Category: Team Stories

Four great years for two Axemen greats

Mike Cazzola and Brett Thompson, two Ontario born hockey players, came to Acadia University together 4 years ago. What they’ve done since has been instrumental to the success of the Acadia hockey program, including an AUS Championship, 2 CIS National Tournament appearances, multiple All-star selections, one leading the AUS in points, the other leading the AUS in goals in separate season. Just to name a few of the accolades.

After successful junior careers in the OHL, Thompson scoring 139 goals and 255 points in 310 games, while Cazzola notched 225 points in just 219 games, the two former junior teammates decided to come to Acadia University together to suit up for the Axemen. They spent much of their four seasons as linemates with the Axemen, and became home town fan favorites, with their skilled, high octane, in your face style of play. They teamed up with Liam Heelis to be one of the most potent forward lines in the CIS.

The pair took no time fitting into the AUS, Thompson put up 26 points in 28 games in 2012-13, while Cazzola scored 29 points in 28 games. The stats landed both players on the AUS All-Rookie team for the season, and Cazzola was named the AUS Rookie of the year.

2013-14 saw Cazzola represent Canada at the Universiade in Italy, along with teammates Chris Owens and Liam Heelis. Mike went on to score 9 points in just 6 games in the tournament, helping Team Canada win the championship, while playing against teams which included many KHL players, which is the Russian Pro Hockey League.

The Axemen went on to win the AUS that season, earning themselves a birth in the CIS National tournament in Saskatoon, Sask. En route, Cazzola tied linemate Liam Heelis for the most points in the AUS with 42 points in 28 games, earning both players’ selections as 1^st team All-Stars in the AUS for 2013-14.

2014-15 saw Brett Thompson lead the AUS in goals with 19, to go along with 38 points in 28 games, earning him 1^st team AUS All-Star status, and also being named to the 2^nd team CIS All-Stars. Cazzola landed on the 2^nd team AUS all-star team for the season, scoring 32 points in 26 games. The pair led the Axemen to their second straight appearance at the CIS National Tournament, this time in Halifax, NS.Read more »

Pufahl, Schemitsch, Cazzola All-Stars, Farrell All-Rookie

HALIFAX, N.S. – The AUS announced today All-Stars and Major Awards for men’s hockey. Four Axemen were honoured including Matthew Pufahl named as a first team AUS All-Star; Mike Cazzola and Geoff Schemitsch named as second team AUS All-Stars and Kyle Farrell named to the AUS All-Rookie Team.

Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2015-16 AUS men’s hockey major award winners and all-stars as selected by the conference’s eight head coaches following regular season play.

Second-year StFX forward Eric Locke of Toronto has been named the Atlantic University Sport most valuable player.

Other AUS major award winners announced today were Dalhousie’s Phil Gadoury of Montreal, who was named rookie of the year; Saint Mary’s Ben Duffy of Lower Sackville, N.S., who was selected as the most sportsmanlike player; StFX’s Nathan Chiarlitti of Maple, Ont., who earned the Godfrey award for student-athlete community service; and StFX head coach Brad Peddle, who was named the AUS coach of the year for the first time in his career.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (Kelly Trophy): Eric Locke, StFX

The Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey most valuable player is Eric Locke of the CIS No. 5-ranked St. Francis Xavier University X-Men.

Locke, a third-year human kinetics student in his second year of eligibility, notched 35 points in 28 games played this season—the third most in the Atlantic conference.Read more »

Acadia Axemen @ UPEI Panthers

UPEI Panthers @ Acadia Axemen

A look back at the Rogers Hometown Hockey weekend event in Wolfville, NS on November 28-29th, 2015.