Axemen extend winning streak to three with win over SMU

Stallard with 2 goals in 4-3 victory

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Saint Mary’s Huskies faced off against the Acadia Axemen this Wednesday in Halifax in AUS men’s hockey action. The Huskies tied a three goal deficit but after a late goal, Axemen went away with a 4-3 win. 

The game got off to a slow start, with both teams playing very conservative hockey. 

Acadia opened the scoring 11 minutes in with a power play goal from Marc McNulty (Medicine Hat, AB). Off the face off, he walked to the middle of the ice and his shot from the point went top corner. Johnny Corneil (Lindsay, ON) got the assist, putting the Axemen up 1-0. That would be the only goal of the period. 

Coming out with some jump, Garrett McFadden (Kincardine, ON) rushed down the right wing and stuffed the puck short side past Xavier Potin (Austin, QC) to make it 2-0 for the Huskies 19 seconds into the second period. 

The Huskies had a scoring opportunity with 14 minutes to go; a slap shot from Nicholas Welsh (Halifax, NS) beat goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) blocker side but rang off the post. 

The score was 2-0 for the Axemen heading into the third period. 

Acadia extended their lead to three goals with Jordy Stallard (Brandon, MB) receiving a stretch pass, splitting the Saint Mary’s defence, and making no mistake on the breakaway. Ryan Foss (Oakville, ON) and Liam Maaskant (Clinton, ON) had the assists. 

The Huskies were quick to respond, with Jake Coughler (St Catharines, ON) scoring a power play goal 28 seconds later. Hunter Garlent (Thorold, ON) assisted. 

Playing with some more urgency, the Huskies struck again just as another power play ended, this time with a shot from the point from Calder Brooks (Emerald Park, SK). Logan Denoble (Peterborough, ON) and Dylan Di Perna (Nobleton, ON) had the assists. 

Dominating most of the third period, the Huskies tied the game with just over four minutes to go. Denoble, working the puck behind the net, made a nice pass out front to Stephen Johnson (Moncton, NB) for a quick wrist shot and the game tying goal. 

The comeback was short lived, however, as Acadia scored 36 seconds later. It was Stallard from Foss again. 

That would do it for this game as the Axemen won 4-3. Stallard scored two goals, including the game winner, and was awarded the Subway Player of the Game.

For their final regular season games, both teams host Moncton – Acadia on February 9 and Saint Mary’s on February 10