Posted on Posted in Team Stories

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 »

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

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 »

Posted on Posted in Alumni News

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

07/01/2014 7:15 AM originally posted on http://www.arizonasundogs.com/news/headlines/index.html?article_id=2838
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.

Read more »

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Fioretti Named CHL Humanitarian of the Year

Warriors-FiorettiAward-May26
Sam Fioretti after winning the 2014 CHL Humanitarian of the Year award on Saturday in London, Ontario. (Photo: Aaron Bell/CHL Images)

Written by Marc Smith of http://www.discovermoosejaw.com on Saturday, 24 May 2014

Sam Fioretti’s hard work in the community has now earned him national recognition.

The former Moose Jaw Warriors captain was named the 2014 CHL Humanitarian of the Year on Saturday at the annual CHL Awards in London, Ontario.

“It’s a huge honour to win an award like this for the entire CHL,” said Fioretti over the phone from London on Sunday. “It’s not only for me, but it’s an award for my teammates, who also put a lot of time into the community and were always eager to give back.

The award caps off Fioretti’s four-year WHL career with all four seasons spent in Moose Jaw where he became a well known face in the community for more than his hard work and skill on the ice.

Last season, Fioretti worked hard to continued many of the community programs that had been started in previous years, but also worked to create and spearhead two new initiatives. He worked with the Moose Jaw Police Service to go into schools to speak with students about bullying and then started the Warrior Workouts program aimed at teaching kids the correct ways to get active.

“I’ve got to say a big thank you to the community of Moose Jaw,” said Fioretti. “They embraced these two programs and made it very enjoyable to be apart of them.

“We’re role models as WHL players and it’s nice to give back to the community which gives so much to us.”Read more »

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Junior A hockey: Ancaster’s Giftopoulos has added good feet to great hands

Soft hands and great feet

Soft hands and great feet

IceLevel.com

This year — with the Windsor Spitfires where he was traded last season — Ancaster’s Remy Giftopoulos, pictured, is a point-a-game guy.
By Scott Radley

Compliment someone on how good their hands are and those within earshot will almost certainly cock their eyebrow and wonder what the heck you’re talking about. Unless, of course, you’re speaking to someone who’s a massage therapist, a doctor delivering babies or someone working in the bomb-disposal business, in which it makes perfect sense.

Or a hockey player.

Good hands have certainly been a bonus for Remy Giftopoulos. His talented mitts have always allowed him to score. Even as a small boy playing minor hockey, he had the gift.

His ability to make some magic with a stick and a puck landed the Ancaster native in the Ontario Hockey League as a 16-year-old with big dreams and lofty expectations. Which is when reality hit hard. At that level, hands are secondary. Speed is king.

“I’ve been told one of my weaker points was my skating,” the 20-year-old says. “I definitely realized it when I came to the next level.”

In order to perform magic with the puck, you have to be able to get the puck. Which comes from wheels. As a guy who never took powerskating lessons growing up and who’d developed some bad habits on his blades, it was a splash of cold water in the face.Read more »

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Large recruiting class for hockey Axemen

Athletics - AJohn Decoste – Register/Advertiser Published on June 27, 2014

Hockey season may be several months away, but with a number of holes to fill in his lineup, hockey Axemen head coach Darren Burns is already hard at work.

The Axemen lost seven players from their 2013-2014 roster to graduation – goalie Evan Mosher, defencemen Cullen Morin, Chris Owens and Leo Jenner, and forwards Joe Gaynor, Dustin Ekelman and K.C. Brown. Burns found himself with another hole to fill when defenceman Colin Archer learned he had been accepted into medical school in Alberta.

After what he described as a deeper off-season for recruits than a year ago, Burns said eight players have committed to attend Acadia and join the Axemen roster this fall.

With a fairly young roster, “the next two years, we aren’t as likely to lose as many players,” Burns said. “This was a crucial recruiting year,” which coincided with a larger number of recruits being available.

In identifying potential recruits, “we first look to add character and skill.” If the players have size and speed, too, that’s a bonus.

“We needed to address creating more offence up front,” he said, as well as the loss of a player like Owens, an offensive catalyst on the blueline.

