Game Preview: Acadia @ UNB
Category: Team Stories
Two forwards, two defencemen recruited for hockey Axemen
Kyle Farrell Joins the Axemen
By John Decoste
WOLFVILLE – Head coach Darren Burns is adding two forwards and two defencemen to the Acadia hockey Axemen bench this fall.
Kyle Farrell, a five-foot-eight forward from Howie Centre, Cape Breton, played four full seasons and 26 games of a fifth with the QMJHL Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, after playing major midget with the Cape Breton Tradesmen.
Farrell scored 103 goals and had 217 points in his major junior career, topping out with 42 goals in 63 regular season games in 2014-2015.
“Kyle is an extremely hard-working player who plays a complete 200-foot game,” Burns said. “He is a very quick player whose skating ability and tenacity will help him be an impact player in this league.”
He called Farrell “an extremely dedicated player who always strives to get better. His leadership skills and desire to succeed will be a huge asset to our program.”
Daniel Pettersson, a native of Toronto, played his major junior hockey with the Moncton Wildcats, for whom he played in the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament.
Twice a 20-goal scorer with Moncton, Pettersson played the bulk of the past two seasons overseas in Sweden and France.
“Daniel is a very experienced player,” Burns said – and at 24, Pettersson is also a bit older than a typical AUS rookie. “He has excellent vision and is a very good skater.”
Burns expects Pettersson’s “high hockey IQ” will help ease his transition to university hockey.
Liam Maskaant, a 21-year-old native of Clinton, Ont., will join the Acadia blueline this fall. At six-foot-four and 214 pounds, he has a real physical presence and will add both size and strength to the Axemen defence.
Maskaant split his junior career between the Erie Otters, Barrie Colts and Kitchener Rangers of the OHL and the Stratford Cullitons of the Greater Ontario Junior League.
Burns described him as “a very tough, stay-at-home defenceman,” and “an excellent leader who possesses a lot of integrity. He has very good mobility and makes an excellent first pass.”
Maskaant, he added, is well known for sticking up for his teammates.
“His toughness and physical play will make him an excellent addition,” Burns said.
The other blueline recruit is Brett Cote, a 21-year-old native of Oakbank, Man. Cote spent his final year in major junior with the Red Deer Rebels after having played the previous three seasons with the Victoria Royals.
Cote, a six-foot, 207 pounder, was described by Burns as “an excellent two-way defenceman.” He had 24 goals and 138 points in 281 major junior games.
“He will be a big boost to our power play on the blueline, as he sees the ice very well and has excellent puck-moving skills with a hard shot.”
Cote also does well in penalty killing situations, Burns said.
“His calm presence will help our team’s transition from the blueline.”
Asked if there would be any more recruits added this off-season, Burns said he was not certain at this point, but that as a coach, you never stop looking.
Acadia Youth to Play in Lobsterfest Tournament
Acadia Teams to Travel to Northeastern USA for Tournaments
Acadia Hockey Development is proud to have a number of teams participating at the Maine & New Hampshire Lobsterfest tournament from July 10-12, 2015. This marks the third year the Acadia Hockey Development group will participate in this prestigious NAPS tournament, with nearly 100 youths traveling from the Valley area to the Portland hosted event this year.
Acadia teams going to the tournament will range from the 2002 age group, up to and including the 2007 age group.
Acadia’s Darren Burns expressed excitement for all involved, “This is a tremendous opportunity for our kids. It is extremely important for the kids of the Annapolis Valley to get the opportunities that kids all across the country get. The development of kids who play year round in the valley is second to none in our province. We are very fortunate to have a first class facility and it’s exciting to see the improvement in the kids of all ages. Lastly, camaraderie is a big part of this. Children and families get a chance to know each other and create lasting memories.”
Training camp for the teams will be taking place in Wolfville, NS, at the Andrew H McCain Arena on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of July, 2015.
For more information including participating teams and schedules visit: http://www.legacyglobalsports.com/aaalobsterfest
Thomas Schemitsch drafted in 3rd Round by Florida
Younger Brother of Axemen taken 88th overall in NHL Entry Draft
Thomas Schemitsch, an eighteen year old 6’3″ defenseman with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack, was drafted in the third round of the 2015 NHL entry draft by the Florida Panthers. Schemitsch is the younger brother of Acadia Axemen blueliner Geoff Schemitsch. Geoff was drafted in the 4th round, 96th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2010 prior to joining the University hockey ranks with Acadia.
Thomas flourished with the Attack this season putting up 49 points in 68 games on the backend for his junior team.
Here was Thomas had to say about being drafted below:
U14 Acadia Ice Female team wins Vermont Summer Classic
Acadia Hockey Development team returns home as champs
The Acadia Hockey Development program would like to congratulate our female u14 Acadia Ice team on winning the Vermont Summer Classic tournament. The tournament was held from June 19th – 21st,2015 in Burlington, Vermont and age groups for the participating teams included 8u, 10u, 12u, 14u, and 18u.
The title completed a three-peat for this team, a group of local valley girls that have played together since they were 8 years old, as they take home the championship for the third straight year! This year they managed to outscore their opponents by an astounding 36-1 margin throughout the weekend. After beating teams from Quebec and Ontario in the opening round, they went on to know of the Vermont Shamrocks 8-0 to move onto the finals where they faced the NH Knights. The Acadia Ice shutout the Knights 4-0 to win the top prize.
For more information on the tournament visit the host website at http://vsgh.goalline.ca/page.php?page_id=22208
Bourque wows crowd at Celebrity Hockey Dinner
‘The rules have changed,’ but Acadia Hockey Dinner guest speaker Ray Bourque still loves hockey
WOLFVILLE – Hockey, and in particular playing defence, has changed since Ray Bourque last played in the NHL in 2001.
“Some of the things you could get away with when I was playing, you can’t get away with now” – things like subtle holds or hooks or other means of holding up or impeding an opponent.
“I’d like to be able to be playing hockey now. The game has changed, but the rules have changed, too,” and he would enjoy the challenge.
“Going back for the puck is tougher now, because of the rules. You have to time things differently. Maybe if goalies were able to play the puck more,” or were allowed to wander further from their net, “it might compensate for that.”
Bourque says he still enjoys watching the game.
“I still think it’s great.”
Bourque was one of the top defencemen of his era, winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman five times. He still holds the NHL records for career goals, assists and points by a defenceman.
Today, he’s a fan of Duncan Keith, Shea Webber and Drew Doughty.
“They have that combination of playing good defence, being physical, but also have the skill and vision to be able to make a difference offensively,” he said.
A first-round draft choice of the Boston Bruins in 1979, Bourque played 1,612 NHL games from 1979 to 2001, all but 94 of them for the Bruins. He finished his career with 410 goals and 1, 579 points, and entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.
He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche during the 1999-2000 season, and ended up winning his only Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001, after which he retired.
“For me to leave Boston was hard. It wasn’t a good situation (at the time), but it was still a tough decision to make,” he said.
“The 15 months I spent in Denver were great. I got to see how things were done differently somewhere else, and I got to win the Cup my last year.”
Bourque was 38 years old when he went to Colorado.