Ice Axemen impressive in Wells tourney win

BY JOHN DECOSTE

jdecoste@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

The Acadia hockey Axemen rode a solid team effort, including impressive performances from several of their first-year players, to victory at the Don Wells hockey tournament last weekend in Wolfville.

The Axemen scored 11 goals in their two games – a 5-1 win Saturday over the Queen’s Golden Gaels and a 6-4 triumph Sunday over the St. F.X. X-men – with six of the goals coming from first-year players.

In semi-final action against Queen’s, Acadia spotted their guests an early 1-0 lead on Jeffrey Johnstone’s goal after just 33 seconds of play. It would be the only goal Mike Chaisson and the Axemen would allow for the remainder of the contest.

Offensively, Acadia got on the board at 11:51 of the opening period when rookie Chris Bruton converted a nice-set up from David Lomas on an Axemen power play to tie the score 1-1.

The Axemen scored twice in each of the final two periods. Ryan Graham, another first-year player, celebrated his return from the Minnesota Wild NHL training camp with his first of two goals, the eventual winner on the power play at 1:00 of the second period.

Graham’s linemate (both in junior and now at Acadia) Jonathan Laberge made it 3-1 with an unassisted power play goal at 17:49.

In the third period, Graham’s second goal at 9:56 made it 4-1 then captain Paul McFarland rounded out the scoring with an unassisted goal at 16:38.

The Axemen had a wide edge in shots on goal, 38-16 overall, including a 19-3 advantage in the second period. Acadia went 2-6 on the power play to 0-8 for the Golden Gaels. The Axemen had 16 shots on goal on their six power plays.

Face St. F.X. in championship tilt

With the win, the Axemen moved on to face St. F.X., 4-2 winners over Saint Mary’s in the early semi-final. This time, Acadia shot out to a 4-1 lead after one period, led 6-3 after 40 minutes and held on for a 6-4 victory.

The Axemen struck early with two goals 12 seconds apart, as Tyler Whitehead opened the scoring at 2:16 and Zack McMillan made it 2-0 at 2:28.

After Brett Robertson got the X-men on the board at 4:10, Scott Tregunna, another first-year Axemen, made it 3-1 at 6:50 then Bruton scored his second goal of the tournament at 13:53 to make it 4-1.

Acadia began the second period on the power play and it took just 32 seconds for second-year defenseman Nathan Welton to make it 5-1 Acadia.

St. F.X. got back in the game with a pair of power play goals a little over a minute apart, with Robertson scoring at 4:34 and Sean Flinn making it 5-3 at 5:47.

Acadia settled down after that and there was no further scoring until Blair Jarrett dented the twine at 19:12 of the second frame to give the Axemen a 6-3 lead.

Kevin Undershute of the X-men had the only goal of the third period, an even-strength marker at 8:11, to account for the final margin.

Again, Acadia had the edge in shots on goal, with 46-29 being the final margin. That included a 22-10 advantage in the first period.

St. F.X. had two power play goals to Acadia’s one. Ryan Aschaber made 40 saves for St. F.X. and Kris Westblom had 25 for the Axemen.

In consolation action, Cam Fergus had two goals to lead SMU to a 7-0 win over Queen’s.

The victories allowed Acadia to maintain possession of the Herbin Cup, awarded to the winner of the tournament. Former coach and athletic director Don Wells, for whom the event is named, was on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck to open the tournament.