Posted on Posted in Game Recaps
Brett Thompson opens the scoring for the Axemen, as he slides a shot past the sprawling Moncton goalie Lemay.
Brett Thompson opens the scoring for the Axemen, as he slides a shot past the sprawling Moncton goalie Lemay. Photo credit to Donald Burry.
Submitted by Mitchell Racine, Acadia Sports Information Office

WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The only preseason game being played in Wolfville this year, fans were given a little taste of what’s to come in the 2014-2015 season. Tonight’s game was the second meeting in preseason between both teams. The Axemen captured a 4-2 in New Brunswick last week.

With a preseason record of 2-0-0, after defeating, Dalhousie, and Moncton earlier last week, this game comes just one week before the Axemen head across the border to face off against the NCAA #7 ranked Quinnipiac Bobcats and the NCAA #16 ranked Northeastern Huskies. Before heading south, the Axemen will visit Liverpoopl, NS to take on Dalhousie this Friday night for the second of two preseason meetings.

The Acadia Axemen open the regular season in 17 days, in Halifax, when they play the Dalhousie Tigers at 7:00pm on October 11.

Over 1000 fans were in attendance for tonight’s first preseason game at the Andrew H. McCain Arena. The game started off pretty slow, with both teams having fair chances at potting the first goal; however, it was Acadia’s third year forward Brett Thompson who opened the scoring.
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Posted on Posted in Game Recaps

Athletics - AAcadia defeated Moncton 4-2 Sept. 18 in men’s hockey in an exhibition match in Cocagne, N.B.

Rookie Boston Leier scored twice for the Axemen; Sam Fioretti and Mike Cazzola each added a goal for the Acadia side.

The Aigles Bleus will visit Wolfville Sept. 24 and then the Axemen travel to Liverpool for an exhibition game against Dal Sept. 26

Posted on Posted in Game Recaps

Athletics - A

Written by John Decoste Posted on KingCountyNews.ca Published on September 17, 2014

The Acadia hockey Axemen got their 2014-2015 season off to a positive start, scoring a 3-2 win over the Dalhousie Tigers in their pre-season opener Sept. 17 at the Kings Mutual Century Centre in Berwick.

Rookie Zach Franko’s goal at 16:56 of the third period stood up as the game-winner, the only goal of the final 20 minutes after the teams had ended the first period tied 1-1 and the second deadlocked 2-2.

Andrew Rieder opened the scoring for the Tigers with an even-strength goal at 3:44 of the first period. The Axemen got on the board about 10 minutes later, at 13:34 when Taylor Makin scored on the power play.

Boston Leier, one of several first-year players in the Acadia lineup, gave the Axemen a 2-1 lead with an even-strength goal at 16:26 of the second period.

Before the period ended, the Axemen got into some penalty trouble, taking three straight minor penalties. Tanner Williams made them pay for their indiscretion, tying the score for the Tigers at 19:49 with his team enjoying a five-on-three pwer play.

Acadia had an 11-6 edge in shots in the first period, Dal outshot the Axemen 15-14 in the second, and Acadia had a solid 15-4 advantage in the third for a 40-25 edge overall. Each team scored once on the power play.

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Liam Heelis to Attend Florida Panthers Prospect Camp

Most Outstanding Player Liam Heelis Blaine Favel

Acadia Axemen captain Liam Heelis will be taking his show on the road later this week; all the way to Florida and Tennessee! Liam, the reigning CIS Men’s Hockey MVP, will take part in the NHL’s Florida Panthers prospect camp from Sept 11-16.

The 23 year old, Heelis will join 2 goalies, eight defenseman and 14 other forwards. Included in those prospects is last year’s first overall pick in the NHL entry draft, Aaron Ekblad, who was also a junior teammate of current Axemen defenceman Chris Buonomo with the Barrie Colts of the OHL.

The prospect camp will be composed of a day of medical and physical testing, an on ice practice in Florida, followed by a round robin tournament in Nashville, Tennessee between 4 teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators & the Florida Panthers.

