Axemen extend winning streak to three by edging Moncton 3-2

Nagy, Henderson & McMaster score in win  

Wolfville, N.S. – Make it three in a row for the Acadia Axemen (9-12-2-1) as they defeated the Moncton Aigles Bleus (10-13-1-0) 3-2 on Friday night. The win means that the Axemen trail Moncton by two points in the standings for fifth place. 

The Subway First Star of the Night Adam McMaster (Beamsville, N.S.) scored the game-winner on a power-play Acadia 5:43 into the final period. 

McMaster stepped in from the left side of the blueline and lifted a soft wrist shot into the middle of the net. 

“The boys were definitely snapping around in practice, and it translated into success in the game,” commented McMaster on his powerplay goal. “Coaches have been stressing on the powerplay to shoot the puck.” 

Acadia jumped out to an early lead thanks to a front-of-the-net scramble goal 4:42 into the first period. 

Cole Nagy (Saskatoon, Sask.) scooped up a rebound with Moncton’s goalie Etienne Montpetit (Valleyfield, Que.) laying on the ice to make it 1-0. 

Moncton responded late in the period with a tying goal from the second star of the night Nathael Roy (Levis, Que.), who took advantage of a failed clearing attempt by the Axemen. 

Roy corralled the puck in the right corner of the offensive zone, came in tight on the goalie, and lifted a wrister into the top corner to make it 1-1. 

It was an offensively dominant period for the Axemen, as they held a 16-5 lead in shots heading into the second period. 

Moncton took their first and only lead of the game in the second period. 

Maxime Boudreau (Cap-Pete, N.B.) scored the goal for Moncton with 9:41 left in the period 

Boudreau stepped into the slot and fired a shot five-hole to make it 2-1. 

Acadia’s best scoring opportunity in the period came when Corson Hopwo (Duncan, B.C.) attempted “the Michigan” behind the Moncton net. 

At the end of the period, the shots were 26-19 in favour of Acadia. 

Acadia mounted their comeback in the third with a pair of goals in the first six minutes of the period. 

Eric Henderson (Kingsville, Ont.) tied the game 1:40 into the final frame after picking up a rebound in front of the net and sliding it past Montpetit to make it 2-2. 

It was only four minutes later that McMaster scored what would be the eventual game-winner. 

Moncton made a valiant effort to tie the game, including pulling their goalie in the final minute but came up short. 

Acadia goalie Conor McCollum (Pickering, Ont.) turned aside 27 of 29 shots on the night, while Etienne Montpetit stopped 37 of 40 shots. 

Acadia forward Keegan Stevenson (Aweres Township, Ont.) was named the third star of the night. 

Acadia returns to play tomorrow night against the REDS, while the Aigles Bleus head to Halifax to take on the Saint Mary’s Huskies. Both games start at 7:00 p.m. 

Provided by Joshua Foote, Acadia Athletics Communications Office