The Athenaeum

Category: Sports & Wellness

  • Axemen earn AUS quarterfinal bye with OTSO loss to Moncton

    Axemen earn AUS quarterfinal bye with OTSO loss to Moncton

    WOLFVILLE N.S – The Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus left the Andrew H. McCain Arena with a win 4-3 overtime-shootout win over the home Acadia Axemen. The overtime loss earns the Axemen one point in the standings – clinching the second place in the AUS standings and a quarterfinal bye.

    Acadia’s Garrett McFadden was first to find the back of the net 4:21 into the game when his pass aimed for a teammate at the side of the goal hit a UdeM player’s skate and found its way past the foot of goaltender Etienne Montpetit. The powerplay goal was assisted by TJ Fergus and Owen MacDonald.

    The powerplay remained hot for the Axemen as Stephen Harper doubled the lead about two minutes later on a 5-on-3 break. After receiving a McFadden pass just below the goal line, he patiently found his way to a shooting angle and fired it to the far side past the blocker of Montpetit. Cristiano Digiacinto also assisted the goal.

    Les Aigles Bleus brought the game back within one with 4:55 remaining in the opening period. Maxime St-Cyr’s one-time slapshot hit an Acadia penalty killer before finding its way past Logan Flodell. The 5-on-3 powerplay goal was assisted by Vincent Lanoue and Samuel Guilbault.

    Moncton was not done there. The same three players combined to tie the game within 30 seconds of the last goal. This time it was Samuel Guilbault who found the net, tapping in a pass through the five-hole of Flodell for yet another powerplay goal.

    Numerous penalties for both sides saw the teams tied 2-2 after the first 20 minutes of play, with all goals scored on the man-advantage.

    The second period scoring was opened with 10:20 remaining in the period. Danick Crete scored on a point shot to give Moncton their first lead of the game. Yet another powerplay goal; this time assisted by Francis Thibeault and Justin Guenette.

    The balance of the frame remained deadlocked, with both Flodell and Montpetit holding strong between the pipes. The second period ended with a 3-2 Moncton lead and a 27-25 shots on goal advantage for the Axemen.

    With just under two minutes left in the game, the Axemen struck to draw the game even. Jordy Stallard grabbed his tenth of the season after Garrett McFadden weaved his way through a group of Moncton players into the offensive end before feeding Stallard, who was driving the net for a tap-in to cap off a brilliant rush. Maurizio Colella had the other assist.

    The teams headed to overtime tied at 3.

    The extra period was not enough to bring the game to a conclusion, as both Montpetit and Flodell stood their ground. Off to a shootout.  

    Joey Richard shot first for the Aigles Bleus but was unable to solve Flodell, while Stephen Harper went first for the Axemen, and similar to Richard, couldn’t find the back of the net.

    Maxime St-Cyr looked to give Moncton the lead next but was unable to score and Garrett McFadden had the second chance for the Axemen but was unsuccessful in his attempt.

    Vincent Deslauriers scored for Moncton with a quick wrister to the high blocker, leaving it all up to Jordy Stallard to keep the Axemen in the game. Stallard’s attempt could not save the Axemen, as Montpetit closed out the game in favour of the Aigles Bleus.

    “Logan has strung together a pretty good month… it’s too bad we haven’t supported him more and gotten some more wins for him, but the way he is feeling and kicking them out right now, we’re obviously confident in him and it definitely helps going in to every game that you have him back there,” commented Garrett McFadden about Logan Flodell’s game and season.

    The Axemen return to the ice for the last weekend of the AUS regular season on Friday for their final home game against the Dalhousie Tigers and then close the season on the road at StFX on Saturday

    The Aigles Bleus trail third place Saint Mary’s by two points. A win on Wednesday night at UPEI could tie them with the Huskies. The Huskies are at StFX on Friday.

    Provided by Griffin Herrington, Acadia Athletics Communications

  • Volleyball Axewomen sweep three-game weekend series vs Memorial

    Volleyball Axewomen sweep three-game weekend series vs Memorial

    WOLFVILLE, N.S. – ‘Three straight sets’ was the storyline this weekend as the Axewomen volleyball team completed a three-match sweep this weekend against the visiting Memorial Sea-Hawks.

    Today’s 3-0 win was the third time Acadia swept a match against the Sea-Hawks this weekend.

    Outside Hitter Bianca Ruiz was named the Subway Player of the Game after posting eight kills, 11 digs, one service ace, and a solo block.

    “We are all pretty happy (with the three wins). We worked pretty hard this weekend and we were set on our goals and we accomplished them all. We are pretty proud of ourselves,” noted Ruiz following the win.

    The Sea-Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead – their first of the weekend but the Axewomen quickly grabbed a 6-3 lead off the service work by Sydney Zakutney who landed two aces.

    Down 19-12, the Sea-Hawks pulled together a rally that squeezed the lead down to 22-19. Acadia held on the slim advantage for the eventual 25-23 win.

    Once again, close in the opening of the second set, a kill by Acadia’s Jamie Crocket gave the Axewomen a somewhat insurmountable lead that would hold until the final point in a 25-13 win.

    With a 5-3 lead early in the third game, the Sea-Hawks pushed the lead to 10-8 until a service ace by Jamie Crocket and a Memorial attack error tied the game at 10.

