Plenty of reason for optimism

Normally when a U Sports hockey team brings in 12 new players, it’s called a rebuilding year… for the Acadia Axemen, 2018-19 is a year filled with optimism and high expectations. With an A+ recruiting year, the team feels they have every opportunity to make a march right back to the University Cup tournament this season, in Lethbridge, Alberta.

The players that graduated and moved on from the program were not only statistical leaders, but team leaders as well, and will be tough to replace. Gone from last year’s lineup is top scorers Boston Leier, Sam Fioretti, Remy Giftopoulos, Michael Clarke; along with the gritty play of Taylor Makin, Chance Braid, & Kris Hodge.

On the backend, all-stars Geoffrey Schemitsch & Matt Pufahl are gone, along with stalwart defenders Tyler Ferry & Stephen Woodworth. Starting goalie Robert Steeves also graduated from the program.

That’s a ton of scoring, heart, and experience gone. But cue the recruits.

Jackson Houck, who red shirted last year is now eligible to suit up and will be relied on to be an offensive threat every night for Acadia. Houck is a fourth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers and won an ECHL championship before joining Acadia last year.

Winger Maurizia Colella had a knack for putting the puck in the net for the OHL’s Flint Firebirds and will be relied on to do the same in the AUS. Niagara Ice Dogs alum Johnny Corneil, a two way centreman will give the Axemen stability and offense down the middle with Kyle Farrell, Rodney Southam and Owen MacDonald. Read more ›

Acadia looks to veteran leadership to guide the way

The Acadia Axemen named their captains for the upcoming 2018-19 season, naming 4th year defenceman Liam Maaskant Captain. The 6’4″ hard-nosed defender from Clinton, Ontario is no stranger to wearing the ‘C’ as he also was captain of his OHL Junior team the Kitchener Rangers.

Assistant captains for this year’s campaign will be 3rd year defender Alex Lepkowski and 4th year forward Kyle Farrell. Lepkowski hails from Buffalo, NY and in addition to his 2 years playing in USports, Alex has spent time in the ECHL and AHL, and served as an assistant captain for the Barrie Colts in the OHL.

Farrell, a native of Howie Centre, NS, enters his 4th season in the league and will be counted on, up front, to provide scoring punch, along with AUS top scorer Stephen Harper, again this season. Farrell averaged over a point a game last season and is a leader both on and off the ice for the team. Farrell also served as an assistant captain with his QMJHL junior team, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

Acadia Axemen head coach Darren Burns made the announcement following practice yesterday saying, “The coaching staff is extremely proud to announce Liam as our captain and Alex and Kyle as assistants for the upcoming season. To me it’s pretty simple when choosing your captains, you want to make sure they are people you would want your own kids, growing up, to emulate. These guys definitely fit this category. They are extremely well respected on campus, in the community, and in our dressing room. Being captains of the hockey team at Acadia brings with it responsibilities unique to other programs in the country. Our players are fortunate to be immersed in the community and our following is like no other. We are excited and confident that they will not only lead the team to great things throughout the season on the ice but off the ice as well.”

Catch the Axemen in their first pre-season game tonight at the Andrew H. McCain Arena in Wolfville at 7pm as they face the Dalhousie Tigers.

Axemen alumnus returns to hockey program

The Acadia Axemen are proud to welcome back to Evan Mosher to our hockey program as the team’s goaltending coach. Evan is an Acadia University alumnus who starred with the Axemen from 2011-2014, including leading the team to an AUS title and birth in the University Cup in 2014. Mosher was named to the AUS first all-star team, and the CIS/U Sports second all-Canadian team in that season.

Acadia Head Coach Darren Burns welcomed Evan back saying, “We are very excited that Evan will be joining our staff. He will be a great addition to our program. He was an extremely well respected teammate and he is an excellent teacher, so the transition into coaching will be seamless for him. As a former player here at Acadia and great leader in our program, the fact that we are able to bring in an Axemen alumnus, who knows the culture and expectations of Acadia Hockey on campus and in the community, is a great bonus.”

The Newfoundland native went on to play in the ECHL with the Quad City Mallards, teaming up with a fellow Acadia alumnus Kevin Baker, and then moved overseas playing in France with Gap and then with Denmark last season where he joined another Acadia alumnus in Brett Thompson. Mosher will also serve as the goaltending coach for the Valley Wildcats Junior A team this season.

Axemen Associate Coach Kris MacDonald added, “Anytime you can bring back a former Axemen like Evan it’s huge for the program and the Valley. He will be a huge asset for our goalies and will play a big role in our success. We are also very happy to announce that Evan, along with our Axemen goalies will be leading all the goalie development sessions for the Acadia Minor Hockey Association this season. Our program continues to take a lot of pride in its involvement in the development of youth hockey in the Valley. Evan’s expertise, dedication and commitment will be a huge asset for goalies in the Acadia minor hockey association and the surrounding communities.”

Welcome back to #AcadiaU and the Axemen hockey program Evan!