Acadia Axemen head coach Darren Burns expressed his excitement for Heelis saying, “We are very excited for Liam that he has been invited back to Florida’s camp. We believe he continues to get better as a player and this opportunity will be another positive step in his goal of playing in the NHL. He has continued to work hard and it will be good for him to get this experience heading into our season.”

Also on the prospect roster for the Panthers is Saint Mary’s Huskies forward Stephen MacAuley, UNB defenceman Keevan Cutting, former Halifax Moosehead Mackenzie Weegar, and Glace Bay native Logan Shaw, who played last season with San Antonio of the AHL.Read more »

Posted on Posted in Alumni News

Training Camp is Here

Originally posted on http://lumberjacks-hockey.ca 2014-08-28

coach_youngThe first in a series of blogs by coach Travis Young.

Hello Lumberjack fans, and welcome to another exciting season of MHL action.  Training camp is less than a week away, and I know I speak for everyone in the organization when I say that we are very excited to see what the 2014-2015 season brings.  For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Travis Young and I have been the Head Coach of your Lumberjacks since January of 2014.

It has been a very busy off-season for the organization, highlighted by an exciting draft in Summerside where many future Lumberjacks were selected.  We look forward to seeing many of these draft picks, along with a very hungry group of returning players and some exciting free agents, compete at our training camp.

Personally, I am looking forward to my first full season behind the Jacks bench.  The last 6 weeks of the 2013-2014 season provided me with a wonderful opportunity to evaluate our team and address some areas of weakness.  I thought that as a group we made great strides, and competed extremely hard during a difficult part of the season.  The goal now, is to bring that mindset into training camp and carry it over throughout the upcoming season.  In speaking with both our returning players and incoming prospects, I know they have put the work in during the summer and are all focused on doing whatever it takes to bring a successful season to the South Shore.  Read more »

Posted on Posted in Alumni News

Campbellton Tigers Jr A Coach returning to familiar territory

Story by Will MacLaren – posted originally on themhl.ca 2014-08-27

troy_ryanThe bench boss of the Campbellton Tigers has been named an assistant coach for Team Canada East at the 2014 World Jr.A Challenge. This year’s tournament takes place from Dec.14-20 in Kindersley, Saskatchewan.

Ryan, the 42 year old Halifax native, will be making his fifth appearance as assistant in the tournament, previous serving in the same role from 2006-2009. As well, the long time MHL and CIS coach and executive served as the Canada East’s General Manager in 2010.

Despite being there before, the chance to participate in the event is one that never gets old for Ryan.

“Anytime you have the opportunity to work with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League it is a privilege and honour,” he said. “I am looking forward to representing the Campbellton Tigers and the Maritime Hockey League on an International stage. I would like to thank the selection committee, the Maritime hockey league, and the Campbellton Tigers organization for helping provide this opportunity.”

Ryan has more than a decade of coaching experience in the MHL and university hockey, winning MHL Coach of the Year and Hockey Nova Scotia Coach of the Year in 2007-08, and leading the Pictou County Crushers to an appearance at the RBC Cup in 2008.

In addition to Ryan, Team Canada East will feature head coach Marty Abrams (Wellington Dukes – OJHL) and assistants Mark Grady (Smith Falls – CCHL) and Marc Lafleur (Kirkland Lake – NOJHL). The staff is hoping to help Team Canada East rebound from a disappointing sixth place finish at the 2013 tournament in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.Read more »

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Burns Entering his 14th Season at the Helm of the Axemen

story courtesy of thechronicleherald.ca by Cameron Davidson

article_large

Entering into his 14th season at the helm of the Axemen Hockey squad, head coach Darren Burns has led the Axemen to 10 straight playoff appearances, and to two AUS (Atlantic University Sport) Championships, one in 2005/06 and another this past season. Burns has been at Acadia since 1990, though was an assistant coach elsewhere for four years while living in the Annapolis Valley. Burns also played his university hockey as an Axemen from 1990-1995, winning a CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) National Championship in 1992-93. Burns added another National Championship as an assistant coach with the Axemen in 1995-96.