    Memorial would not give in and continued to fight for the lead. Two kills by Crocket would give Acadia a 20-16 lead into the home stretch. A kill by Lucy Glen-Carter gave the Axewomen a 25-21 set win and a 3-0 match victory.

    Glen-Carter and Collombin combined for 18 kills – nine each, while Ruiz added eight. First-year setter Sydney Zakutney posted 29 of 33 assists.

    Emily Batt was named the Sea-Hawks player of the game. Batt recorded five kills and two service aces. Kaitlyn Kuchinka posted a team-high 6 kills. Katie Wagar was the top defender with 19 digs.

    The Axewomen improve to 10-6 and trail the second-place Saint Mary’s Huskies by two points in the standings. Though, the Huskies have a game in hand.

    This year’s AUS playoff format has changed and the first and second place teams in the final standings host a three-match semi-final series against the fourth and third place teams respectively.

    The Axewomen return to the court this coming weekend against fifth-place Moncton on Friday and undefeated and first place Dalhousie on Sunday. Dalhousie, Saint Mary’s, Acadia and UNB have clinched a playoff berth. The remaining two weeks will determine who will host the two semi-final series.

    The Sea-Hawks remain winless and host UNB for three matches next weekend.

    Eric Cederberg is the Director of Communications for Acadia Athletics. 

     

  • Rookie Oiler Defenceman Excelling On and Off the Ice

    Rookie Oiler Defenceman Excelling On and Off the Ice

    Ethan Bear is a rookie defenceman for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers who is having immense impact both on and off the ice. The 22-year old was born and raised on the Ochapowace Cree Nation in Whitewood, Saskatchewan and has looked impressive in his first season as a regular on the Oiler’s blue line. The defenceman has tallied 16 points this season, and many believe his production warrants rookie of the year consideration. Bear spent the past two seasons in the AHL playing for the Bakersfield Condors where he exhibited solid defensive skills with potential offensive upside. In an interview conducted by the Edmonton Sun earlier this week, Bear commented that much of his success this season is attributed to all the hard work he did in the off-season to get ready for training camp. Bear believed it was just a matter of him “growing up and doing the things [he] needed” in order to be a regular NHLer. 

    Bear was a stand-out defenceman in the WHL for the Seattle Thunderbirds collecting 70 points with 28 goals in his final WHL season – helping the Thunderbirds hoist the league title and a berth in the Memorial Cup. Moreover, that same year Bear received honours for being the top defenceman in the WHL as he illustrated his talents on a nightly basis. Despite his achievements, Bear was only drafted in the 5th round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft (124th Overall), and the Oilers hoped he would develop his game into something the organization could rely on in the future. Thankfully, for the Oilers, Bear hasn’t disappointed as he has turned into a top four defenceman for the team, playing in a lot of crucial moments when games are on the line. 

    According to Bear, the minors were pivotal because it made him aware that he needed to get in better shape if he was going to make the jump to the next level. The Oilers were impressed with his performance during his two years in the AHL but wanted to make sure he was ready when the time came as they knew he was going to be relied on right away. The Oilers had to rely on Bear even more than expected after Adam Larsson suffered a leg-injury upon blocking a shot in the first game of the season. Yet, even with Larsson coming back into the line-up, the Oilers have remained reliant on Bear as he has averaged the fifth most ice-time on the team – behind Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor McDavid. Bear will need to be a crucial piece for the Oilers if the team wants to secure a spot in the playoffs for only the second time since 2006. 

    Bear hasn’t only found success on the ice, but off the ice as well by being a role model for young Indigenous youth in Canada. The rookie defenceman understands the honour and privilege of playing in the NHL, and he appreciates his reality by giving back to the people who have helped him get to where he is today. Bear is proud of who he is, the family he has, and the rich history his people share as Indigenous people. There are many people supporting Bear back home, and he wants to do his part to give back to his community. That’s why Bear started his own hockey school on the reserve he grew up on, to give back to the youth in his community because he wouldn’t be the individual he is today without them. 

    Bear is proud to be Indigenous, and he’s representing his people well both on and off the ice. 

    Sebastian Farkas is a Fourth Year Honours Politics Student and Sports and Wellness Editor of the Athenaeum. 

  • Mahomes II Looking to Etch His Name on the Lombardi Trophy

    Mahomes II Looking to Etch His Name on the Lombardi Trophy

    The 54th Super Bowl will feature the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers, and if the Chiefs are to win the Lombardi Trophy quarterback Patrick Mahomes will need to be firing on all cylinders. Mahomes was born in Tyler, Texas and is the son of former MLB player Patrick Mahomes Senior – the quarterback shares the same name as his father. Mahomes was born with the athletic gene, and if you have caught any of his games during his time as a starter for the Chiefs, Mahomes is definitely not short on athletic ability. The star pivot has an uncanny ability to contort his body in a variety of ways to deliver the football – both while looking and not looking as he is well-known for his “no-look” side-arm passes to open receivers. 

