2019 Summer Hockey Camps Announced
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Axemen & Wildcats team up for Hockey Camps
Major Midget & Major Bantam Conditioning & Skills Development Camps scheduled
The Acadia Axemen and Valley Wildcats organization are pleased to announce that together, they will be running a major midget and major bantam conditioning and skills development camp at the Andrew H. McCain Arena in Wolfville this summer.
Acadia Axemen Head Coach Darren Burns expressed excitement for the upcoming camps, “Both programs are extremely excited to work together to help create the best development opportunities for the kids in the valley. Axemen coach Kris MacDonald and I see this as an excellent opportunity and only the tip of the ice berg for the kids in the valley. Both of our staffs working together year-round can only help in player development and opportunities for hockey players throughout the Annapolis Valley.”
While Valley Wildcats new bench boss, Brandon Benedict added, “This is very exciting. Growing up in the Valley I know how much talent and potential there is. Being a former Axemen and now coach and director of hockey operations for the Valley Wildcats, I realize how important the synergy is between our two programs, it can only be a positive for our young hockey players.” (more…)
Former NHL GM Brian Burke headlines Axemen Celebrity Hockey Dinner
21st Annual Acadia Axemen Celebrity Hockey Dinner
When: Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Where: Andrew H. McCain Arena, Wolfville
Where: Andrew H. McCain Arena, Wolfville
Darren Burns, head coach of the Acadia University men’s hockey team, announced April 15, 2019 that Brian Burke, Sportsnet hockey analyst and former NHL general manager, will headline this year’s Acadia Axemen Celebrity Hockey Dinner in June.
Prior to joining Sportsnet in 2018, Burke served as President of Hockey Operations of the Calgary Flames, President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks (winning the Stanley Cup in 2007), Vancouver Canucks and Hartford Whalers. Burke was also General Manager for the United States national men’s hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics and is a member of Rugby Canada’s board of directors.
Noted for his brash personality, outspokenness, extensive vocabulary and unwillingness to wear a tie, Burke is one of the most insightful, informative and entertaining figures in the hockey world.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island and raised in Edina, Minnesota, in a family of 10 children, Burke graduated from Providence College in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. While attending Providence, he played for the Friars Division I hockey team where, during his senior year, he served as captain.
In 1976-77, Burke played seven games with the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League (AHL). He played one full year in the AHL with the Maine Mariners, who won the Calder Cup championship. Burke retired after the 1977-78 season and attended Harvard Law School, where he graduated with a Juris Doctorin 1981.
“We’re so excited to have Mr. Burke headline this year’s dinner,” Burns said. “Mr. Burke has had a Hall-of-Fame worthy career as a hockey executive and is well on his way to repeating that success in television. Our guests will be very entertained.”
The 21st Acadia Axemen Celebrity Hockey Dinner takes place Wednesday, June 26th at the Andrew H. McCain Arena in Wolfville. Since starting in 1998, the event has raised close to $425,000 in support of the men’s varsity hockey program at Acadia. Tickets and corporate tables are available to purchase online. To register, please click here.
For more information on the Celebrity Dinner event, contact Len Hawley, Chairperson, at (902) 585-1044 or e-mail: len.hawley@acadiau.ca. More special guests for the dinner to be released in the upcoming weeks.
Axemen eliminated in quarterfinals with 4-1 game three loss to X
Corneil with powerplay goal for Acadia
ANTIGONISH, NS – The StFX X-Men have advanced to the Subway AUS semifinal series with a 4-1 victory over the Acadia Axemen Sunday night in front of a sold out crowd of over 1800 at the Charles V. Keating Centre.
Sam Studnicka (Windsor, ON) scored the game winner midway through the second period and Chase Marchand (Halifax, NS) was a brick wall in the StFX net, turning aside 41 pucks.
After the X-Men lost a tough overtime game in Wolfville on Friday night, they were able to reset and take the series-deciding game.
After going 0-for-7 on the man advantage in Game 2, the X-Men turned things around and scored on their second power play opportunity of the game as veteran fifth year forward Adam Stevens (Bedford, NS) tallied at 11:40 to give StFX a 1-0 lead.
Matt Needham (Pentincton, BC) fed the puck to a streaking Stevens in the slot and he ripped one up high under the cross bar past Logan Flodell (Regina, SK).
The one goal held up after 20 minutes as StFX held a slight 12-10 shot advantage in the opening frame.
The Axemen tied it up just over five minutes into the second period at the tail end of a power play. Marchand made the initial pad save off a Garrett McFadden (Kincardine, ON) shot from the point but the rebound came right to the stick of Johnny Corneil (Lindsay, ON) who quickly deposited it into the StFX net.
Axemen push series to game three with OT win vs StFX
DiGiacinto ties the game late, & scores OT winner
Wolfville, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen extended their season with a 3-2 overtime win over the StFX X-Men on Friday night in Wolfville in game two of the best of three quarterfinal series against StFX. The series is tied at one.
The overtime winning goal came from Subway First Star of the Game Cristiano Digiacinto, who stepped in over the blue-line and ripped a shot into the top right corner of the net for the game-winner.
The Axemen spent most of the first half of the opening period killing off three consecutive penalties.
