With 16 of 28 regular season games in the books, the Axemen are tied for second place with Saint Mary’s at 12-3-1, one point behind first-place UNB, whose 12-2-2 record includes two overtime losses to Acadia.
Of Acadia’s four first-half losses, two were to St. F.X. The Axemen also lost twice to Saint Mary’s, one in overtime.
“As a coach, I don’t think you’re ever completely happy. There are a couple of games I’d like to have back if I could, but they’re behind us now,” said Burns. “We’re a point out of first, in the mix with 12 games left.”
The Axemen entered 20014-2015 with a lot of new, young players, he said. While “most things have turned out positively for us, there are certain areas we need to be better at in the second half,” he said. “As coaches, we already know what those things are, which is always a good thing.”
Between the pipes
Entering the season, “some people probably thought our goaltending would be a question mark,” Burns said. with all-star Evan Mosher gone. Last year’s back-up Brandon Glover assumed the starting role in just his second year, with rookie Robert Steeves to back him up.
Burns said that he has been more than happy with the play of both goalies, and is “fully confident” in his goaltending moving forward. “They’ve both played well.” Despite only being a second-year player, Glover “has been a calming presence for us. I’m happy for him. It’s a tough job replacing an all-star.”
Steeves, in a similar position to where Glover was last year, has been steady when called upon.
At the blueline
On defence, the Axemen started the off-season with just one returning veteran in Travis Gibbons. Travis Randell and Tyler Ferry were moved to the blueline full-time, which added stability and a veteran presence.
Acadia also benefitted by Chris Owens’ decision in October to return to school for a fifth and final year of eligibility.
With Owens, a former all-Canadian, in the mix, and Geoff Schemitsch back from a first-half injury, “we enter the second semester with a lot more experience,” Burns said.
Injured bench
Injuries were a factor for the Axemen in the first half, and while he has never been one to use injuries as an excuse, Burns acknowledged Acadia’s depth was tested.
“We were almost always playing without four or five guys,” he said. “Luckily, we have good depth.”
The injury situation also resulted in some shuffling around, especially in terms of the forward lines. Michael Clarke and Dylan Anderson both missed a good part of the first half, and those “two big bodies who are hard to replace.”
Burns was forced to “juggle things around,” including, for a time, breaking up his top line of Mike Cazzola, Brett Thompson and last year’s CIS player of the year Liam Heelis.
“I know it probably raised some eyebrows when we split up our top line, but some of the combinations we had planned on having, we ended up not being able to do,” due to the injuries.
The Axemen ended the first half with Alex Beaton playing with Cazzola and Thompson, while Heelis teamed up with rookies Zach Franko and Remi Giftopolous. Acadia ended the first half 5-0-1 in their final six games.
“It was partly the injuries, and partly feeling our way with all the new players,” Burns said. “Mixing things up like that makes it tougher for the teams we’re playing,” who will have prepared scouting reports on the Axemen based on different combinations.
Looking ahead
“I like where we are (entering the second half). We have good depth in our lineup. Getting Owens back has really helped. Now Schemitsch is back, which gives us good depth,” says Burns.
The Christmas break will give all the players more time to heal.
Burns added that he’s not surprised by the performances of any of the new players.
“The good surprise is that everybody has brought to the table what we thought they would when we recruited them,” he said.
The Axemen have been dressing seven or eight rookies every night – almost half its roster, he said, and are still high in the standings.
The AUHC, he said, “is a real dogfight. We knew it was going to be tough. UNB, SMU and X are all quality teams. Our depth is a big reason we’re where we are.”
Battling for University Cup spot
With the 2015 University Cup being played at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, the AUHC will have three teams in the field – St. F.X. as the host and both conference finalists. Realistically, that leaves Acadia, Saint Mary’s and UNB - arguably three of the top four teams in the country - fighting for two spots.
“It’s crucial for us to get off to a good start after Christmas,” Burns said.
“We have to make sure we’re ready to go Jan. 3, with a focus on winning the low-scoring, one-goal games – the kind of games we’re likely to see in the playoffs, no matter who we’re playing.”
Acadia’s second-half schedule:
Jan. 3 – at Dalhousie
Jan. 9 – Saint Mary’s
Jan. 10 – at St. F.X.
Jan. 16 – St. Thomas
Jan. 17 – UPEI
Jan. 21 – at Saint Mary’s
Jan. 23 – Moncton
Jan. 24 – UNB
Jan. 30 – at UNB
Jan. 31 – at Moncton
Feb. 6 – Dalhousie
Feb. 7 – St. F.X.