    Mahomes grew up watching his father and spending much time in MLB locker rooms, throwing baseballs to Hall of Famers like Derek Jeter. In high school the young quarterback played three sports: football, baseball, and basketball. He excelled in each, but he was outstanding in both baseball and football. In his senior year, he played well enough in both that Mahomes was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and also received a scholarship to play quarterback for Texas Tech. Mahomes decided to play football and while his father was surprised by the decision, he knew his son had what it took to excel in whatever he chose. 

    In Mahomes first year as a Red Raider, the star sat on the bench before taking over the starting role in his second year. Under the tutelage of then head coach Kliff Kingsbury, Mahomes found great success as he set NCAA single-game records and was awarded the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the Nation’s top passer. Mahomes decided to forego his last year of college eligibility and enter the NFL draft in 2017. It turned out to be a wise decision for the young athlete as he was selected 10th overall by the Chiefs and signed a four-year contract worth $16.42 million. 

    In his first NFL season Mahomes backed up the Chiefs then starter, Alex Smith, who was traded the following off-season as Mahomes took over the starting role. Mahomes has not looked back since as he has shown that he has what it takes to be a long-time franchise quarterback in the NFL. Head Coach Andy Reid has been a steadying voice for the young star and has provided the structure and system necessary for the quarterback to thrive. It also helps when you have one of the best (if not the best) tight end in the league, Travis Kelce, along with the fastest player in the league, receiver Tyreek Hill. This past season, Mahomes had a 66% completion percentage, threw for over 4000 yards, and passed for 26 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions – all while compiling an 11-3 record as he missed part of the season due to injury. The Chiefs are in good hands with Mahomes at the helm, and if the team is to win their first Super Bowl since 1969, they will need to rely on him to make game winning plays in big moments. 

    If Mahomes is to lead the Chiefs to victory, he will be the third black quarterback to win the Lombardi Trophy – joining Doug Williams and Russell Wilson. History will be made during the 54th edition of the Super Bowl, and Mahomes will hope to be on the right side of history come Sunday night. 

    Sebastian Farkas is a Fourth Year Honours Politics Student and Sports and Wellness Editor of the Athenaeum.

  • Huskies double Axemen in Halifax

    Huskies double Axemen in Halifax

    HALIFAX, NS – In AUS men’s hockey action, the Saint Mary’s Huskies hosted the Acadia Axemen at the Dauphinee Centre and two power play goals helped propel the Huskies to a 4-2 win. 

    The Axemen were looking to get in control early, using regroups in the neutral zone to great effect. The Huskies, meanwhile, had a couple sloppy defensive plays that led to scoring chances for the Axemen. First was a dangerous pass through the middle on their breakout that was picked off by an Axemen forechecker; shortly after, a giveaway in front of the net gave Ryan Foss (Oakville, ON) an opportunity to open the scoring. Huskies goalie Eric Brassard (St. Hubert, QC) had to be sharp early to keep the game scoreless. 

    Once the Huskies started getting their feet moving, the game evened out. With a couple back-to-back power plays, they generated chances with shots from the point and opened the scoring halfway through the period.  

    On the man advantage, Stephen Johnson (Moncton, NB) came into the zone down the right wing. The rebound from his sharp angle shot popped straight out in the slot to Keith Getson (Bridgewater, NS), who put home the rebound. Anthony Repaci (Toronto, ON) also assisted. 

    The Axemen responded with just under four minutes left in the first frame. In a pretty passing play down low, the puck danced between Jordy Stallard (Brandon, MB) and Mason McCarty (Blackie, AB) before getting dished to Cristiano Digiacinto (Hamilton, ON), who had an open net for the Axemen’s first goal. 

    After an Acadia power play, the first period ended with the teams tied 1-1, each with 10 shots. 

    Saint Mary’s had two power plays early in the second period, putting Acadia on the defensive. After killing them off, however, the Axemen took the lead with a breakaway goal. Slipping behind the Huskies’ defenders in the neutral zone, Owen MacDonald (Elora, ON) received a stretch pass from Ryan Foss (Oakville, ON). After a nice deke to his backhand, MacDonald flipped the puck over a sprawled Brassard to take the lead with eight minutes to go. 

    Just a couple plays later, the Huskies evened the score. Gaining the zone with speed, they cycled the puck in the corner for a minute before Johnson dished it to Balmas at the back door, who tipped it into the net. Repaci got another assist with the play. 

    Tied 2-2, the Huskies were on the power play with less than a minute to go in the second period. At the far side of the net, Repaci got passed the puck in tight, and it looked to be a sure goal, but goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) made what was surely the save of the game. 

    Five minutes into the third period, the Huskies got on the power play again and capitalized. On the half wall, Logan Denoble (Peterborough, ON) sent the puck on net. Dawson Theede (Brooklin, ON) was on the doorstep and after a couple of attempts, put it in the net. Bronson Beaton (Springhill, NS) had the other assist on the Huskies’ third goal. 

    The Axemen, given two power play opportunities late in the period, were throwing pucks on net trying to find the equalizer, but some shot blocking by the Huskies helped to kill off the penalties. 

    Acadia pulled their goalie with about a minute left in the game. Repaci potted an empty net goal with 24 seconds to go, making it 4-2 for the Huskies. That would be the final score. With the win, the Huskies move into third place over the Moncton Aigles Bleus. 

