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Steeves turns aside 44 shots in loss

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen (7-3-1) had their three-game winning streak snapped in a 4-3 loss against the Saint Mary’s Huskies (7-3-1).

Due to suspensions and injuries, the Axemen were only able dress 14 skaters for the game. The Axemen were outshot 48-24 by the Huskies.

“Yah it’s hard. They have a good team and they played hard. We took a few too many penalties. It’s tough when you are tired,” said Boston Leier after the game.

“We never use the excuse of having a short bench ever, so it is what it is. We came out hard and played hard,” noted Leier.

Saint Mary’s dominated the first period, outshooting the Axemen 17-9 and taking a 1-0 lead into the second.

Huskies defenseman Alex Cord pulled the puck out from the left side of the Axemen net and roofed it over the shoulder of Robert Steeves to make it 1-0 for Saint Mary’s.

Acadia responded in the second period with a goal on the power-play to tie the game 1-1 heading into the third.

Axemen forward Kyle Farrell scored on a wrist shot in tight that beat the Huskies’ goaltender on the low blocker side.  Read more »

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Officially Commits to Robert Morris University

Valley native Maggie Burbidge announced this week that she has committed to join the NCAA’s Division 1, Robert Morris Colonials University women’s hockey team next season.

We caught up with Maggie and asked her about her decision to select Robert Morris (RMU) for her destination.

“I choose Robert Morris because I loved the school and the coaches are great. The atmosphere is awesome and the school is a very hard working place which I loved the environment when I toured. I believe I will grow as a hockey player and as a student going to Robert Morris and it will set me up for success later on in life.”

Maggie’s says she has her family & specifically her parents, Jeff and Alana, to thank for much of her success.

“My family played a huge role in this process. Both of my parents helped shape me into the player and the person I am today by teaching me to have hard work and determination in everything I do and to be better everyday. I wouldn’t have accomplished this without them and I can’t thank them enough for everything they do for me.”

Maggie concluded by saying, “If I had one message I could say to young female athletes in the Annapolis Valley, it would be to never give up on your dreams and your goals. Always work hard at everything you do, because it will pay off in the end and you will achieve great things.”

Congratulations and good luck Maggie, Acadia hockey & the Annapolis Valley will be routing for you!

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Harper with 5 points in penalty filled game

Wolfville, N.S. – The U SPORTS No. 7 ranked Acadia Axemen (7-2-1) won in a nail-biting 6-5 OT win, which saw the Axemen lose a 5-1 lead, on Friday night against the No. 3 StFX X-Men (8-1-1).

There was clearly bad blood between the two teams, who combined for 212 penalty minutes. Axemen forward and Subway First Star of the Night, Stephen Harper was the overtime hero.

“I took a dumb penatly in the third period. I felt like I had to make up for it. I was looking to pass it to Kyle but when I saw him go down, I tried to make a quick move to my left and get a shot out and I was lucky it went it,” said Harper after the game.

Harper scored on a partial breakaway, lifting the puck over the left pad of the X-Men goalie at the 2:05 mark of extra time and ignited the home crowd of over 1800 fans.

Despite being outshot 16-8 in the first period, Acadia held a commanding 3-1 lead heading into the second.

The Axemen struck a minute and a half into the game when forward Michael Clarke came out of the corner and fed it to Chance Braid who scored on his backhand.Read more »

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Harper with 4 points in Acadia victory

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen (6-2-1) started their two-week home stand with a convincing 5-0 defeat of the Dalhousie Tigers (2-6-1). Axemen goaltender and Subway First Star of the Night, Robert Steeves turned aside all 38 shots he faced for his first shutout of the year.

The first period saw Acadia take a commanding 3-0 lead, with goals from Stephen Harper, Kyle Farrell and defenseman Michael Zipp.

Harper was the first to score, burying a one-timer from a cross ice pass by Farrell.

Farrell added a goal of his own on the power-play a few minutes later, when he finished a passing play while parked in front of the Dalhousie net.Read more »

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Leier notches 4 pts in win

By Thomas Becker 

The Acadia Axemen surrendered their lead three times, but held the Panthers down long enough to escape the Island with a 7-5 win Saturday night. 

Subway Player of the Game Samuel Fioretti scored the game’s first and last goals, while teammate Kyle Farrell scored a pair as well to lead the Axemen to victory. Boston Leier finished with four points on a goal and three assists, with Owen MacDonald and Rodney Southam finding the back of the net for the other two. 

“We played hard but there are things we need to sharpen up,” Fioretti said. “We just stuck to it and we didn’t quit when they started to get momentum.” 

The Axemen (5-2-1) wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as Fioretti was given a gift on the doorstep and made it count for the 1-0 edge just three minutes into the game. 

The Panthers (2-5-1) bounced back after surrendering the quick goal and pressured Acadia’s defence. With just over a minute remaining in the opening period, Kameron Kielly rounded the net and left the puck behind for Gabe Guertler, who fired it off rookie goaltender Dawson Carty and in for the equalizer. 

Read more »

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Harper with 2 pts in loss

FREDERICTON, N.B. – One week after suffering a 3-2 overtime loss in Wolfville, the UNB Varsity Reds handed the Acadia Axemen a 7-2 loss. 

Freshman forward Kris Bennett(Brampton, ON) scored twice and added three assists to the lead the Varsity Reds. He was named the Subway Player of the Game. 

Stephen Anderson(Morell, PE) had two goals and two assists, and Mark Simpson(Rothesay, NB) scored twice. Olivier LeBlanc(Quebec City, QC) also had a goal for UNB. 

Boston Leier(Saskatoon, SK) and Stephen Harper(Burlington, ON) scored for the Axemen. 

A scary moment brought the game to a halt after just 1:28. 

Acadia’s Alex Lepkowski (Buffalo, NY) took UNB’s Chris Clapperton hard into the boards. 

Clapperton lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before being taken off on a back board. 

He was taken by ambulance to Fredericton’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, where he was alert and moving. 

“It’s tough to see something like that, but it’s out of our control,” said Bennett. “We just had to bounce back and work as hard as we can for him. We were playing for him and hopefully he’s doing well.” 

“You just hate to see that in sports,” said Axemen head coach Darren Burns. “We want to compete, but you never want to see a guy get injured.” 

Read more »

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8 different goal scorers for Acadia in the win

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen (4-1-1) ended their weekend on a high note, defeating the UPEI Panthers (2-4-0) 8-2, while extending their winning streak to three games. Acadia’s rookies had a strong showing, with Ryan Foss, Owen MacDonald and defenseman Michael Zipp all scoring their first goal of their USports career.

Acadia opened the scoring early, with a power-play marker 48 seconds into the first period and continued their torrent scoring pace, gaining a 4-1 lead by periods end.

Axemen forward Rodney Southam took a pass from Boston Leier and buried a well-placed wrist shot into the top left corner of the net to make it 1-0.

Acadia added to their lead before the half way mark of the first, when Subway First Star of the night Ryan Foss scored on a 2-on-1, executed to perfection.Read more »

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Steeves stops 42 shots in Acadia victory

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen (4-1-1) got off to a strong start for the double-header, defeating the U SPORTS No. 1 ranked UNB Varsity Reds (4-1-1) 3-2 in OT . The game marked the third straight home game for the Axemen that went past regulation time.

UNB dominated play in the first period, but failed to capitalize on their chances due to the stellar play of Axemen goaltender and Subway First Star of the Night Robert Steeves.

Steeves was outstanding in the opening period, making two exceptional saves during an early UNB power-play and he continued to dominate the rest of the period, turning aside all 19 shots.Read more »