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Axemen Return to the University Cup for 2nd Straight Year

CIS-SEEDINGThe Acadia Axemen will take the ice on Friday afternoon at 1pm at Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre, when they face the UQTR Patriotes. This year’s University Cup tournament features a new format, with 8 teams, separated into two brackets, in a win and move on, lose and go home format.

The Axemen return to Nationals after an unfulfilling finish to last year, as they went out to Saskatoon as AUS champions, with high hopes of bringing home a CIS title to Wolfville, NS. But the opening game of the tournament all but dashed those hopes, dropping the opener 4-2 to the Windsor Lancers. In the past 6 team format, although it wasn’t a single game knockout, an opening loss would mean a lot would need to go right the rest of the way, with some help from another team to advance. It wasn’t meant to be as Acadia was knocked off by the tournament host University of Saskatchewan Huskies 3-2. Despite the two close games, the Axemen wanted more… another chance.Read more »

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Acadia ranked #5, face UQTR Friday at 1pm

The Acadia Axemen received the #5 ranking for the CIS University Cup tournament in Halifax this week; with that seed, they will take on the #4 seeded UQTR Patriotes on Friday at 1pm at the Scotiabank Centre. The UQTR were OUA finalists, falling to the tournament #3 ranked Guelph Gryphons. Acadia lost in the AUS finals to the tournament #2 ranked UNB Varsity Reds.

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Posted on Posted in Game Recaps

UNB downs Acadia 4-2, Wins Series 2-0

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Axemen forward Mike Cazzola attempts to corral a rolling puck in front of the Varsity Reds net. UNB went on to win the game 4-2, capturing the AUS championship.

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – After an 8-2 loss to the Varsity Reds in game one in Fredericton, Acadia had hope to pull off a home rink win to tie the best of three series at one game apiece.

Facing elimination, the CIS No. 3 ranked Acadia Axemen fell short in pushing the series to a third and final game, losing 4-2 to the eventual AUS champions and CIS No. 2 ranked UNB Varsity Reds.

In front of a capacity crowd of 2100 at the Andrew H. McCain arena, the Axemen struck first on an even handed goal at 3:53 by second year Axeman Taylor Makin (Lethbridge, Alta.). On a giveaway by a UNB defenseman, Makin capitalized on the opportunity.Read more »

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Axemen Thompson & Cazzola named to All-Stars, Franko & Giftopoulos to Rookie Team

AUS-ALLSTARS15(HALIFAX, N.S.) – Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce the 2014-15 AUS men’s hockey major award winners and all-stars as selected by the conference’s eight head coaches following regular season play.

Second-year forward Philippe Maillet of Lachenaie, Que. has been named the Atlantic University Sport most valuable player.

Other AUS major award winners announced today were UNB’s Randy Gazzola of Thorold, Ont., who was named rookie of the year; Saint Mary’s Ben Duffy of Lower Sackville, N.S., who was selected as the most sportsmanlike player; StFX’s Rob Slaney of Portugal Cove, N.L., who earned the Godfrey award for student-athlete community service; and UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall, who was named the AUS coach of the year for the fourth time in his career.Read more »

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UNB takes Game 1 of Subway AUS Men’s Hockey Championship final series with 8-2 win over Acadia

Photo by Brian Smith
Photo by Brian Smith

(FREDERICTON, N.B.) – UNB put on an offensive show on a busy night at the Aitken Centre taking the first game of the 2015 Subway AUS final series over the Acadia Axemen by a score of 8-2 in front of a paid attendance of 3,119.

“We’ve been close, but it’s nice to break through,” said UNB’s head coach Gardiner MacDougall on the goal-scoring outburst.

Acadia won the opening faceoff but things would go down-hill quickly for the Axemen as UNB would score on their first two shots of the game.

The first, a backhand shot from Philippe Maillet (Lachenaie, Que.) on the power play and the second from Cam Brace (Toronto, Ont.) who slid the puck under the pad of starting goalie Brandon Glover (Victoria, B.C.).

UNB added another power play goall to tally eight minutes into the first period as Maillet scored his second goal in as many shots.

Goalie Robert Steeves (Moncton, N.B.) stepped in for the Axemen at that point and went on to play well in relief. Acadia turned up the intensity after the goalie change and managed to capitalize on one of many UNB turnovers in the period with a goal from Travis Randall (Twillingate, N.L.) that would bring Acadia within two goals.

From that point, the Axemen had momentum on their side and they were able to produce several nice scoring chances. UNB, however was able to grab it back when Dana Fraser (Tatamagouche, N.S.) got into the opposition zone on an odd man rush where he fed Jordan Murray (Moncton, N.B.) for the Varsity Reds’ fourth goal of the game.
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Acadia Punches Ticket To CIS University Cup Tournament

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The CIS No. 5 ranked Acadia Axemen topped the No. 3 Saint Mary’s Huskies 3-2 in game five of the best of five semi-final series, punching their ticket to not only an AUS championship best of three series against the UNB Varsity Reds, but also they will have their second consecutive “kick at the can” at this year’s CIS University Cup championship held in Halifax.

In a sold out Andrew H. McCain Arena, the Huskies drew blood first on a goal by Gerrad Grant (Halifax, N.S.) on the man advantage at 5:41 of the first period.

Saint Mary’s forward Gerrard Grant put a back door pass from Stephen Johnston (Guelph, Ont.) past Brandon Glover (Victoria, B.C.). Steven Beyers (Orangeville, Ont.) added the second assist on the play.

Midway through opening period, a Huskie goal was disallowed due to a kicking motion, keeping Acadia within one.Read more »