    The Subway Player of the Game, with one goal and two assists, was the Huskies’ Repaci. Honourable mentions went to Johnson and Flodell, who faced 40 shots in the game. 

    Source, Sarah Moore for SMU 

    Photo Nick Pearce 

  • Axewomen comeback in opening set and deliver 3-0 match win over SMU

    Axewomen comeback in opening set and deliver 3-0 match win over SMU

    WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Axewomen volleyball team captured their second win in a row in the new year with a 3-0 sweep of the visiting Saint Mary’s Huskies in front of a boisterous crowd at Stu Aberdeen Court.

    Acadia’s Lucy Glen-Carter was named the AUS Subway Player of the Game for another outstanding game high 15 kills, 15 digs and four solo blocks.

    “It feels great. The energy was great out there tonight. It’s the first time beating SMU this season,” said Glen-Carter after the match.

    Glen-Carter noted the crowd’s impact to their play tonight. “Our football boys really bring it home. Our friends are amazing. We do it for them.”

    The Axewomen trailed the Huskies 12-5 in the early going of the opening set. A kill by Taylor Collombin triggered Acadia’s comeback at 13-20. The Axewomen went on a 10-3 run that tied the match at 23. An attack error by the Huskies coupled with a Glen-Carter kill gave the Axewomen a 25-23 first set win.

    Out to a 16-8 lead in the second set, the Axewomen maintained a significant lead for the duration of the second game, wrapping up with a 25-17 win and 2-0 match advantage.

    Acadia continued their high-pressure offense and stellar defense into the eventual final game. The Huskies had an early lead that built up to 12-9, but the Axewomen tied the set at 12 and pushed ahead to a 15-12 lead before Saint Mary’s tied the match at 16 on an Acadia service error and then took a one point lead at 17-16 on a kill by Anna Watt.

    Glen-Carter’s kill that tied the third game at 17-17 marked the last time in the match that the Axewomen would trail the Huskies. First year setter Sydney Zakutney and veteran outside hitter Hannah Helm added two kills to give Acadia a 19-17 lead that they would not relinquish.

    Pushing out to a 22-18 lead, Acadia would hold on to win the third and final set 25-21. The Axewomen recorded a hitting efficiency of 0.206 for the third game.

    Zakutney would finish the match with 32 sets, five digs and two service aces. Hannah Helm added seven kills to a team total of 35.

    Huskie Anna Watt was named the Player of the Game for Saint Mary’s. Watt posted eight kills and two service aces for the Huskies.

    The Axewomen improve to 11-4 and head to UNB tomorrow and Saturday, while the Huskies drop to 13-7 and host Memorial for two matches next weekend.

    Eric Cederberg is the Director of Communications for Acadia Athletics 

  • U SPORTS No. 1 UNB slip by No.6 Axemen with 2-1 OT/SO win

    U SPORTS No. 1 UNB slip by No.6 Axemen with 2-1 OT/SO win

    FREDERICTON, NB – The U SPORTS No. 1 UNB Reds scored a 2-1 shootout win over the No. 6 Acadia Axemen, in an exciting game at UNB’s Aitken Centre, on Friday night. 

    Kris Bennett (Brampton, ON) scored the Reds’ shootout winner, and was named the Subway Player of the Game. 

    “I thought, if I had a little pump fake, it might fake him out and it did,” said Bennett. “Fortunately, I’m lucky and I really think we deserved that win, one way or another.” 

    “Credit to the guys, especially Sam Harvey in net. It was a huge win,” he said. 

    The visitors struck first when Acadia’s Jordy Stallard (Brandon, MB) jammed home a loose puck at the side of the Reds net at 4:14 of the first period. 

    The Reds drew even mid-way through the opening frame. 

    With UNB short-handed, Samuel Dove-McFalls (Montreal, QC) tipped a Joe Gatenby (Kelowna, BC) shot past Acadia goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK). 

    The second period saw the Reds flex plenty of offensive muscle, but the Axemen held the line defensively. 

    UNB outshot Acadia 13-8 in the frame, but the Axemen kept the Reds off the scoresheet. 

    While the Acadia defence was tested, it was a Reds defender who stole the spotlight. 

    Connor Hall (Cambridge, ON) caught Stallard, on a breakaway, with about 3:30 left in the period, preventing the Axemen forward from getting a shot off and thus preserving the tie. 

    The teams skated through another scoreless period in the final 20 minutes, prompting overtime. 

    With 1:14 left in overtime, the Reds were called for too many skaters on the ice. 

    Acadia had a couple of chances on the power-play, the best coming when Stephen Harper (Burlington, ON) fed a cross-slot pass to Cristiano Digiacinto (Hamilton, ON). Reds netminder Samuel Harvey (Alma, QC) somehow managed to get across the crease to block Digiacinto’s one-timer. 

    “The other guy was ready to shoot, so I kind of knew he was going to pass, and I was able to slide over and make the save,” said Harvey. “We made other good plays during the game. That was just part of it.” 

    In the shootout, Bennett’s game-winning goal came in the fourth round. 

    “That’s fun hockey, that’s what you play for,” said Harper. “You play for those 2-1 games. When you’re out there, you’re just having fun. Both teams are going hard. I’m happy we got the point.” 

