Bailey Peach scores a pair in Acadia victory

WOLFVILLE – Bailey Peach (Falmouth, NS) led the way as the Acadia Axemen snapped a four-game losing streak on Wednesday night with a 5-1 win over the Dalhousie Tigers in front of 937 fans at Andrew H. McCain Arena.  

Peach opened the scoring, while Nick Deakin-Poot’s (Georgetown, ON) unassisted goal 10:12 into the first stood as the eventual game-winning goal.  

The second period saw each team find the back of the net as Ethan Ernst (Weyburn, SK) pushed Acadia’s lead to 3-0 before Zak Smith (Austin, MB) earned it back with just 21 seconds remaining in the frame.  

Both third period goals for the Axemen came on the power play, starting with Peach’s second of the night at the 16:57 mark. Just 11 seconds later Zack Jones (North Falmouth, MA) gave Acadia their extra insurance marker.  

Acadia was 2-for-3 on the power play, improving their power play percentage to 19 per cent on the season, while Dalhousie was 0-for-3, sitting at just 12.2 per cent. 

In goal Thomas Couture (Levis, QC) made 26 saves in the victory, while Nicholas Chenard (Tecumseh, ON) made 35 in the loss for the Tigers.  

The victory moved the Axemen out of last place in the AUS, which is where the Tigers now sit heading into their final games of the first half of the season.  

Acadia heads to Antigonish on Friday night to face the STFX X-Men (9-4-1-0), while Dalhousie is home on Friday against the cross-town rival Saint Mary’s Huskies (6-8-0-0). Puck drop for both games is 7 p.m.  

McMaster with the Acadia goal

The Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus (8-4-2-0=18pts, 3rd position) wanted to end their losing streak and they responded with two wins, including a 4-1 win over the Acadia University Axemen (3-9-0-2=8pts, 7th position) on Saturday in front of more than 670 spectators at the J.-Louis-Lévesque Arena on the Moncton campus in an Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey game. 

Jacob Dion (Nathaël Roy, Edouard St-Laurent) gave the home team a 1-0 lead with a goal at 15:03 of the first period when he deftly beat opposing goaltender Thomas Couture by sending the puck between his legs diagonally in front of him on a 4-on-4 play. Moncton led 19-9 in shots on goal.  

Edouard St-Laurent, with the winner on the power play on a hard shot at 8:39 and Alex Arsenault with his 2nd of the season at 13:07 of the second period made it 3-0 in favour of the home team.  

Nathaël Roy on a shot from the front of the net high into the right side at 6:24 of the third gave the Aigles Bleus a 4-0 lead. Adam McMaster on the power play saved his team from the shutout at 14:49 of the final period on a shot that went through the pads of Olivier Adam. Moncton led 39-33 in shots on goal, with both goaltenders Olivier Adam of the blue and gold and Thomas Couture of the Axemen busy throughout the game. Each made point-blank saves at key moments in the game to keep their team in the game. 

It was the second loss in as many nights for the Axemen, who were still dangerous on a few occasions during the game. Speed of play and physical play were the order of the day for both clubs. The Axemen scored one goal on 6 power play attempts and the Aigles Bleus were 1-for-5. Edouard St-Laurent, Jacob Dion and Nathaël Roy were chosen as the 3 stars of the game.

Ethan Ernst with the lone Axemen goal

(FREDERICTON, NB) Emmett Sproule (Collingwood, ON) recorded a natural hat trick, as the UNB REDS defeated the Acadia Axemen 7-1 on Friday night at UNB’s Aitken Centre 

Michael Petizian (Mississauga, ON), Adam McCormick (Waterville, NB), Kade Landry (Gowanstown, ON) and Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie) also scored for the REDS as they extended their undefeated streak to 13 games. 

Before Friday’s game, the REDS honoured long-time athletic therapist Joe Glenn, who died earlier this year. The REDS hung a banner in the Aitken Centre rafters recognizing Glenn’s 23 years of service to UNB student-athletes. 

It took just 37 seconds for UNB to open the scoring as Petizian beat Acadia goalie Thomas Couture five-hole on a shot from the point to make it 1-0. 

Then mid-way through the period the REDS scored three goals in five minutes to jump out to a commanding 4-0 leads. 

Adam McCormick netted the second goal for UNB before Sproule scored back-to-back goals to close out the first period. 

Sproule completed his hat trick at 15:57 of the second period. Sean McGurn (Ottawa, ON) found Sproule open in front of the net and he was able to beat Zachary Paputsakis (Rockland, ON), who came in relief of Couture in the second period, to extend the UNB lead, 5-0.  

UNB added two more goals from Landry and MacKay in the third period before the Axemen spoiled the REDS shutout bid at 18:55 of the period on a goal from Ethan Ernst (Weyburn, SK) 

Griffen Outhouse (Williams Lake, BC) turned aside 17 shots for his sixth win of the season. 

Paputsakis stopped 22 shots for the Axemen (3-9-0), who dropped their third straight. 

Looking ahead, both teams are back in action on Saturday night. The REDS will host the Saint Mary’s Huskies at 7:00 pm. The Axemen travel to Moncton to face the Aigles Bleus at 7:00 pm. 

Recap by: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics 

Photos by: Fran Harris/for UNB Athletics 

 Couture with 41 saves in the shootout loss for Acadia

HALIFAX, NS – Huskies forward Ben Allison scored the shootout winner and goaltender Matt Welsh stopped 23 shots for the shutout, as Saint Mary’s defeated the Acadia Axemen 1-0 in a shootout on Saturday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax. 

