Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Acadia Hockey Development team returns home as champs

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The Acadia Hockey Development program would like to congratulate our female u14 Acadia Ice team on winning the Vermont Summer Classic tournament. The tournament was held from June 19th – 21st,2015 in Burlington, Vermont and age groups for the participating teams included 8u, 10u, 12u, 14u, and 18u.

The title completed a three-peat for this team, a group of local valley girls that have played together since they were 8 years old, as they take home the championship for the third straight year! This year they managed to outscore their opponents by an astounding 36-1 margin throughout the weekend. After beating teams from Quebec and Ontario in the opening round, they went on to know of the Vermont Shamrocks 8-0 to move onto the finals where they faced the NH Knights. The Acadia Ice shutout the Knights 4-0 to win the top prize.

For more information on the tournament visit the host website at http://vsgh.goalline.ca/page.php?page_id=22208

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

‘The rules have changed,’ but Acadia Hockey Dinner guest speaker Ray Bourque still loves hockey

JohnJohn Decoste
Published on June 25, 2015

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WOLFVILLE – Hockey, and in particular playing defence, has changed since Ray Bourque last played in the NHL in 2001.

Bourque, now 54, was in Kings County June 18 as the headline guest for the annual Acadia hockey Axemen celebrity dinner.Bourque’s only connection with professional hockey these days is through his two sons, both of whom play professionally. In terms of playing defence, “the rules have changed” since he played.“The rules make it so you have to be a really good skater to get into position and stay there,” he said.

“Some of the things you could get away with when I was playing, you can’t get away with now” – things like subtle holds or hooks or other means of holding up or impeding an opponent.

“I’d like to be able to be playing hockey now. The game has changed, but the rules have changed, too,” and he would enjoy the challenge.

“Going back for the puck is tougher now, because of the rules. You have to time things differently. Maybe if goalies were able to play the puck more,” or were allowed to wander further from their net, “it might compensate for that.”

Bourque says he still enjoys watching the game.

“I still think it’s great.”

Bourque was one of the top defencemen of his era, winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman five times. He still holds the NHL records for career goals, assists and points by a defenceman.

Today, he’s a fan of Duncan Keith, Shea Webber and Drew Doughty.

“They have that combination of playing good defence, being physical, but also have the skill and vision to be able to make a difference offensively,” he said.

A first-round draft choice of the Boston Bruins in 1979, Bourque played 1,612 NHL games from 1979 to 2001, all but 94 of them for the Bruins. He finished his career with 410 goals and 1, 579 points, and entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche during the 1999-2000 season, and ended up winning his only Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001, after which he retired.

“For me to leave Boston was hard. It wasn’t a good situation (at the time), but it was still a tough decision to make,” he said.

“The 15 months I spent in Denver were great. I got to see how things were done differently somewhere else, and I got to win the Cup my last year.”

Bourque was 38 years old when he went to Colorado.

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Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Two forwards, two defencemen recruited for Acadia

John

John Decoste
Published on June 19, 2015

Athletics - A3WOLFVILLE – Head coach Darren Burns is adding two forwards and two defencemen to the Acadia hockey Axemen bench this fall.

Kyle Farrell, a five-foot-eight forward from Howie Centre, Cape Breton, played four full seasons and 26 games of a fifth with the QMJHL Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, after playing major midget with the Cape Breton Tradesmen.Farrell scored 103 goals and had 217 points in his major junior career, topping out with 42 goals in 63 regular season games in 2014-2015.

“Kyle is an extremely hard-working player who plays a complete 200-foot game,” Burns said. “He is a very quick player whose skating ability and tenacity will help him be an impact player in this league.”

He called Farrell “an extremely dedicated player who always strives to get better. His leadership skills and desire to succeed will be a huge asset to our program.”

Daniel Pettersson, a native of Toronto, played his major junior hockey with the Moncton Wildcats, for whom he played in the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament.

Twice a 20-goal scorer with Moncton, Pettersson played the bulk of the past two seasons overseas in Sweden and France.

“Daniel is a very experienced player,” Burns said – and at 24, Pettersson is also a bit older than a typical AUS rookie. “He has excellent vision and is a very good skater.”

Burns expects Pettersson’s “high hockey IQ” will help ease his transition to university hockey.

