Game Preview: AUS Quarterfinals – Game 1
UPEI Panthers @ Acadia Axemen
Team Stories
Rogers Hometown Hockey Hilights
A look back at the Rogers Hometown Hockey weekend event in Wolfville, NS on November 28-29th, 2015.
CIS #1 ranked Acadia Axemen add Chance Braid
Acadia adds hard nosed forward to lineup for January
The Acadia Axemen finished up the first half of their 2015-16 ranked #1 in the CIS national university hockey rankings. Coach Darren Burns was pleased with how the team came together in the first half, and hopes that a new addition to the lineup for the second half, will help the team continue to improve as they look to get back to a third straight national tournament appearance. Chance Braid has arrived in Wolfville, and will begin practicing with the team next week, in preparation for the Axemen’s 2nd half opener against the STU Tommies on January 9th.
“We had a solid first half, but the league is very tight. We are very excited to have Chance joining our program. He played in last spring’s Memorial Cup with the Kelowna Rockets, so it’s obvious he knows what it’s all about to play in pressure situations,” said Burns.
The 6’1, 210-pound power forward from Chauvin, Alberta spent the fall playing a handful of games in the ECHL with Idaho and Allen. Braid finished up a four-year junior career in the WHL narrowly losing in the Memorial Cup finals in overtime, with the Kelowna Rockets last season, after a midseason trade from the Prince George Cougars. Braid spent his first three years in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders.
Braid is known as a punishing power forward who doesn’t mind sticking up for his teammates. The hard-nosed left winger developed into one of the most feared players in the Western Hockey League. In a previous interview, Braid talked about his play, “I’ve been playing the same style of hockey since I’ve been in Prince Albert four years ago. I just finish my checks, be hard to play against and not be afraid to play in the dirty areas.”
Coach Burns added this about Braid, “His reputation as a team first player, who cares about his teammates is extremely important. He is a very strong physical player who will immediately add size and strength to our lineup. We are a gritty team, but adding a power forward with a strong hockey IQ of his caliber will no doubt help our team and create some space for some of our other forwards. This is a very skilled physical league and adding a forward who goes to the net hard and finishes his checks will be an added element to our team.”
Varsity Showdown 2016 scheduled Jan. 29/30
Acadia to face Saint Mary’s at the Scotiabank Centre
Halifax, NS – Sports & Entertainment Atlantic (S|E|A), in partnership with the Scotiabank Centre, Dalhousie Athletics and Saint Mary’s Athletics, is pleased to announce the creation of a new, university sport event for the city of Halifax!
Varsity Showdown 2016 will bring Dalhousie, Saint Mary’s, St.FX and Acadia together for two (2) regular season men’s hockey games on Friday, January 29th and two (2) women’s and men’s regular season basketball doubleheaders on Saturday, January 30th; all at the Scotiabank Centre in downtown Halifax.
“Varsity Showdown 2016 will provide a terrific platform to showcase the amazing product and inspiring athletes participating in AUS hockey and basketball,” said Derek Martin, President of S|E|A, producers of the CIS University Cup and the recently awarded CIS Final 8. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s to bring their home games to the Scotiabank Centre where we know we can deliver an outstanding entertainment experience to students, alumni and fans”.
”This is a community that loves and supports university sport – we’ve seen that time and again,” said Scott Ferguson, president and CEO of Trade Centre Limited, operators of the Scotiabank Centre. “With such an exciting line up of men’s and women’s sport, this promises to be an unforgettable weekend full of good competition.”