Axemen snap SMU’s 6 game win streak with a 2-1 victory

Nagy & Peach with the Acadia tallies

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – In the first of a five-game homestand, and the home-opener of 2023, the Acadia Axemen (6-12-1-1) came out with a victory. Acadia downed the Saint Mary’s Huskies (14-8-0-0) 2-1 on Friday night in Wolfville. 

Snapping a losing streak of three games, the Axemen trail Moncton and STFX by six points in the AUS standings in sixth place.  

“It was a huge, big game for us. We wanted to come out strong and play the way we know we can,” said AUS Subway First Star of the Game, Corson Hopwo (Duncan, B.C.). “We wanted to get the cycle going and get shots on net and run their d-men. So I think we played well tonight and we want to keep it going into tomorrow.” 

Despite holding the lead in shots for the opening frame, Acadia was down 1-0 by the end of the first period. 

The play was even between the teams throughout the period. Both sides had a number of chances, but it was Saint Mary’s who struck first. 

Saint Mary’s opened the scoring with 90 seconds left in the first frame. 

Charlie Dafonseca (Thornhill, Ont.) potted a goal for the Huskies on a quick pass from Nathan Dunkely (Campbellford, Ont.) to open the scoring. 

By the end of the first period, the shots were 9-8 in favour of Acadia. 

It was all Acadia in the second, as they responded with a pair of goals to take a 2-1 lead heading into the third frame. 

The Axemen tied the game on a goal from Cole Nagy (Saskatoon, Sask.), 12 minutes into the second period. 

Acadia used a strong breakout from their zone to score. Nagy took a pass from Nick Deakin-Poot (Georgetown, Ont.) and ripped a shot past the glove of Saint Mary’s goalie Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, Ont.). 

Bailey Peach (Falmouth, N.S.) gave Acadia their first lead of the game just over three minutes later. 

Peach sniped a shot from the slot to make it 2-1 for Acadia. 

At the end of the second period, Acadia held a commanding 23-13 lead in shots. 

Neither team was able to add to the scoresheet in a tight defensive third period. 

Acadia had a shot at getting an empty-netter late in the game, but they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, making for a tense final minute of play. 

Acadia goalie Conor McCollum (Pickering, Ont.) turned aside 22 of 23 shots on the night, while his Saint Mary’s counterpart, Jeremy Helvig, stopped 31 of 33 shots on net. 

Acadia returns to play tomorrow night in Wolfville against the UPEI Panthers, while the Huskies host the UNB REDS next Friday night.