Maaskant scores for Axemen in loss

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Ryan MacKinnon’s (Summerside, P.E.I.) powerplay goal with 6:44 remaining in the third period was the eventual game winner as the UPEI Panthers handed the CIS No. 1 Acadia Axemen a 3-1 loss at home.

The Panthers opened early. Six minutes into the first period, Craig MacLauchlin (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) collected his own lose puck after an outside-in approach to the Axemen net and snapped a high close range shot over Brandon Glover’s (Victoria, B.C.) blocker side for the powerplay goal.

With a 1-0 UPEI lead after one period, the Axemen responded at 10:43 in the second frame when Zachery Franko (Winnipeg, Man.) dropped a pass back to blueliner Liam Maaskant who slapped a mid-high shot on the blocker side of a screened Matt Mahalack (Monro, Michigan) to tie the game at one.

Following MacKinnon’s third period goal, Panther Marcus Power solidified the win with an empty net powerplay goal with 20 seconds remaining in the game.Read more »

Franko nets two in Axemen victory

The CIS men’s hockey #1 ranked Acadia Axemen got back to their winning ways on Tuesday night in Halifax, as they knocked off the Dalhousie Tigers by a score of 5-2.

The Axemen came out of the gate strong as 2^nd year forward Zachery Franko scored just 58 seconds into the opening period, as he drove wide on a Dal defender before sending a back hand shot over the glove of Dalhousie netminder Corbin Boes to open the scoring. Defensemen Stephen Woodworth and Geoff Schemitsch picked up the assists on the goal. The Axemen stretched their lead to 2 at 4:20, when first year forward Kyle Farrell ripped a slap shot from the high slot, between the legs of Boes, to put Acadia up 2-0, it was Farrell’s 10^th goal of the season.

But exactly two minutes later, at 6:20, Dalhousie’s Steven Johnston cut the lead in half when he scored an unassisted goal, capitalizing on an Axemen turnover in their own zone.

The game remained 2-1 until midway through the second period when Franko added his second of the game at 10:01, as he took a feed from Brett Thompson and one timed the puck past the Dal netminder, giving Franko 8 goals on the year. Just 1:30 later, the Axemen scored again, this time on the powerplay, when Mike Cazzola found a loose puck in the slot, turned and fired a shot that found the top corner of the net, to make it 4-1 Acadia. Geoff Schemitsch and Brandon Glover had the assists on Cazzola’s 13^th goal on the season, tying him for most goals in the AUS with three other players.Read more »

Acadia earns ever important point in loss

The Acadia Axemen’s 9 game win streak came to an end on Saturday evening at the hands of the U de M Aigles Bleus, when Moncton’s Danny Chiasson scored in overtime to give his team a 4-3 victory. The loss was despite a heroic third period comeback from Acadia, who were down 3-1 with just 5 minutes remaining in the third frame; they scored two late goals to push the game to overtime and earn an ever important point in the standings.

Moncton (8-9-2) jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 12:38 of the first period when Thierry Comtois beat Acadia netminder Brandon Glover, with assists from Alex Emond and Joel Blanchard. Before the goal could finish being announced, the Aigles Bleus added a second goal just 1:15 later as Jean Francois Plante scored from Alex and Allain Saulnier. That’s the way the period ended, with the home team leading 2-0.

The Axemen had the only goal of the 2^nd period, when Travis Randell scored his fifth of the season, as he banged home a loose puck, past Moncton goaltender Adrien Lemay, cutting the U de M lead to 2-1. Taylor Makin and Chance Braid picked up the assists on the goal.

The Axemen, with great hopes of getting the equalizer as they came out for the third period, had the tables turned as it was Moncton who scored just :30 seconds into the period, as Jean Francois Plante scored his second on the night, with help from Allain Saulnier.Read more »

Axemen stretch win streak to 9 games

The Acadia Axemen (15-2-1) stretched their win streak to nine games, by narrowly defeating the St. Thomas Tommies (1-16-1) 3-2 on Friday night in Fredericton. Just a week after the Axemen routed the Tommies 7-2 in Wolfville, the home team was certain to not roll over in this game, as they put forth a spirited effort that came down to the very last second of the game to decide the final outcome.

The Axemen started 2^nd year netminder Robert Steeves in goal, his fourth start on the season, and his first since the holiday break; Steeves getting the start turned out to be a good decision as he turned away 33 of 35 shots from STU. Meanwhile the home team went with Tyson Teichmann, who put in a strong effort, stopping 26 of 29 Axemen shots, but most importantly he made a few key saves on the night that kept his team within striking distance.

The Axemen opened the scoring 2:20 of the opening period, when 2^nd year forward Boston Leier ripped home his 10^th goal on the season, with assists from Sam Fioretti and Geoff Schemitsch. But St. Thomas would answer on the powerplay, when JC Campagna blasted a one timer by Steeves to tie the game at one. Andrew Fritsch and Brendan Childerley had the helpers on the equalizer.

The Axemen took the lead back early in the 2^nd period, when Chance Braid scored his second goal in just his third AUS game. The goal was a powerplay marker at 2:59, with assists from Mike Cazzola and Brett Thompson.Read more »

Farrell & Randell each pot a pair, Makin with three assists

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen wrapped up the opening weekend of 2016 with a 8-2 win over the Moncton Aigles Bleus and extend their winning streak to 8 games.

The Axemen pulled out to a 4-0 lead after one period.

First year defenseman Brett Cote (Oakbank, Man.) opened the scoring in the first period on a shot from the near boards that caught the top corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

Just over eight minutes later Kyle Farrell (Howie Centre, N.S.) scored his first of two goals on a rebound from a Boston Leier (Saskatoon, Sask) shot from the top of the faceoff circle that was deflected by Sam Fioretti (Calgary, Alta.).

The Axemen pushed the lead to 3-0, when Travis Randell (Twillingate, Nfld.) scored his first of a two goal performance after a centering pass from Stephen Woodworth (Middleton, N.S.) gave Randell a shot from the slot that caught the top shelf.Read more »

Cazzola with 4 points, Thompson with a pair of goals

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The CIS No. 1 Ranked Acadia Axemen extended their winning streak to seven with a convincing 7-2 win over the visiting St. Thomas Tommies.

After a scoreless first period, fourth year forward Mike Cazzola (Guelph, Ont.) began the Axemen’s four unanswered goal fun of the second period.

Cazolla netted his 12th goal of the year off of a rebound from Geoff Schemitsch’s shot from the near point.

First year forward Kyle Farrell (Howie Centre, N.S.) scored a shorthanded goal on a great feed by Sam Fioretti (Calgary, Alta.) to give the Axemen a quick 2-0 lead after eleven minutes of play.

Newcomer Chance Braid (Wainwright, Alta.) scored his first goal of his CIS hockey career beating Tommie goaltender Tyson Teichmann (Belleville, Ont.) on a rebound from Brett Thompson’s (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) effort at the side of the net.

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