    “A shootout is a toss-up,” added Harper. “You hope for the best, but it was a good fought game on both sides, both teams worked hard and I’m happy we got the point.” 

    The Axemen are now 17-5-1. 

    They head to Moncton for a Saturday evening game against les Aigles Bleus. 

    With the win, the Reds are now 19-4, and three points up on Acadia atop the Atlantic University Sport standings. 

    UNB welcomes the Saint Mary’s Huskies to the Aitken Centre on Saturday afternoon. Game time is 4:00pm. 

    RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics 

    PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics 

  • Axemen Close-out 2019 with OT Win Over Moncton

    Axemen Close-out 2019 with OT Win Over Moncton

    WOLFVILLE N.S. – The Acadia Axemen closed out the 2019 half of their season on a high note with a nail-biting overtime win over the visiting Moncton Aigles Bleus.

    Acadia took advantage of a powerplay opportunity to get their first goal of the night. After some patient play from Owen MacDonald, he feathered a perfect pass across the ice to Jordy Stallard who ripped a wrist shot over the blocker of the Moncton goaltender. The goal came at 6:49 of the first and was also assisted by TJ Fergus.

    The rest of the period remained quiet with solid goaltending from both Moncton’s Etienne Montpetit and Acadia’s Logan Flodell.

    It was 1-0 Axemen after the first period.

    Les Aigles Bleus were next to strike, tying up the game just before the halfway mark of the second period. After dangling through a pair of Acadia players creating a 3 on 1, Danick Crete eventually finished off the rush by slamming home a rebound at the side of the Acadia goal. Robbie Graham and Alexis Roy assisted.

    The Axemen regained their lead at the 14:03 mark of the period on the powerplay. Right off of an offensive zone faceoff, the puck took a weird bounce off of a Moncton players’ helmet before glancing off the goalie for a rebound potted home by Cristiano DiGiacinto on the edge of the crease. Mason McCarty grabbed the assist. The period closed with the Axemen on top 2-1.

    Maurizio Colella would give the Axemen a two-goal cushion on the powerplay 5:59 into the third period. A long battle along the boards eventually came loose to Mason McCarty who fed Colella in the slot for a one-timer that beat Montpetit to the blocker side. Cristiano DiGiacinto had the second assist.

    Though time was running low, Moncton would not go quietly.

    Maxime St-Cyr brought Les Aigles Bleus within a goal with 1:51 left in the final period. His wrist shot from the point sailed through a sea of bodies and beat Logan Flodell to his blocker side. Alexandre Bernier and Vincent Deslauriers had the helpers. They were not done there. 

    Robbie Graham would tie the game at three with just 39 seconds remaining, after a mad scramble in front of the Acadia goal ended with Graham burying the loose puck over the down and out Axemen goalie. Maxime St-Cyr and Francis Thibeault assisted. 

    Next stop: Overtime.

    The extra period concluded with just a minute and half remaining. After TJ Fergus did well to keep the puck in the Moncton end, he found his way towards goal before feeding Owen MacDonald whose quick move in tight to the forehand put the game away for the Axemen.

    Axemen assistant coach Kris MacDonald, who manages the powerplay team, was happy to have scored on three of four powerplay opportunities.

    “We had some lucky bounces and the boys executed well and got the job done and it was nice to see. We have had a lot of guys out of the lineup and a lot have stepped up. Our group is tight and a have a ton of character and great work ethic,” said MacDonald

    Axemen goaltender Logan Flodell made 33 saves, while Etienne Montpetit made 29 stops for Moncton. While Moncton was unsuccessful in their 3 powerplay opportunities, Acadia capitalized on 3 of their 4 extra-man chances.

    Both the Axemen and Les Aigles Bleus head into the break following that Saturday’s game, as they will return to action on January 3rd. Acadia will take on Saint Mary’s to ring in the new year, and Moncton will be facing off with StFX.

    Provided by Griffin Herrington, Acadia Athletics Communications

  • No. 7 Axemen remain in first place with a win over No. 1 ranked UNB

    No. 7 Axemen remain in first place with a win over No. 1 ranked UNB

    WOLFVILLE N.S. – After a quick back and forth game of hockey, the Acadia Axemen won their third straight game with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the U SPORTS No. 1 ranked UNB Reds.

    Acadia was the first team to strike, taking advantage of a powerplay opportunity. Alexander Lepkowski buried his second of the season after finding a loose rebound from a Johnny Corneil shot, and flipping the puck over the downed goalie and into the net.

    The goal celebrations were short-lived as the Reds answered right back just under a minute later with a goal of their own. After Alexandre Goulet ripped a shot off the post, Olivier LeBlanc was in the right place to gather the rebound and stuff the puck in the open Acadia goal. Stephen Anderson also assisted. The game was tied 1-1 after the first.

    It took only 24 seconds into the second period for the Axemen to reinstate their lead. A speedy two-on-one rush was ended by Eric Henderson driving the net hard and having Maurizio Colella‘s pass bounce off of him and past UNB goalie Rylan Parenteau.