Burns believes that in the eight recruits – four forwards, three defencemen and a goalie – he has both replaced his departing players and improved his team.
Read more »

Posted on Posted in Alumni News

MEET YOUR MOOSE – ASST. COACH JIM MIDGLEY

Jun 26, 2014 – 18:16 GMT
Written By: MacIntosh, Scott posted at http://www.halifaxmooseheads.ca/article/meet-your-moose—asst-coach-jim-midgley

crop_190417_27_1403807551

Halifax Mooseheads Assistant Coach Jim Midgley is a busy man this summer. He’s preparing for another exciting season with the Herd, while at the same time getting set to open training camp for the Nova Scotia Canada Games team for which he is the Head Coach.

Midgley however has another important life milestone on the way, as he and fiancé Laura are getting set to tie the knot in August.

Yes he has great organizational skills, as all good coaches do, to be able to juggle all of those duties in life.  Midgley is entering his fourth season with the Mooseheads as the assistant to Dominique Ducharme.

He played with both North Bay and Belleville during his three year OHL career, before coming to Saint Mary’s in 1998 where he put up big numbers with the Huskies, including capturing an AUS title in 2002. Read more »

Posted on Posted in Alumni News

Mike Johnston has been named the new coach of the Penguins

Mike JohnstonDarmouth native and former Acadia Axemen player, Mike Johnston has been named head coach of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins today.

The Penguins have been without a coach since firing Dan Bylsma on June 6.

Johnston has been the coach of the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League since early in the 2008-09 season. In his first full season he led the Winterhawks to the biggest turnaround in team history in 2009-10, improving the team by 48 points.

Prior to coaching Portland, Johnston served as an associate coach in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks (1999-2006) and Los Angeles Kings (2006-08).

Mike attended Acadia University in the late 1970’s, where he graduated with a bachelor of physical education, and starred for the Axemen hockey team; he was named to Acadia’s Hockey Honor Roll in 2008.

He played hockey for the Brandon University and Acadia University and then became a coach at the age of 23. He at first coached Camrose College in Alberta and then was an assistant coach at the University of Calgary. In 1989 he took over as head coach at the University of New Brunswick, a job that lasted until 1994.Read more »

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Archer accepted to Medicine program in Edmonton

Axemen assistant captain in 2013-14 Colin Archer, has been accepted into Medicine at the University of Alberta.
Axemen assistant captain in 2013-14 Colin Archer, has been accepted into Medicine at the University of Alberta.

The Acadia Axemen will be bidding farewell to one of their leaders, defenceman and assistant captain, Colin Archer. Archer has been accepted into the Medicine program at U of A in Edmonton, Alberta.

Archer came to Acadia midway through the 2011-12 season after deciding to leave Montreal’s McGill University. Due to this, he was forced to red shirt, and only practice for the Axemen for the remainder of the season.

The 2012-13 season saw Archer suit up for 26 regular season games, recording 2 points and 38 PIM’s, making a reputation for himself as a tough competitor who took care of his defensive zone first. 2013-14,  he played in all 28 regular season games, recording 5 points and 46 PIM’s. Archer captured the AUS championship with the Axemen in the 13-14 playoffs, recording 3 points in 8 games. He also saw action in the CIS national tournament before being injured in the opening game for Acadia.

The loss of Colin Archer, adds to hole on the backend left by graduating defensemen Chris Owens, Leo Jenner, and Cullen Morin. The Acadia coaching staff is expected to rely heavily on the recruiting process to fill these holes on the blueline for the 2014-15 season. Geoff Schemitsch, Travis Gibbons, and Chris Buonomo are the returnees for the Axemen on defense.Read more »

Posted on Posted in Team Stories

Great on the Ice, Great off the Ice – Paul Coffey

A great night, great support, and great featured guests. The seventeenth annual Acadia Axemen Celebrity Hockey dinner took place on Thursday, June 19th with headline guest and four time Stanley Cup winner Paul Coffey.

The night opened up with the master of ceremony, TSN correspondent and studio anchor, Paul Hollingsworth welcoming a crowd of nearly 500 Acadia Axemen supporters, including many Axemen alumni, as well as coaches and players from other Acadia varsity teams.

photo 22photo4 4photo 11

The silent auctions continued throughout the night with many great items including autographed jerseys from NHL greats and Cole Harbour natives Nathan MacKinnon & Sidney Crosby, along with jerseys & autographed photos from the featured guest himself, Paul Coffey.

14Burns

 

Coach Darren Burns took to the stage and thanked the community for the tremendous support throughout the year, and let the crowd know how much he appreciates being a part of the valley community.Read more »