Graduated Pats Look Toward New Opportunities

This is an outtake from an article, for the complete article, please visit http://reginapats.com/article/graduated-pats-look-toward-new-opportunities

By Daniel Fink – ReginaPats.com

Boston Leier
Axemen Recruit Boston Leier

Regina, Saskatchewan – As the Regina Pats move ever closer to the 2014-15 season, three members of last year’s squad look to take the next steps in their hockey careers.  Dyson Stevenson, Boston Leier and Jesse Zgraggen were the Pats’ three overage players in the 2013-14 season.  All three continue their hockey careers in the upcoming year, all following different paths.  Stevenson plays his first season of professional hockey with the AHL’s Portland Pirates, Leier heads to Acadia University to suit up for the Axemen in the CIS and Zgraggen ventures across the Atlantic to play for Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss Elite League.

For Boston Leier, the decision to head east and play for Acadia while attending school came from a desire to find new challenges and a different environment.

“Me and a friend of mine went on a recruiting trip out there and it’s a pretty exciting place,” said Leier.  “Everyone there is a pretty tight knit family and it just seemed like the kind of place I wanted to be.  I really wanted to experience something different.  It’s not every day something like that comes up and I wanted to take advantage of it while I could.”

Of course it didn’t hurt that Leier’s coach for the 2013-14 season, Malcolm Cameron, is an alumni of the Axemen.

“Malcolm talked about (Acadia) very highly and he was a good influence on (choosing Acadia) too.  Obviously I made my own decisions though.  I know the athletic director out there pretty well, he’s a good family friend of ours.  He said he thought it was a very good fit for me.”

As with anything in life, moving to a new stage of a hockey career presents new challenges.  All three players, face different hurdles to overcome on and off the ice with their new teams and leagues.Read more »

Acadia Hockey & Atlantic Hockey Group Partner to Present Specialized Camp

The participants of the POE Under 14 specialized Acadia hockey camp in partnership with the Atlantic Hockey Group
The participants of the POE Under 14 specialized Acadia hockey camp in partnership with the Atlantic Hockey Group

This past weekend, August 8-10th, the Acadia University Axemen men’s hockey team partnered with the Atlantic Hockey Group to present a specialized POE Prep Hockey Camp, for the Under 14, 2002 birth dates at the Acadia Arena in Wolfville.

The weekend was a great success with over 25 participants learning from Axemen coaches, players, and Atlantic Hockey Group instructors. The kids had the opportunity to experience the expertise of Acadia University’s world class Kinesiology department as well as the strength and conditioning leadership of  Elliott Richardson. Goaltenders had specialized learning from Axemen Assistant Coach, & former QMJHL and Acadia goalie Michael Chiasson.

Acadia Axemen Coach Darren Burns had the following to say about the camp, “It was a tremendous weekend of hockey and a great experience for the kids. It was not an easy weekend as the kids had three practices and four games in three days.”

The newly formed partnership with the Atlantic Hockey Group allows the Acadia hockey camp program to utilize the Atlantic Group’s professionalism, experienced and well respected coaches along with Acadia’s university players to bring in the top aspiring players in Atlantic Canada at this age level.

Burns concluded, “It is important on so many levels for kids in our Atlantic region to play with and against each other. It will only help them improve their game. It was a great success and we will begin planning futures events like this one right away.”

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Burbidge, Pettet named to NS Hockey U18 team

The Acadia Axemen hockey program would like to wish our congratulations to Maggie Burbidge of Falmouth, who has been named to the Under 18 Nova Scotia Female Hockey team for 2014-15.

Maggie Burbidge
Maggie Burbidge

Maggie, who is currently just 13 years old until mid-January, has played her minor hockey with the Acadia Axemen minor hockey program. She was named to the team in a posted letter from the Hockey Nova Scotia’s High Performance Development Committee on the Hockey Nova Scotia website.

You can read the full post here: http://www.hockeynovascotia.ca/hns_12370_51292.html

Last season, Burbidge was a member of the Acadia Peewee AAA hockey team, and attended school at Newbridge Academy in Lower Sackville, where she was enrolled in the advanced hockey program.