    Jack Flaman was next on the scoresheet for the Axemen, scoring 6:27 into the frame. He was sprung on a breakaway following a blocked shot and squeezed a quick wrister through the netminder. The Reds responded with a goal of their own under a minute later. Matthew Boucher received a perfect backdoor pass from Alexandre Goulet for an easy tap-in to bring UNB within a goal. The period ended with the Axemen leading 3-2.

    Though there were numerous chances at both ends of the rink, neither UNB nor Acadia could muster up a goal in the final frame.

    The game concluded with the Axemen on top by a score of 3-2. Acadia goalie Logan Flodell was solid between the pipes making 40 saves, while UNB netminder Rylan Parenteau made 24 stops.

    “We worked all week in practice to stay tight in our zone and letting them pass around. They are a fast team and they usually try to get everyone running. I thought we did a good job staying in the middle,” noted by Flodell following the game.

    Both teams had three extra-man opportunities, though only the Axemen were able to capitalize with one goal on the powerplay.

    Acadia plays host to the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus Saturday night in their final regular season game before the Holiday break. The Axemen will be aiming to add a fourth straight win.

    The UNB Reds will be paying a visit to the Saint Mary’s Huskies in their next game on Saturday night with hopes to close out the 2019 half of the season with 2 points.

    Provided by Griffin Herrington, Acadia Athletics Communications

  • How to Handle Completing Final Assignments

    How to Handle Completing Final Assignments

    With final exams approaching, many courses have final assignments and essays requiring completion. The end of semester can be stressful because of this as these projects are normally heavily weighted. In saying that, there are several things you can be doing to ensure you complete these assignments on time, and more importantly, completing them to the best of your ability. 

    1) Make a schedule 

    One of the biggest reasons we feel overwhelmed this time of year is because we don’t have plan to finish these assignments. It’s important to take some time to make a schedule and plan how you will manage your time to finish these assignments. Having a plan is half the battle because it allows you to see a “path” for how you will complete these assignments. If nothing else, making a schedule keeps the deadlines in the forefront of your mind so you can work towards finishing your assignments before they’re due. 

    2) Leave time to review 

    While making your schedule, it’s crucial you incorporate time dedicated to review. Having time to review is vital for achieving optimal performance on assignments as it eliminates “silly” mistakes. These are the kind of mistakes you make when you are rushed and subsequently fail to understand the nature of the assignment. Such mistakes are easily avoided if proper review is conducted, and it will ensure marks are not lost for carelessness. 

    3) Ask questions 

    If you don’t understand what the assignment is asking of you, or you are unsure about the expectations, talk to your professor. Professors are there to help you and you should be using them as a tool to achieve success. There is no such thing as a “stupid” question, especially if it enables you to feel more confident about the assigned task. Clarification is always useful when completing assignments as it keeps you focused on the purpose of the task. If you are unsure or have any questions, go talk to your professor as it will save you not only marks, but it will alleviate unwarranted stress. 

    4) Ask for a second opinion 

    This is another important element of review. If you have the time, it’s always a good idea to have someone else review your work. It’s especially helpful for clarity reasons as the reviewer may pick up on something you never thought about or didn’t realize yourself before it was brought to your attention. Such information may prove to be vital in producing the best work possible. A second set of eyes is also beneficial for editing purposes to ensure your writing is clear and to the point. 

    5) Reward yourself 

    This time of year can be taxing both physically and mentally. It’s important to keep this in mind as you can only perform to your capabilities if you remain healthy. That means when you put in a long day’s work, it’s important to relax and reward yourself for your hard work. Whether that’s going for a walk with friends, watching a sports game, or simply listening to music, taking some time to relax to get your mind off things is beneficial.

    These are just a few things you can do to ensure you are working towards completing your final assignments to the best of your abilities. 

    Sebastian Farkas is a Fourth Year Honours Politics Student and Sports and Wellness Editor of the Athenaeum.

  • What’s Wrong With the Toronto Maple Leafs

    The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled mightily this year. The team has looked all out of sorts this season as they have struggled to find cohesion as a group. The struggles for the Leafs culminated in the firing of head coach Mike Babcock on Wednesday last week. The Leafs had just suffered their sixth straight loss in a 4-2 defeat to Las Vegas, and it seemed as though Babcock’s coaching tenure might be coming to an end in Toronto. Frankly, Babcock’s firing seemed inevitable after the embarrassing defeat the team suffered on Hockey Night in Canada, as the Leafs lost 6-1 to the Penguins. The game featured the team’s new backup tender, Kasimir Kaskisuo, and the Leaf’s really hung Kaskisuo out to dry as they never looked into the game from the start.

    Babcock took over the Maple Leaf’s head coaching position in 2015 and helped the organization immensely into making them a consistent playoff team. While Babcock was very successful during the regular season in his 4 years behind the bench, the playoffs were a different story. The Leafs never made it out of the first round of the playoffs with Babcock. Three straight first-round defeats are tough to swallow, especially as the Leafs lost the last two against the same team (Boston Bruins) in game 7 (in both instances). Babcock has been criticized for his stubbornness and inability to effectively make necessary in-game adjustments. That being said, the fact is that the players weren’t responding to Babcock’s coaching and overall message, and that meant it was time for a change.