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Posted on Posted in Alumni News, Team Stories

Former Axemen Moves Behind Acadia Bench

May 27, 2015

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Acadia Hockey head coach Darren Burns and Acadia University announced the hiring of former hockey Axeman Kris MacDonald as the team’s new assistant coach. MacDonald replaces departed assistant coach Michael Chiasson, who accepted a position with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Orwell, P.E.I. native played for the Axemen from 2007 to 2010 before starting his coaching career in 2011-2012 with the UPEI Panthers for one season as an assistant coach.

In 2012-13, MacDonald became the head coach Notre Dame College in Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hounds and remained so for two seasons. MacDonald became an assistant coach with the Acadie-Bathurst Titans of the QMJHL last season.

“We are very excited to be able to add Kris to our coaching staff at Acadia. It is very important for us to bring somebody here who understands the fabric of the Axemen Hockey program in academics, community and commitment on the ice”, pointed out Burns.

Burns added, “Kris is a very passionate and dedicated person who has worked very hard in building his coaching resume by spending time coaching at the prestigious Notre Dame College in Wilcox, Sask. and with the Acadie-Bathurst Titans.”

Prior to his time at Acadia, MacDonald played his final year of junior hockey with the Summerside Western Capitals of the Maritime Hockey League after two seasons with Acadie-Bathurst and PEI Rocket of the QMJHL.

MacDonald is excited about the opportunity to return to Acadia University. “Acadia’s athletic program has really taken off over the past few years under the leadership of Director Kevin Dickie and his staff.”, pointed out MacDonald.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to move back to the Valley and join the Acadia Axemen coaching staff. I’m looking forward to working with Darren, Mark (Richards) and Mike (Alcoe)”, said MacDonald. “Darren and his staff have really taken the program to another level having coming off two straight CIS National appearances. It’s an exciting time for program”.

The Axemen open training camp on September 11th followed by an exhibition games against Moncton on September 23rd and at home hosting the Brock Badgers on September 25th and 26th. Acadia concludes their exhibition season in the U.S.A. at Boston University on October 3rd and Vermont University on October 4th.

Posted on Posted in Alumni News

Coolen to be inducted into Acadia University Sports Hall of Fame

May 22, 2015

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Acadia University and the Department of Athletics are pleased to announce the first of several inductees into the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame. The event is held every second year and is scheduled for Saturday, October 17th, 2015.

Former hockey Axemen head coach Tom Coolen will be inducted into the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame at the Annual Axemen Hockey Celebrity Dinner scheduled for Thursday, June 18, 2015.

Coolen, a native of Halifax, N.S., played for the Dalhousie Tigers and Saint Mary’s Huskies during his undergraduate degree. Coolen began his university coaching career as an assistant coach with the UNB Varsity Reds, capturing an AAAU title in 1983-84. Prior to his appointment at Acadia in 1986, Tom completed his MA in physical education at Central Michigan University. For two seasons after graduation, Coolen served as an assistant coach at Ferris State College in Big Rapids, Michigan.

Coolen’s stint at Acadia spanned 8 seasons. His 201 regular season games as the Axemen’s bench boss accumulated an astonishing 144 wins, 42 losses, and 15 ties. Coolen captured a 1992-93 CIAU national championship and three AAAU championships during his tenure at Acadia from 1987 to 1995. Coolen also received the Father George Kehoe Memorial Award as CIAU Coach of the Year in 1993 and regained the award after the 1994-1995 season.

Over the past twenty years, Coolen has coached all around the world including the Calgary Flames farm team – the AHL Saint John, N.B. team; the University of New Brunswick – winning another AUS championship; in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats and several years in the Elite leagues of Europe.

The last four years have seen Tom at the top of his profession cumulating with coaching stints at the IIHF World Championships in Finland and Belarus, and the most recent Olympic Games in Sochi with Team Latvia, followed by this past season with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

Acadia University will be releasing the remaining Acadia Sports Hall of Fame inductees in the coming weeks.

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Mavericks Acquire Defenseman Chris Owens

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(March 11, 2015)- The Missouri Mavericks announced Wednesday afternoon that they have acquired defenseman Chris Owens from the Ontario Reign in exchange for forward Josh Brittain. Missouri also gained future considerations in the trade.

“Chris is a solid defenseman with the offensive capability to help our power play”, said Richard Matvichuk, Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations for the Missouri Mavericks. “He has had a great collegiate career at Acadia University and we are excited to get him in the lineup in the near future.”

The twenty-five year old St. John’s, Newfoundland native Owens, 25, appeared in training camp this season, first with the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps, and then with the ECHL’s Ontario Reign, before returning to Acadia University for a fifth and final year of CIS eligibility. He notched 4 goals and 16 assists through 25 games. Owens led all defenseman on Acadia’s roster in points (20) through their 2014-15 campaign. In his five season with the Axemen, Chris recorded 124 points in 134 regular season AUS games.