Topping the year off, Maggie was selected to the East Coast Selects Q team, composed of girls from the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and the eastern U.S., from Maine to New York State, competing in the World Selects Invitational tournament in Finland. Maggie is the daughter of Jeff & Alana Burbidge.

Acadia Axemen head coach Darren Burns had the following to say, “It has been an absolute pleasure to watch what Maggie has done so far in her young career. She is a tremendous role model for the players in the valley on, and off the ice.”

Burns who coached Burbidge last year with her Peewee AAA team added, “We are extremely proud of her accomplishments and Acadia Hockey looks forward to following her for years to come.”

Brette Pettet
Brette Pettet

Also named to the team was Kentville native Brette Pettet, who finished last season on the Team Atlantic Canada under 18 team, while playing the rest of the season with Minnesota Prep School, Shattuck St. Mary’s. Brette is just 15 years of age, and was a big part of Shattuck St. Mary’s U.S. national U-16 Tier 1 girls’ hockey championship win in 2013. At the time, she was the only Grade 8 student on a team made up mostly of Grade 9 to 11s.

Congratulations to both Maggie and Brette on this outstanding achievement.

Former Acadia coach helped guide tiny nation Latvia to successful Olympics

Halifax native Tom Coolen, an assistant coach with Latvia, draws up a play on the bench during a third-period timeout in his team’s Olympic hockey quarter-final against Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Wednesday. (MARK HUMPHREY / CP)
Halifax native Tom Coolen, an assistant coach with Latvia, draws up a play on the bench during a third-period timeout in his team’s Olympic hockey quarter-final against Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Wednesday. (MARK HUMPHREY / CP)
Tom Coolen has climbed from the AUS to the NHL.

The former Acadia Axemen hockey coach was named one of four assistants to Buffalo Sabres’ head coach Ted Nolan earlier this week.

The Sabres announced Aug. 4 he would join Nolan’s staff in Buffalo, along with Bryan Trottier, Danny Flynn and goaltending coach Arturs Irb.

Coolen, 60, was born and raised in Halifax and is best known around Nova Scotia for building an AUS dynasty at Acadia in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He guided the Axemen to their first-ever national hockey championship in 1993 and you could even go so far as to say he helped raise the profile of the entire conference on the CIS landscape.
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Inside Acadia athletics: Athletic director Kevin Dickie

original post at http://thechronicleherald.ca/community/annapolis-valley/1226553-inside-acadia-athletics-athletic-director-kevin-dickie

Athletics - AAcadia University athletics have rich history and a longstanding winning tradition in each respective program. High quality facilities as well as tremendous local fan support help make an Acadia afternoon on the turf, or evening in the rink unbeatable. The man at the helm of Acadia’s athletic prowess is athletic director, Kevin Dickie.

Dickie started as athletic director at the University of New Brunswick in 2005, before returning to Acadia in 2011. Dickie had prior coached a very successful Axemen hockey team for three years beginning in 1997. He led the team to three consecutive AUS (Atlantic University Sport) hockey conference final appearances and to the CIS championship game in 1998. “Acadia’s National reputation drew me to Acadia originally, and the chance to coach one of the best hockey programs in Canada,” Kevin says. “What drew us back to Wolfville was the community and the leadership on Acadia’s campus.”

With big upgrades coming to the athletics complex this summer, Dickie said, “The upgrade in our facilities, thanks to the McCain Family, will do three things; help us be a national program as facilities are that important. It will also help us attract future partnerships to improve other areas of our facility, as well as enhance campus life for both our students and community.”Read more »

Rapaces GapAcadia Axemen alumnus goaltender Kristofer Westblom will be playing overseas this season (2014-15) for Les Rapaces de Gap of the Magnus League in France.

Westblom spent last season with the Central Hockey League’s Brampton Beast after spending the past 2 seasons with the Dayton Gems and Fort Worth Brahmas, also of the CHL.