With 16 of 28 regular season games in the books, the Axemen are tied for second place with Saint Mary’s at 12-3-1, one point behind first-place UNB, whose 12-2-2 record includes two overtime losses to Acadia.
Of Acadia’s four first-half losses, two were to St. F.X. The Axemen also lost twice to Saint Mary’s, one in overtime.
“As a coach, I don’t think you’re ever completely happy. There are a couple of games I’d like to have back if I could, but they’re behind us now,” said Burns. “We’re a point out of first, in the mix with 12 games left.”
The Axemen entered 20014-2015 with a lot of new, young players, he said. While “most things have turned out positively for us, there are certain areas we need to be better at in the second half,” he said. “As coaches, we already know what those things are, which is always a good thing.”
Between the pipes
Entering the season, “some people probably thought our goaltending would be a question mark,” Burns said. with all-star Evan Mosher gone. Last year’s back-up Brandon Glover assumed the starting role in just his second year, with rookie Robert Steeves to back him up.
Burns said that he has been more than happy with the play of both goalies, and is “fully confident” in his goaltending moving forward. “They’ve both played well.” Despite only being a second-year player, Glover “has been a calming presence for us. I’m happy for him. It’s a tough job replacing an all-star.”
Steeves, in a similar position to where Glover was last year, has been steady when called upon.
At the blueline
On defence, the Axemen started the off-season with just one returning veteran in Travis Gibbons. Travis Randell and Tyler Ferry were moved to the blueline full-time, which added stability and a veteran presence.
Acadia also benefitted by Chris Owens’ decision in October to return to school for a fifth and final year of eligibility.
With Owens, a former all-Canadian, in the mix, and Geoff Schemitsch back from a first-half injury, “we enter the second semester with a lot more experience,” Burns said.
Injured bench
Injuries were a factor for the Axemen in the first half, and while he has never been one to use injuries as an excuse, Burns acknowledged Acadia’s depth was tested.
“We were almost always playing without four or five guys,” he said. “Luckily, we have good depth.”
The injury situation also resulted in some shuffling around, especially in terms of the forward lines. Michael Clarke and Dylan Anderson both missed a good part of the first half, and those “two big bodies who are hard to replace.”
Burns was forced to “juggle things around,” including, for a time, breaking up his top line of Mike Cazzola, Brett Thompson and last year’s CIS player of the year Liam Heelis.
“I know it probably raised some eyebrows when we split up our top line, but some of the combinations we had planned on having, we ended up not being able to do,” due to the injuries.
The Axemen ended the first half with Alex Beaton playing with Cazzola and Thompson, while Heelis teamed up with rookies Zach Franko and Remi Giftopolous. Acadia ended the first half 5-0-1 in their final six games.
“It was partly the injuries, and partly feeling our way with all the new players,” Burns said. “Mixing things up like that makes it tougher for the teams we’re playing,” who will have prepared scouting reports on the Axemen based on different combinations.
Looking ahead
“I like where we are (entering the second half). We have good depth in our lineup. Getting Owens back has really helped. Now Schemitsch is back, which gives us good depth,” says Burns.
The Christmas break will give all the players more time to heal.
Burns added that he’s not surprised by the performances of any of the new players.
“The good surprise is that everybody has brought to the table what we thought they would when we recruited them,” he said.
The Axemen have been dressing seven or eight rookies every night – almost half its roster, he said, and are still high in the standings.
The AUHC, he said, “is a real dogfight. We knew it was going to be tough. UNB, SMU and X are all quality teams. Our depth is a big reason we’re where we are.”
Battling for University Cup spot
With the 2015 University Cup being played at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, the AUHC will have three teams in the field – St. F.X. as the host and both conference finalists. Realistically, that leaves Acadia, Saint Mary’s and UNB - arguably three of the top four teams in the country - fighting for two spots.
“It’s crucial for us to get off to a good start after Christmas,” Burns said.
“We have to make sure we’re ready to go Jan. 3, with a focus on winning the low-scoring, one-goal games – the kind of games we’re likely to see in the playoffs, no matter who we’re playing.”
Acadia’s second-half schedule:
Jan. 3 – at Dalhousie
Jan. 9 – Saint Mary’s
Jan. 10 – at St. F.X.
Jan. 16 – St. Thomas
Jan. 17 – UPEI
Jan. 21 – at Saint Mary’s
Jan. 23 – Moncton
Jan. 24 – UNB
Jan. 30 – at UNB
Jan. 31 – at Moncton
Feb. 6 – Dalhousie
Feb. 7 – St. F.X.