The Axemen defenseman was named to the AUS all-rookie team in 2010-11, and selected as a first team AUS all-star 3 times, and a second-team all Canadian in 2011-12. Owens and the Acadia Axemen lost their CIS University Cup quarterfinal berth last Friday, losing to UQTR by a 6-5 score in overtime.

“We are excited for Chris to get an opportunity at the pro level. He made an excellent decision to return for his fifth year and earn additional courses for his future while helping get the team back to Nationals”, said Acadia head coach Darren Burns, “He will do very well in the East Coach Hockey League and I look forward to following his progress.”

Prior to coming to Acadia University, Owens set career points records in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League with 258 points in just 213 games with the Miramichi Timberwolves.

Posted on Posted in Game Recaps

Acadia falls 6-5 to UQTR in Overtime

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UQTR’s goalie Guilliame Nadeau covers the puck as the Axemen forward drives towards the net. UQTR would come from behind to win the OT thriller 6-5.

The Acadia Axemen dropped a heartbreaking 6-5 overtime defeat at the hands of the UQTR Patriotes on Friday afternoon in Halifax. The game was the third of four University Cup quarterfinal matchups, with the winner moving on to the semi finals, and the loser going home.

Going into the third period Acadia held a 4-1 lead but UQTR would outscore the Axemen 4-1 in the third period to tie the game at 5 to force sudden death overtime, where UQTR’s Vincent Marcoux, took the puck from his own blue line, moved in on a 2 on 1, and decided to shoot, ripping a shot short side on Axemen goaltender Brandon Glover to send his team to the University Cup semifinals.

The Axemen came out of the gate hot, firing 15 shots at UQTR starting goalie Francis Desrosiers, with only a powerplay marker, at the 10 minute mark, off the stick of Acadia 5th year quarterback defenceman Chris Owens beating the goalie. Before the period ended an ugly play, as UQTR forward Carl-Antoine Delisle took a clear run at Axemen Captain Liam Heelis, as Heelis came around the net with the puck, sending Heelis to the ice. Delisle was given a 5 minute major for a hit to the head and a game misconduct for the infraction, while Heelis got up woozy and did not return for the remainder of the game. The Axemen would take a 1-0 lead into the dressing room after a period. Axemen goalie Brandon Glover turned aside all 9 shots he faced.

The second period was all Axemen, as Remy Giftopoulos fired home a powerplay goal just 1:22 into the frame, and before the goal could be announced, fellow first year forward Boston Leier scored another to put Acadia up 3-0. The goals came just 43 seconds apart.Read more »

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2748OTTAWA (CIS) – The University of Alberta Golden Bears hope to repeat as University Cup champions later this week when the top CIS men’s hockey programs gather in Halifax for the first time in history.

Championship website: www.universitycup.ca

St. Francis Xavier University hosts the 2015 tournament at the Scotiabank Centre. The national competition, using a new eight-team format this year, gets underway on Thursday and culminates Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Atlantic Time (5:30 p.m. ET) with the gold-medal final, live on Sportsnet 360.

Saturday’s semifinals are also live on Sportsnet 360 (noon & 4 p.m. Atlantic), while the quarter-finals and the bronze-medal match are set to air on Eastlink TV. All eight games from the tourney will be webcast on www.CIS-SIC.tv.

The Golden Bears, who won their record 14th University Cup title a year ago and successfully defended the Canada West banner over the weekend, will be joined in Nova Scotia’s capital by the second-seeded UNB Varsity Reds (AUS champions), No. 3 Guelph Gryphons (OUA champs), No. 4 UQTR Patriotes (OUA finalists), No. 5 Acadia Axemen (AUS finalists), No. 6 Calgary Dinos (Canada West finalists), No. 7 Windsor Lancers (OUA bronze medallists) and No. 8 StFX X-Men (AUS semi-finalists).

The quarter-final matchups, split over two days, include Calgary vs. Guelph at 1 p.m. and Windsor vs. UNB at 7 p.m. on Thursday, as well as Acadia vs. UQTR at 1 p.m. and StFX vs. Alberta at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Alberta was a logical choice to earn the top seed for a third straight year as the reigning champions led all 20 weekly national polls this season, posted a CIS-best 24-3-1 mark in league play and added four straight wins in the Canada West playoffs, including a two-game sweep against Calgary in the conference final.Read more »