Despite Gritty Effort, Moncton Eliminated By Acadia

The Moncton Aigles Bleus did everything in their power to stave off elimination Sunday night.  Unfortunately for the plucky team from Moncton and their fans, it wasn’t enough.

The Acadia Axemen wrapped up their AUS semi-final series with a 3-2 win in Moncton Sunday, rebounding from a 4-1 setback the night before.  They reversed a trend that had been set in the series…Moncton had scored first in the previous three games.  The Axemen were able to rally back in Games 1 and 2 with 5-2 and 6-5 wins in those two games, but were drubbed 4-1 in Game 3.

This time, Mike Cazzola got the festivities rolling with a vicious wrist shot that beat Moncton goalie Adrien Lemay just 11 seconds into the contest.  The lead gave the Axemen the edge, as less than five minutes later, defenseman Chris Owens beat Lemay in almost the same spot.  The Moncton crowd fell silent and it looked as though the onslaught would begin.

But Moncton rallied, and showed everyone why they were not to be written off in this contest just yet.  Les Aigles Bleus scored on a penalty that was called on Acadia forward Liam Heelis to narrow the gap to 2-1 before the end of the first period.  The goal was credited to Alex Emond.Read more »

Moncton Stays Alive With Home Ice Win

The University of Moncton Aigles Bleus came into Game 3 of the AUS semi-final down 2-0 to the Acadia Axemen.  A loss would end Moncton’s season and send the Axemen to the next round.

Moncton had other ideas.  They struck first, 21 seconds into the game, repeating a trend that echoed through the first two games of the series.  In all three games, Moncton had opened the scoring, albeit in a losing cause…the most crushing being a 4-0 lead that dissolved before their eyes into a 6-5 overtime loss.

After Samuel Groulx opened the scoring for the Aigles Bleus, Mike Cazzola of Acadia answered back less than three minutes later.  He scored on a 5 on 3 power play, tying the game.  The two teams then settled back into a defensive holding pattern, giving no ice and making their opponents fight for every inch gained.  There were very little scoring chances exchanged in the first two periods, the shot clock showing Acadia holding an edge in shots 16-14 after the first two periods.  Goalies Evan Mosher of Acadia and Adrien Lemay of Moncton had to stay sharp with such little action, and they did, holding their teams in.

Something had to give.Read more »

Acadia Takes 2-0 Series Over Moncton On Home Ice

Never say die.

That seems to be the theme of the 2013-14 AUS playoffs for the Acadia Axemen.  The Axemen, after receiving a pass into the AUS conference semi-finals, drew the Aigles Bleus of Moncton University.  The Axemen finished the CIS rankings at #3, while Moncton finished at the #10 rank.  It was a much anticipated matchup, with the first two games at Acadia Arena in Wolfville.  When the dust settled, Acadia had taken a 2-0 series lead in the best of five series with a 5-2 win in Game 1 on February 26, and a 6-5 double overtime win in Game 2 on February 27.

In Game 1, the Aigles Bleus scored less than a minute into the game and took the play to the Axemen in the first period.  But they ran into a wall in Axemen goaltender Evan Mosher.  In what would be one of his finest games in an Acadia jersey, Mosher held his team in the game, making several acrobatic saves throughout the contest, until his teammates could seize control.

And they did.  The Axemen recovered from the early Moncton goal to build a 3-1 lead, and despite Moncton closing the gap to 3-2 late in the second, they couldn’t solve Mosher again, and Acadia rewarded their netminder’s work by building a 5-2 and locking it down in the third.  Mosher finished the game with 27 saves, many of them the eye-popping kind, while his counterpart in the Moncton goal, Adrien Lemay, did his part.  He stopped 30 shots, but couldn’t stop the Axemen tide all on his own.Read more »

Acadia Falls Short to UNB, Downed 2-0

The UNB Varsity Reds came to Wolfville on February 15 with one thing in mind…securing first place in the AUS hockey standings.  As the season progressed, it became more and more clear that first place in the AUS conference would come down to one game, as the Acadia Axemen and UNB Varsity Reds battled each other all season for the top spot.  It had all the making of a classic.  Acadia…led by forward Liam Heelis in scoring, but having to face UNB without the AUS leading scorer in Heelis in the lineup.  UNB…having battled the Axemen hard all season.  The stage was set for a game for the ages.

The UNB Varsity Reds jumped at the Axemen, but Acadia held firm, starting goalie Evan Mosher made some in tight saves, and the Axemen weathered the early storm.  They then took the play to the Reds, outshooting them 9-5 in the period, but were unable to solve UNB starting netminder Charles Lavigne.  Lavigne made several key saves in the period, the most notable coming during the man advantage, as he bailed out his power play unit with several stops.  When the dust settled at the final buzzer of the first, the score read 0-0. Read more »

Axemen Victory Sets Up Winner Take All Final Game

The Acadia Axemen and the UNB Varsity Reds have been battling each other all season for first place in the AUS conference.  It seems only fitting that it comes down to the final game of the regular season.

The Axemen secured their place in this regular season classic by dumping the Moncton Blue Eagles 5-2 in Wolfville.  After a scoreless first period, the Axemen went to work.  Playing without leading scorer Liam Heelis, the Axemen still jumped out to a three goal lead on goals by Dylan Anderson, Brett Thompson, and KC Brown.  Acadia ruled the rink in both goals and shots, much to the delight of the Wolfville crowd.  At the end of two periods, the shots read 23-12 in favor of Acadia, and the Axemen seemingly had the game well in hand.  With UNB holding a sizeable lead in their own AUS action against the Dalhousie Tigers, the date with destiny seemed set.

Not so fast.

Read more »

Axemen Continue to Roll with 6-1 Win Over Dalhousie

The Acadia Axemen continue to roll towards a date with destiny.  That destiny is a meeting with the UNB Varsity Reds in their last regular season game, a game that has huge implications for first overall in the conference. It’s a game that promises to have a major impact on the AUS playoff picture.

But first, the Dalhousie Tigers stood in the way.

The Axemen proved why the Tigers were no more than a speed bump on the road to first place.  They dropped the Tigers with a resounding 6-1 victory on home ice February 8, outshooting them 48-18, including a 22-5 edge in the first period.  It was a barrage that resulted in a 3-0 Acadia lead after the opening frame.

The CIS fourth ranked Axemen made a statement to UNB that they will keep pace with them, as UNB also won their game, 4-0 over Moncton.  They currently sit two points back of UNB in the standings.Read more »

Axemen Begin Playoff Stretch With Win Over Huskies

It was a special night at the Halifax Forum on February 7, as the St. Mary’s Huskies honored one of their own.  The Huskies’ hockey team donned special jerseys to honor Tom Lee, their long time assistant coach, who has battled lymphoma, a form of cancer.  In a night designed to bring support for Tom and awareness to defeat this horrible disease, the Huskies raised thousands of dollars to research a cure.

Once the puck dropped, it was apparent that the Huskies were on a mission.  But that mission was put on hold for a lengthy delay, as the glass broke in the Axemen end.  Once that was fixed, the Huskies quickly went up 2-0.  In a game in which they were fighting for their playoff lives, everything was going the Huskies’ way.Read more »

Acadia Rebounds From UPEI Loss In A Big Way

It appears as though the Acadia Axemen needed a wakeup call.

The Axemen played back to back home games this weekend, facing the UPEI Panthers on Friday night, then taking on the St. Thomas University Tommies on Saturday evening.  After being unceremoniously dumped 5-2 on home ice by UPEI, and suffering their third loss in five games, something had to give.

Unfortunately for St. Thomas, they were in the wrong spot at the wrong time.  The Acadia offence roared to life, eager to make amends for their recent slide.  The Axemen built a 6-0 lead before St. Thomas managed any offence.  They made it 6-2, but Acadia snuffed out any hope of a comeback, scoring twice more and rolling over the Tommies 8-3 in the end.

Mike Cazzola led the scoring with a four point night – a goal and three assists.  Brett Thompson added a goal and two assists, with Liam Heelis, Michael Clarke, Chris Owens, KC Brown, Taylor Makin, and Geoffrey Schemitsch rounding out the scoring.  Evan Mosher only faced 22 shots, but was solid when needed, squelching any hope of a ST. Thomas comeback after they scored two quick goals in the second.Read more »