Category: Team Stories

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 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

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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:

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 19^th – 21^st,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