Ice Axeman play-off bound after shoot out at SMU

BY JOHN DECOSTE

The Advertiser/NovanewsNow.com

The Acadia hockey Axemen are playoff-bound after a come-from-behind 4-3 shootout win over the second-place Saint Mary’s Huskies at the Halifax Forum Friday.

Veteran Blair Jarrett’s third goal of the game on a power play with 47 seconds left in regulation time tied the score at three and forced a 10-minute overtime.

Then, after neither team scored in the extra time, both Jarrett and Tyler Whitehead scored in the shootout, which Acadia won by two goals to one.

The Axemen picked up a key point in the standings with the tie in regulation time, but it was the extra point for the shootout win that clinched the playoff berth.

The victory improved Acadia’s record to 11-13-3 for 25 points, two more than the UPEI Panthers who could not catch Acadia for the sixth and final playoff spot.

It also capped a tremendous turnaround for a young Axemen team – with 14 first-year players -- that began the season 1-9 in their first 10 games.

After a scoreless first period, Jarrett opened the scoring for the Axemen with his tenth goal of the season at 4:15 of the middle frame.

Acadia then got into some penalty trouble, and SMU took advantage with a pair of power play goals, the first by Cody Thornton and the second by Kyle Doucet, giving them a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Jarrett tied the score at two with a power play goal at 3:28 of the third, but less than three minutes later, Cam Fergus made it 3-2 Huskies with a nice shot from a sharp angle.

It remained 3-2 until the Axemen went on the power play with 1:52 remaining. With goalie Lanny Ramage pulled for a six-on-four advantage, Jarrett completed his hat trick to tie the score at 19:13.

The Huskies had a glorious chance to win in regulation time, but Ramage robbed Justin Munden from point-blank range with just seconds left on the clock.

Acadia had one regular season game remaining Saturday evening against St. F.X. in Wolfville. However, rather than being rendered meaningless by Friday’s win, there was still lots at stake.

Acadia entered the game a point behind St. F.X. and St. Thomas who were tied for fourth place. An Acadia win Saturday, and a St. Thomas loss to UPEI, and the Axemen would finish fourth and gain home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.