (Photo By Calvin So/CIS University Cup)

The Acadia Axemen hockey team is very pleased to announce that Chris Owens has returned to the team for his 5th and final year of CIS hockey eligibility. Owens has decided to continue to pursue his education at Acadia University this year.

Owens was in the lineup for the Axemen on Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to St. FX, where he scored shorthanded on a great individual effort that at the time tied the game at 2. Chris wore #3 for Acadia on Wednesday, since his number from the past four seasons, #10, has been worn by freshman Zach Franko this year.

Coach Darren Burns said, “We are very excited that Chris has decided to pursue more education and continue to play at Acadia. His leadership and abilities will be a great addition to our program.”

In four seasons with Acadia, Owens has scored 30 goals and 104 points in 109 regular season games, but he doesn’t just play in the offensive end of the ice, in 2014 Chris was chosen as the Axemen defensive player of the year. He was also a first team AUS all-star last season, helping to lead Acadia to an AUS championship and CIS University Cup tournament berth.

With the addition of Owens, the Axemen now have some flexibility at the defense position, as they have moved both Tyler Ferry and Travis Randell back to defence this season, after both had played forward last year. When Geoff Schemitsch is able to return from injury, the Axemen will have a defence of Owens, Pufahl, Schemitsch, Gibbons, Woodworth, Poliziani, & Buonomo to go along with Ferry and Randell.

Owens is also the all-time point leader in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League, where he registered 60 goals and 258 points over four years wth the Miramichi Timberwolves, prior to joining the Axemen.

Owens had a professional tryout in September with his hometown St. John’s IceCaps of the AHL, in which he appeared in one pre-season game. With a large group of returning defenceman on the IceCaps roster, along with some new prospects in the Winnipeg Jets organization, Owens was sent to the ECHL’s Ontario Reign camp. At the Reign camp, he faced much the same situation, which lead to his decision to return to Acadia to pursue further education.

Welcome back to the Acadia Axemen Christopher Owens!