Westblom spent 3 seasons playing for the Axemen from 2008-11, including 62 regualr season games, amassing a 34-27 record. kris_westblomWestblom (class of 2011) was the 2010-11 Atlantic Conference recipient of the Godfrey Award. The Godfrey Award, named after Dr. Bill Godfrey, is given annually to the player who best represents the spirit of intercollegiate hockey by his leadership both on and off the ice and by his conduct throughout the season.

Kris was named to the AUS first team all stars in the 2009-10 season, and was also named to the AUS All-Rookie team in 2008-09.

Prior to playing for Acadia University, Kristofer was a standout goalie in the Western Hockey Junior League for the Kelowna Rockets. He was drafted in the 2005 NHL Amateur draft, in the third round, 65th overall by the Minnesota Wild.

To follow Kris throughout the year, check out Gap’s website at http://lesrapacesdegap.free.fr/accueil.php

MALLARDS RE-SIGN FOX, WELCOME NETMINDER MOSHER

EvanMosher
Axemen Alumnus Evan Mosher
The Quad City Mallards today announced they have re-signed forward Justin Fox and have signed goaltender Evan Mosher.
Mosher, a 23-year old rookie, is fresh off a standout junior season at Acadia University in Wolfsville, Nova Scotia.  Mosher was named to the 2013-14 All-Canadian second team after going 17-5-0 in 22 games to finish tied for first in in the nation in wins in addition to finishing fifth in goals against average (2.12), seventh in minutes played (1358:42) and tenth in save percentage (.919).  The Conception Bay, Newfoundland, product backstopped the Axemen to the Atlantic University Sport conference playoff title and a berth in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport University Cup national tournament.
“Evan is a very good young goaltender who had a great year in college hockey last season,” said Ruskowski. “He’s an exciting prospect and has had a lot of success both in junior and at Acadia and has the potential to make the next step.”
The 6’ 0”, 186-pound Mosher went 32-19-0 In 52 career games at Acadia while posting a 2.64 goals against average and a .902 save percentage along with a pair of shutouts.
Mosher moved on to Acadia after tending goal for all or part of five seasons with the Prince Edward Island Rocket of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.  In 117 career QMJHL games, Mosher went 50-57-0 while turning in a 3.17 goals against average, a .907 save percentage and three shutouts.  In 2010-11, Mosher completed his junior career in style by leading the “Q” in minutes played (3266:38) and total saves (1694) and finishing second in save percentage (.918), eighth in goals against average (2.19), tied for eighth in shutouts (2) and ninth in wins while going 25-22-3 in 57 games.

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Poliziani-From final round pick to blueline fixture

Storm Stories is a Guelph Storm original weekly feature for the 2012-13 season spotlighting current Storm Players and giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at the player’s lives on and off the ice.

DanielPoliziani7At the core of what defines Daniel Poliziani as an athlete and as a person is an unwavering love for the game of hockey; it’s easy to find and obvious to anyone that knows the Burlington, Ontario native. It’s in his blood.

Daniel’s grandfather Danny played his junior hockey for the Barrie Flyers and Quebec Aces, coached along the way by legendary “Hap” Emms and “Punch” Imlach. As a professional, he was a member of the Boston Bruins organization, and later suited up for Hershey and Providence in the American league.

“When I was growing up, my grandfather would tell me countless stories about his hockey career,” Poliziani says. “I’d sit there for hours; I loved them. I could never get enough.”

His father, Dan Poliziani, spent his playing days at the college level for Yale University and then as a professional for New Haven in the American Hockey League. After a tragic on-ice eye injury cut Dan’s playing career short, he went back to Yale where he spent the next twelve years coaching varsity hockey.

He also coached his son Daniel during his early hockey years.

“As soon as Daniel was old enough to recognize the sights and sounds of the hockey rink, he wanted to put skates on,” Dan says. “Not so much to skate, but to be carried around the ice and feel the cold breeze on his face.”

Thinking back to those days, Daniel says “Hockey players always remember the 6:00am practices. But I loved getting up early, and I remember my dad always helped me get half dressed at home so I could get out on the ice that much sooner.”

“And for whatever reason I always loved the smell of freshly zamboni’d ice.”