Burns, now age 44, was initially drawn to Acadia as a player to pursue a teaching career. “I wanted to go where hockey was still important and was a big part of the community and school. A place that followed hockey like a junior team, and Acadia definitely had that, and still does,” he said.

Last year’s AUS Championship was massive for both Axemen Hockey and the amazing local fans. “It was important for the program to win the AUS Championship for sure. It was a great experience. It is something that we cannot take for granted and we need to strive for higher achievements. The thing that meant the most to me was seeing the sense of accomplishment for the players and seeing how excited the community was. Anytime something good happens for Acadia and the surrounding area, I am happy.”

With respect to the diehard Axemen Hockey fan base, Burns adds, “It is vital for our program to have the support it does. There is no hockey team in the CIS that gets the support our players and team does. It’s not even describable how important it is. It’s very motivating for me as a coach and for the players.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Burns talked about what the recruiting front was coming into this year. “Our recruiting for this season is like every other; our players need to be great people who realize they are leaders on campus and in the community and want to strive for excellence.” As for what fans should expect to see in 2014/15, “I would expect fans are going to see a committed team who skates well, moves the puck well, and does not get outworked. This is an expectation of our program. [The AUS] will be a very tough league this year.”

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Posted on Posted in Alumni News

Moyer playing for Karlskrona in Sweden

RussMoyerAcadia Alumnus Russ Moyer is back across the pond for another year of hockey. This season Russ will be suiting up for Karlskrona HK of the Allsvenskan hockey league in Sweden. The Allsvenskan league is the second highest level of hockey in Sweden and consists of 14 teams playing a 52 game regular season.

The former Acadia University defenceman, known for his offensive prowess, was an Axemen from 2003-2007, winning an AUS championship with the Axemen in 2006. Following his time with Acadia, Moyer played in the IHL, AHL, and CHL with North American teams before moving overseas to play in Denmark and in the Swedish Division 1 league, before playing last season in the Allsvenskan with current rival Oskarshamn.

Here is an interview Russ did this month after a preseason game.

Good luck on the upcoming season Russ!

Posted on Posted in Alumni News

Owens gets invitation from IceCaps

John Browne

Published on August 12, 2014 in Newfoundland’s paper The Telegram

St. John’s native and AUS all-star will attend AHL team’s training camp

Chris Owens is ready for the next step in his hockey career. The 24-year-old St. John’s native who helped the Acadia Axemen win the AUS championship in his final year of university hockey, has been invited to the American Hockey League’s St. John’s IceCaps training camp, scheduled for Sept. 28-29 at Mile One Centre.

Defenceman Chris Owens, shown playing with the Acadia University Axemen last season, has received an invitation to attend the training camp of the American Hockey League’s St. John’s IceCaps next month. © Photo by Peter Oleskevich/Acadia University
Defenceman Chris Owens, shown playing with the Acadia University Axemen last season, has received an invitation to attend the training camp of the American Hockey League’s St. John’s IceCaps next month.
© Photo by Peter Oleskevich/Acadia University

“I’m looking forward to it,” Owens said Monday. “I grew up here, so it’s cool to get a shot with a professional team at home.”

Owens said top-notch conditioning is a priority with him and he’s been working out all summer to be in the best shape possible.

“You need to be ready to compete,” said the 5-10, 190 pound defenceman who was a first-team conference all-star last season

Busy times

He’s also helping out at four Newfoundland and Labrador hockey schools, including the Danny Cleary Hockey School at Jack Byrne Arena and the Atlantic Ice Warriors Hockey School in Clarenville, both running this month.

Owens says he brings “a pretty good offensive upside and strong defensive game” to the table for those teams interested in his services.

“I’m smart with the puck and I make a pretty good first pass,” he added.

Owens had 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 28 games with the Axemen last season and averaged almost a point per game in his four years at Acadia with 104 points (30 goals, 74 assists) in 109 games.Read more »