Axemen First-Half Questions Answered – Repeat Challenge

Question 5 – Can the Axemen Repeat as AUS Champions?

UNB-ACA14The 5th and final question we will look at from AUS enthusiasts entering the 2014-15 regarding this year’s Axemen club, was can they repeat as AUS champions?

Coming into the season, there were some questions, as we’ve outlined in the first 4 parts of this series, all of these things would need to go right in order for the Axemen to have a chance at repeating. As we sit here on December 5th, we look back at 16 games played by the Axemen, a 12-3-1 record, ranked 5th in the country in the weekly CIS hockey rankings. They are tied in points with CIS #3 ranked Saint Mary’s Huskies, and 1 point back of CIS #2 ranked UNB Varsity Reds, for top spot in the AUS.

A couple of key points to be aware of:

  • The Axemen have beaten conference leader UNB twice so far this season, both games were decided in overtime, once in Wolfville, and once in Fredericton.
  • Acadia’s road record is 7-1-1, and 5-2 on home ice.
  • Of the Axemen’s final 12 games, only 5 will be played on the road, with 7 taking place at home at the Andrew H McCain Arena in Wolfville.
  • The Axemen are 0-2 against SMU in the first half, the two teams’ face off twice more in the final 12 games, so Acadia will look to improve on this head to head record.

Coach Darren Burns reflected on the first half of the season, and his thoughts on the second half saying, “The first half was very tight as expected; there are a lot of good teams in the AUS. Now it comes down to a twelve game season. I think we improved over the last six weeks and as a coach that’s a positive thing to see.”

Can they win the AUS? They have certainly set themselves up to be in a position to have a chance to do so with an excellent first half of the season. As Coach Burns said, it’s now a 12 game season; the Axemen are in the thick of earning the playoff bye for finishing first or second in the league. But they will need to continue to answer the bell, ensuring they stay consistent with what put them in this position – hard work, dedication to team play, and attention to detail.

Can they repeat as AUS Champions? We can’t answer that question yet… for now we leave this one as a work in progress.

Submitted by Chris Richards