    Babcock cannot be solely blamed for the Leaf’s struggles as many players have underperformed this season. The most obvious underperformer has been Leaf’s defenseman Tyson Barrie. Barrie came to the Leafs from Colorado in a trade that sent former leaf Nazem Kadri to the Avalanche. Barrie hadn’t scored a goal this season (20 games in) until he potted his first against the Coyotes late last week. Although, Barrie has scored in three straight games since Babcock’s departure and is looking better defensively. In addition, John Tavares has not played well in the early going. Tavares was injured early in the year and has not looked sharp since returning. The Leafs have invested a lot of money into their top players, and they need them to step up if they hope to salvage this season. Finally, the Leaf’s backup goalie situation has been a debacle to say the least. Michael Hutchison was the Leaf’s back up to start the season, but that didn’t last long. Hutchison failed to register a win in the 5 starts he had and didn’t look particularly comfortable in those games. As mentioned, Kasimir Kaskisuo is the club’s new backup and while he has had great success in the minors, it is yet to be seen if that success will translate to the NHL.

    With the departure of Babcock, the Leafs hired Sheldon Keefe who was the club’s AHL affiliate (Toronto Marlies) head coach since the summer of 2015. Keefe had great success with the Marlies as he coached them to a Calder Cup victory in the 2017-2018 AHL season. Keefe has a long history with Leaf’s GM Kyle Dubas as they have worked together since their OHL days when Keefe was the head coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and Dubas was the GM. Keefe will have a lot to prove as he enters his inaugural season as Leaf’s head coach. With the team struggling, we will see if Keefe can be that spark that gets the team heading in the right direction. After snapping their 6-game losing streak in Arizona in Keefe’s first NHL game, and following up that performance with two big wins in Colorado and Detroit, the Leafs seem to be energized with a new coach behind the bench.

    Time will tell if the Leafs can keep up the momentum, and they will need to if they wish to find themselves in the playoffs come April.

    Sebastian Farkas is a fourth year Honours Politics Student and Sports and Wellness Editor of the Athenaeum.

     

  • Axewomen lose first game of regular season to Memorial

    Axewomen lose first game of regular season to Memorial

    JOHN’S, NL – The Memorial Sea-Hawks split the series against the Acadia Axewomen after their win Sunday, 87-79. 

    The Axewomen were leading at the end of the first half. It was an exceptionally competitive half of basketball. No one player truly dominated in the first twenty minutes of action. Both teams were struggling to score, due to both teams locking down on defense. Acadia shot 36% from the field, whereas MUN shot 29%. Acadia held a four point lead at half, 37-33. 

    Haley McDonald and Rachel Clouatre-Trudeau both had 10 points for Acadia at halftime. Alana Short had 10 points for the Hawks at the half. It was fairly balanced scoring for both teams. 

    The second half was an incredible display of competition, hustle, and grit. The Axewomen opened up the half on a 12-2 run. MUN weathered the storm and made a solid comeback, bringing the score back to a one-point difference at the end of the third. Tempers flared in the third, with both coaches earning technical fouls. It was a tense competition from the tip-off to the final whistle. 

    The fourth quarter was an impressive display of teamwork and execution for the Hawks, going on a solid 7-0 run, taking the lead. The Hawks managed to maintain control of the game in the final frame with multiple role players stepping up in the clutch. 

    Innes Salat Margarit, Hannah Green, and Sammi Deakin-Sharpe all contributed massively off the bench. Sammi Deakin-Sharpe earned herself player-of-the-game commendations off 17 points. Alana Short was the top scorer for MUN today, posting 25 points. 

    For the Axewomen, Haley McDonald, Rachel Clouatre-Trudeau, and Sarsha Cadle were the bright spots. Cadle posted another solid double-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds. McDonald was Acadia’ top scorer with 25. Cloautre-Trudeau had a respectable 19 points, and 6 assists. 

    MUN stands 4-2 in the season. They take on St. FX on the road for their next matchup. 

    Eric Cederberg is the Director of Communications for Acadia Athletics.

  • Axewomen Sweep Weekend Matchup with UNB

    Axewomen Sweep Weekend Matchup with UNB

    WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Axewomen volleyball team swept a weekend matchup against the visiting UNB Reds with a 3-0 match win in the second of two games last weekend against UNB.

    Peyton DeWolfe led the Axewomen with 10 kills, while teammate Taylor Collombin had nine.

    The opening set was an exchange of points and not until a UNB service error was there a separation between both teams at 9-9.

    The Axewomen went on a five-point tear to take a 14-10 lead that eventually formed a 19-11 Axewomen advantage.

    A DeWolfe kill and a UNB attack error gave the Axewomen a 25-18 opening set win.

    Acadia separated themselves from the Reds quickly in the second set with a 10-7 lead but UNB worked back to a 13-13.

    Rookie Sydney Zakutney put together two service aces to give Acadia a 21-15 lead, but again the Reds fought back to trail 24-23. A Hannah Helm kill closed out the set 25-23.

    The third and eventual final set was no different from the previous two. A tight back and forth battle was decided on the last points. The Axewomen possessed the largest lead of 17-14 but UNB worked back to close the gap to 23-21.