Despite, their early penalty troubles, Acadia got on the scoreboard first, thanks to a power-play marker from forward Kyle Farrell.
Farrell redirected a wrist shot from the blue-line by forward Stephen Harper, to make it 1-0.
Acadia out-shot the X-Men 19-4 in the first period and had several opportunities add to their lead – including two shots off the post from Farrell – but the score remained 1-0 heading into the second.
StFX was the only team to score in the second frame.
The Axemen continued to kill off several more penalties and were 7-for-7 on the night up to the point of 14.1 seconds remaining in the second period when a shot from the point by defenceman William Thompson was redirected off the body of an Acadia player and into the Axemen net to tie the game at one after two periods.
StFX came out a much different team in the third period, playing their best hockey of the game despite 31-16 shots on goal advantage for the Axemen following two periods of play. (more…)
X-Men shutout Axemen 5-0 to take 1-0 quarter-final series lead
Game 2 of best of 3 goes Friday night in Wolfville
ANTIGONISH, N.S. – The StFX X-Men took a 1-0 series lead in the Subway AUS quarter-final series with a 5-0 victory over the Acadia Axemen Wednesday evening at the Charles V. Keating Centre.
Chase Marchand (Halifax, NS) earned the shutout victory with 34 saves and Daniel Robertson (Windsor, ON) scored a pair of goals for the X-Men.
Both teams were without the services of their respective head coaches behind the benches as both Coach Peddle and Coach Burns were serving suspensions resulting from supplemental discipline handed down by the AUS office.
The X-Men opened up a 2-0 first period lead off goals from Holden Cook (Whitby, ON) and Robertson. Cook tallied on the power play at 5:42, finding room from behind the Axemen net to circle into the slot area and wrist a shot past Logan Flodell (Regina, SK).
Robertson’s goal came just over two minutes later as he took a pass from Cook at the point and directed what appeared to be a harmless shot towards the Acadia net, but it fooled Flodell and the home team had a 2-0 lead.
Shots favoured the X-Men 16-10 after 20 minutes of play.
Robertson notched his second goal of the night 13:13 into the second period while the X-Men were shorthanded. He brought the puck from his own blue line through the neutral zone ripped a shot from the point that beat Flodell.
Acadia Axemen celebrate Team’s Seniors
The Acadia Axemen celebrated their graduating senior players on Friday night. Players recognized were captain Liam Maaskant, assistant captain Kyle Farrell, and top scorer Stephen Harper.
The Axemen also recognized graduating student athletic therapist Tyler Gunn. Finally, the Axemen celebrated assistant Brett Cote who graduates this Spring. From the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels, Brett had to end his playing career due to health issues. With a full scholarship, Brett remained & continued to be an integral member of the Axemen team.
Moncton snaps 3-game Axemen winning streak with 2-1 win
Harper scores 14th goal of the season for Acadia
WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The short-staffed Acadia Axemen (10-17-3) had their three-game winning streak snapped on Friday night in Wolfville in a 2-1 loss to the Moncton Aigles Bleus (14-11-4). While Acadia led the game in shots, the Aigles Bleus found the back of the net with 1:44 remaining in the third period, on a goal from the third star of the night, Vincent Lanoue.
It was a goaltender’s game, as Moncton’s goalie Etienne Montpetit was named Subway First Star of the Night, while Acadia goalie Logan Flodell was named the second star.
While play was even between the two teams for most of the first period, the Aigles Bleus were the only team to score in the opening frame.
Moncton scored with exactly 1:00 left in the opening period, on a goal from forward Thierry Comtois.
Comtois took a drop-pass in front of the net and wired a wrist shot into the bottom right corner of the net to make it 1-0. (more…)
Axemen extend winning streak to three with win over SMU
Stallard with 2 goals in 4-3 victory
WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Saint Mary’s Huskies faced off against the Acadia Axemen this Wednesday in Halifax in AUS men’s hockey action. The Huskies tied a three goal deficit but after a late goal, Axemen went away with a 4-3 win.
The game got off to a slow start, with both teams playing very conservative hockey.
Acadia opened the scoring 11 minutes in with a power play goal from Marc McNulty (Medicine Hat, AB). Off the face off, he walked to the middle of the ice and his shot from the point went top corner. Johnny Corneil (Lindsay, ON) got the assist, putting the Axemen up 1-0. That would be the only goal of the period.
Coming out with some jump, Garrett McFadden (Kincardine, ON) rushed down the right wing and stuffed the puck short side past Xavier Potin (Austin, QC) to make it 2-0 for the Huskies 19 seconds into the second period.
The Huskies had a scoring opportunity with 14 minutes to go; a slap shot from Nicholas Welsh (Halifax, NS) beat goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) blocker side but rang off the post.
The score was 2-0 for the Axemen heading into the third period.
Acadia extended their lead to three goals with Jordy Stallard (Brandon, MB) receiving a stretch pass, splitting the Saint Mary’s defence, and making no mistake on the breakaway. Ryan Foss (Oakville, ON) and Liam Maaskant (Clinton, ON) had the assists.
The Huskies were quick to respond, with Jake Coughler (St Catharines, ON) scoring a power play goal 28 seconds later. Hunter Garlent (Thorold, ON) assisted.