Daniel credits his father with the development of his work ethic and character.Read more »

Axemen in partnership with the Atlantic Hockey Group set date for Aug 8-10 at Acadia Arena

The Acadia Axemen in partnership with the Atlantic Hockey Group have announced a specialized hockey camp for the Under 14, 2002 birthdates from August 8-10th at Acadia Arena in Wolfville, POE Prep Hockey Camp.

article_largeCoach Darren Burns had this to say about the announcement,

“We are very excited to be able to host a camp like this for the 02 age group. We feel that this is just the beginning for providing a destination for kids in Atlantic Canada to come in the summer. I believe that this is something which could expand very rapidly and provide a very cost effective way of creating a tremendous experience for kids.  We are very fortunate to have the expertise of having a world class kinesiology department as well as the strength and conditioning leadership of Elliott Richardson’s program here at Acadia. The specialization at the goaltending position with  our own Michael Chiasson will also be a staple of this weekend.  Creating this partnership with the Atlantic Hockey Group allows us to utilize their professionalism , experienced and well respected coaches along with our university players to bring in the top aspiring players in Atlantic Canada at this age Level.Read more »

VETERANS, KEVIN BAKER AND MICHAEL COUCH RETURN FOR A SECOND SEASON

player-baker

Prescott Valley, AZ – The Arizona Sundogs announced today a pair of returning veterans for their upcoming 2014-15 Central Hockey League (CHL) season. Forward, Kevin Baker and defenseman, Michael Couch will both call Arizona home for another season.

Sundogs Coach, Kevin Colley said, “We’re very happy to have both of them returning. Couch came in and provided our team with the much needed experience on the blueline and Bakes is a points man. He’s always in the right place at the right time and is hard to deny when he’s on the ice. The experience and leadership they both bring on and off the ice is something that is hard to find and the guys in the locker room respect that.”

Baker, 35-years returns to the Sundogs for his second season. The 6-foot-1, Ontario native was signed as a free agent on March 5, 2013 after playing for both the Evansville Icemen (ECHL) and the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) at the start of the 2012-13 season. Baker, hit the ice strong posting eight goals and six assists in 10 games helping him earn Oakley’s CHL First Star of the Month. Last season he continued to dominate on the ice leading the team with 34 goals and 30 assists for 64 points in 65 games. Prior to joining the Sundogs, Baker saw a handful of games in the American Hockey League (AHL) playing for the Milwaukee Admirals, Toronto Marlies, Rochester Americans and the Albany River Rats. His best season to date came during the 2008-09 season while playing for the Florida Everbaldes where he spent two seasons and collected 57 goals and 45 assists for 102 points in 70 games in 2008-09.

Couch, 31-years joined Arizona in January after being acquired in a trade from the newly formed expansion team, the Brampton Beast. A native to Nova Scotia, Couch began his career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and played for St. Thomas University before turning pro in 2006-07 while playing in Italy. Upon his return stateside he signed with the Mississippi Sea Wolves where he played in 81 games and tallied three goals and 18 assists for 21 points. Couch later played for the now defunct Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (CHL) where he won his first championship in 2011. From 2011-13 the defenseman played two seasons for the Rapid City Rush (CHL) where he posted seven goals and 28 assists for 35 points in 119 games. Last season Couch posted five points in 10 games while with the Beast and collected four points in 32 games with the Sundogs.

Couch expressed, “I am very excited to be returning to the Sundogs organization. It was a no brainer for me to re-sign. From the minute this organization traded for me, I was treated with nothing but the utmost respect and professionalism. I can’t say enough good things about team ownership, management, staff and the fans of Prescott/Prescott Valley. I have a great relationship with coach Colley and feel his approach to the game is similar to mine which makes coming to the rink enjoyable and makes it more than a job, it makes it fun. We have some unfinished business this season and look forward to nothing short of a Presidents Cup brought back to this winning organization.”

The Arizona Sundogs are the Central Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. Season tickets, mini-plan, and single-game ticket information is now available by calling (928) 759-6600 or visiting arizonasundogs.com.

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