Burns and Slaney with the Axemen goals
HALIFAX, NS – Saint Mary’s forward Ben Allison scored two goals and an assist, leading the Huskies to a 5-2 win over the Acadia Axemen on Saturday night, in front of 388 fans at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax.
It was the Axemen who would strike first on the evening, off a powerplay goal from forward Brady Burns (Port Williams, NS), giving the visitors a 1-0 lead 10:01 into the first period.
But the Huskies equalized several minutes later, as forward Charlie Da Fonseca (Thornhill, ON) skated behind the net and threw the puck in front, where it took a fortuitous bounce onto the stick of Ben Allison (Halifax, NS) who wired it past Axemen netminder Thomas Couture (Levis, QC) to tie the game at 1-1 with just under two minutes remaining in the period.
Despite the goals, Couture and Huskies goaltender Justin Sumarah (Halifax, NS) were both sharp over the opening 20 minutes, denying 11 and 10 shots respectively, and the Axemen took a 12-11 advantage in shots on goal into the first intermission.
It took just 40 seconds into the second period for the Huskies to take the lead, as forward Bradey Johnson (Lindsay, ON) won the faceoff to Cedric Ralph (Peterborough, ON) who dished a pass to Reid Valade (Caledon, ON) who wired a shot past Couture to put the Huskies ahead 2-1.
Allison’s second goal of the night would add to the Huskies lead, as the second year forward played a perfect give-and-go with linemate Derek Gentile (Sydney, NS), extending the lead to 3-1, 6:22 into the second period.
Acadia cut it back to a one-goal lead midway through the period, as first year defenceman Keagan Slaney (Airdrie, AB) won the puck away from a Husky and fired a high shot over the shoulder of a screened Justin Sumarah for Slaney’s first career AUS goal, cutting the lead to 3-2.
The Huskies outshot the Axemen 11-10 in the second period, with the Huskies taking a 3-2 into second intermission.
Saint Mary’s would add to the lead in the third period, with Dennis Busby scoring a powerplay goal off of a set-up from Ben Allison.
In the final seconds of regulation, defenceman Jaxon Bellamy (Hampton, NB) scored an empty netter from the other end, icing the 5-2 victory.
Huskies forward Ben Allison was named Player of the Game with two goals and an assist. Allison’s linemates Charlie Da Fonseca and Derek Gentile both recorded two assists.
Saint Mary’s goaltender Justin Sumarah made 26 saves for the win, while Axemen goaltender Thomas Couture turned away 27 shots in defeat.
The Huskies win improves their record to 2-0-0 on the season. They’ll be back on home ice next Thursday, Oct. 10, hosting the STFX X-Men at 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre.
The Axemen loss drops their record to 1-1-0 on the campaign. They will also face the X-Men next, Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in Antigonish, NS.
Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics