Axemen effort rewarded with 3-1 win

BY JOHN DECOSTE

jdecoste@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

The Acadia hockey Axemen played just about as good a game as a team can play Friday on home ice and were rewarded with a 3-1 win over the Moncton Aigles Bleus.

The Axemen got unanswered third-period goals from David Lomas (the eventual winner at the 23-second mark) and Chris Bruton (a shorthanded goal at 17:23) to break a 1-1 tie and hand the CIS #2-ranked Aigles Bleus their first loss of the season.

Acadia played smart against the potentially explosive Moncton squad, staying out of the penalty box and winning the special teams battle, scoring once on the power play and once shorthanded. They outshot Moncton 22-3 in the third period and 45-25 overall.

After weathering some serious Moncton pressure (including killing off a penalty) early in the game, the Axemen opened the scoring on a Blair Jarrett power play goal at 14:41 of the opening period, which ended with Acadia ahead 1-0.

The lead lasted just 20 seconds into the second period, when Moncton captain Pierre-Andre Bureau broke loose and beat Mike Chiasson to tie the score.

Acadia outshot Moncton 13-11 in a fairly even second period. Chiasson came up big, making three or four key saves to keep the score tied. Kevin Lachance was equally stellar in the Moncton goal.

A highlight of the middle frame came when Chiasson stopped Ian-Mathieu Girard cold on a penalty shot awarded after Girard was hauled down from behind on a breakaway.

Third period was all Acadia

The third period was all Acadia. Lomas gave the Axemen the lead for good at the 23-second mark, converting a Tyler Whitehead set-up to beat Lachance from close range.

The Axemen continued to apply relentless pressure, pinning the Aigles Bleus in their own end, particularly during a four-minute power play. Acadia didn’t score with the man advantage, but maintained a wide edge territorially and in shots on goal.

Moncton went on the power play with under four minutes to play, but it was Acadia that capitalized with Philippe Bertrand setting up Bruton on a shorthanded goal, his fourth of the season, to round out the scoring.

The Axemen improved their record to five wins, two losses and one overtime loss. As of Saturday morning, Moncton remains in first place with a 7-1 record for 14 points. UPEI is second at 5-2-2 for 12 points, with Acadia third with 11 prior to their game tonight against St. Thomas.

Next week, the Axemen are at Saint Mary’s Wednesday evening before retuning home to host St. F.X. Saturday evening at 7 p.m. Following that game, former Axemen players David Hastings, Greg Hubbert and Norm Batherson and former assistant coach Muck Reading will be inducted into the Acadia Hockey Honour Roll.