The first period saw the Huskies out chance the Axemen, but they were not able to get a go-ahead goal despite outshooting the Axemen 10-3.  

Huskies defenceman Cameron Pound (While Lake, ON) had a good chance as he had a partial breakaway, but was unable to muster a shot on goal. Moments later, Huskies defenceman Connor Olson (London, ON) pinched in from the blueline and had a clear shot but Axemen netminder Thomas Couture (Lévis, QC) turned him away. 

Saint Mary’s would get two powerplay opportunities over the final eight minutes of the opening period, after penalties from Axemen defencemen Orlando Mainolfi (Richmond Hill, ON) and Morgan Nauss (Hammonds Plains, NS), but the Huskies were unable to capitalize, and the two teams went into the first intermission tied 0-0. 

With just over six minutes remaining in the second period, Huskies forward Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON) had the best scoring opportunity of the game, breaking out and firing a shot off the leg of Couture, and gathering his own rebound to fire towards an empty goal, but Axemen forward Bailey Peach (Falmouth, NS) was able to clear it out of the crease to keep the game scoreless. 

The Huskies outshot the Axemen 18-10 in the second period, to extend their advantage to 28-13, but the teams remained tied 0-0 after 40 minutes. 

Early in the third period the Huskies thought they had found their go-ahead goal as defenceman Ben Roger (Markham, ON), fired a shot that was directed by forward Ben Allison (Halifax, NS), and appeared to have beaten Couture but settled on the goal line and was waved off. 

Moments later Huskies forward Reid Valade (Caledon, ON) had a breakaway opportunity but was denied by Couture. The Axemen countered with their best scoring opportunity of the game as Peach played a great pass to Reilly Webb (Stoney Creek, ON) who had a point-blank shot on goal but was denied by a sliding Welsh, the best save of the night for the Huskies netminder. 

60 minutes of regulation play saw no score for either team and the game headed to overtime, where the outstanding goaltending would continue for both teams. 

The first great scoring opportunity was a Huskies three-on-one, where Ben Roger flicked a pass to Reid Valade, who lifted his shot high over goal. That was followed up by a clear breakaway by Axemen forward Brady Burns (Port Williams, NS) but Welsh shut the door. 

The goaltending duel continued into the shootout. Charlie Dafonseca went first for the Huskies, and made a nifty dangle but lifted his backhand shot high over the net. Bailey Peach kicked things off for the Axemen and fired a snapshot off the stick of Welsh. 

Huskies second shooter Reid Valade came in with speed but was unable to beat Couture who deflected the shot away with his glove. Brendan Sellan was up next for the Axemen but Welsh denied him with a blocker save.  

It was third shooter Cedric Ralph (Peterborough, ON) who finally scored for the Huskies, making a nice deke and lifting a forehand shot high. But Tyler Deline (Peterborough, ON) was able to respond for the Axemen, firing a shot past Welsh’s blocker. 

That brought up Ben Allison (Halifax, NS), who beat Couture five-hole. Talented Axemen forward Brady Burns had a chance to equalize, but he was denied by Welsh, and the Huskies bench mobbed their veteran goaltender who secured the thrilling 1-0 victory. 

“I think we’re all pretty pumped in the room,” said Welsh post-game. “This week really shows how great team we are. It was a big building block for our team with two really gritty wins and we’re just looking to use it heading to New Brunswick next week.” 

The Huskies outshot the Axemen 41-23 on the night, with Matt Welsh making 23 saves for the shutout and was named Player of the Game, while Thomas Couture turned away 41 shots in an outstanding performance for the Axemen.  

The Huskies win improves their record to 6-6-0-0 on the campaign. They’ll be on the road to New Brunswick next weekend, as they take on the Moncton Aigles Bleus (6-4-2) on Friday night, before visiting the U SPORTS #1 ranked UNB REDS (12-0-0) on Saturday night in Fredericton. 

The Axemen loss drops their record to 3-7-0-2 on the season. They too will face a New Brunswick road trip next weekend, taking on the REDS on Friday and Aigles Bleus on Saturday. 

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary’s Huskies Athletics 

Acadia falls 4-0 to UPEI

WOLFVILLE – The UPEI Panthers (4-8-0-0) passed the Acadia Axemen (3-7-0-1) to move into fifth place with a 4-0 win on Friday night in Wolfville in front of 1,154 fans.  

Acadia outshot the Panthers 28-25 in the game, but it was UPEI that was successful offensively.  

Kaleb Pearson (St. Marys, ON) opened the scoring 13:20 into the first period, with the next goal not coming until 6:49 of the second from Yanic Crete (L’Original, ON).  

Pearson scored his second of the night 13:11 into the second on the power play, which the Panthers were 1-for-3 on the night.  

The final goal came from Noah Sedore (Sharon, ON), an empty-net goal with 2:10 to go in the game.  

Jonah Capriotti (Charlottetown, PE) picked up a 28-save victory between the pipes for UPEI, his first shutout of the season.  

Thomas Couture (Levis, QC) took the loss for Acadia, making 21 saves.  

The Axemen now travel to Halifax on Saturday to face the Saint Mary’s Huskies, while UPEI is off until next Saturday when they travel to Antigonish to face the X-Men.