    Ahead 23-22, a kill by Lucy Glen-Carter followed by a second kill by Taylor Collombin ended the set 25-22 and a 3-0 Acadia match win. Hannah Helm was named the Subway Player of the Match with five timely kills and a great defensive effort. UNB’s Paige Lehto was named the Reds’ Player of the Match. UNB will head home and prepare to host the AUS teams in a mid-season tournament this weekend.

    Eric Cederberg is the Director of Communications for Acadia Athletics

  • Axemen advance to Uteck Bowl with 31-1 win over Bishop’s in AUS championship game

    Axemen advance to Uteck Bowl with 31-1 win over Bishop’s in AUS championship game

    WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The U SPORTS No. 4 ranked Acadia Axemen will be hosting the U SPORTS Uteck Bowl after handing the visiting Bishop’s Gaiters a 31-1 loss in the AUS Championship Loney Bowl.

    Undefeated in the regular season, the Acadia Axemen extended their winning streak to 9-0 with a championship win over the Gaiters.

    Despite a Maritime snowstorm the night before, Acadia’s Raymond Field was in great shape for an early November football game with weather conditions ideal for football.

    The Axemen broke the Gaiter goose egg early converting a fumble recovery on the Gaiters’ 40- yard line into a 33-yard Ben George field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.

    The Gaiters struggled with field position throughout the opening quarter and conceded two points with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter to trail the Axemen 5-0.

    With a 5-0 lead heading into the second quarter, Acadia’s Dale Wright scored the first of three touchdowns on a four-yard scamper to the end zone to cap a 5 play 91-yard drive that was highlighted by a 27-yard run by Wright, followed by a 50-yard reception by Matt Gledhill.

    Ben George chipped in another field goal from 23 yards to give the Axemen a 15-0 lead with 6:36 remaining in the second quarter.

    Acadia would extend the lead to 22-0 with 1:50 remaining on the score clock in the opening half when Dale Wright posted his second touchdown of the day on a three-yard dive. The touchdown concluded a seven-play, 72-yard drive.

    The Gaiters were unable to deliver any sustained drives in the opening half and the saga continued into the second.

    Noah Laursen added an early third quarter rouge that would turn out to be Bishop’s only point scored.

    Acadia’s Wright would add his third touchdown of the game at the 8:37 mark of the third quarter to give the Axemen an insurmountable 29-1 lead in the third quarter. A safety in the closing minutes of the game ended the scoring in the championship game, giving Acadia a 31-1 win over the Gaiters.

    The Gaiters only mustered 158 total offensive yards that included only nine first downs, 21 yards rushing and 152 yards passing. The Axemen recorded 486 total offensive yards, lead by 269 yards in the air.

    Axemen pivot Hunter Guenard was 18 for 33 passes, while Matt Gledhill pulled in four receptions for a game-high 106 yards including a 50-yard reception.

    Dale Wright, who was named the AUS Don Loney Most Valuable Player of the Championship game had 118 yards on the ground – 5.9 yards per carry average and all three Axemen touchdowns.

    “It’s surreal. When you hear guys on TV saying winning championships are surreal, that’s the feeling I have right now. I have goosebumps on me,” said Wright following the game after being announced as the AUS Championship Game MVP.

    “Bishop’s threw a lot of stuff at us in the first quarter, but we were able to figure it out and get the win,” said Wright.

    “We just got to prepare, keep doing what we are doing, keep staying consistent, take care of our bodies right now. It’s a crucial time especially with it being cold. Take care of our bodies. That’s key,” noted Wright when asked what steps need to be taken to prepare for next weekend’s Uteck Bowl at Acadia.

    The Axemen will have six days to prepare for the Montreal Carabins who handed the Laval Rouge et Or a 25-10 loss in the RSEQ championship game.

     

  • Fourth Place Finish for Axewomen at AUS Championship Meet

    Fourth Place Finish for Axewomen at AUS Championship Meet

    FREDERICTON, N.B. – The Axewomen cross country team finished the AUS championship in fourth place in the team standings – only three points away from a third-place medal win. The championship women’s race was 8km as opposed to the standard 6km race.

    Topping the Axewomen’s performance was fourth year runner Madalyn Higgins who finished seventh among stiff competition. Higgins’ seventh place 31:22.00 finish was good enough to earn her a place as an AUS All-Star.

    Teammates Jessica Armstrong and Nicole Skinner finished twelfth and thirteenth respectively, with times of 32:15.00 and 32:16.00. Higgins, Armstrong and Skinner all qualified for the U SPORTS championship hosted by Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.

    “Considering we didn’t race any 8 kms before the AUS, Acadia did very well. I believe after racing today and changing some strategy we would get closer to silver medal,” noted head coach Ralph Williams.

    “The season was too short to get a momentum going. Acadia is a very fit team. They needed more racing I’m very proud of what the team did this season,” added Williams.

    “Three athletes out of 7 team runners have qualified to go to the U SPORT championships with 4th runners within a few seconds of making the cut. Pretty impressive considering the top 3 teams had only three in the top 14 as well,” concluded Williams.

    Higgins was also the recipient of the AUS Student-Athlete Community Service Award.

    AUS Women’s Cross Country:

    • Athlete of the Year:  Jade Roberts, Memorial
    • Rookie of the Year:  Lauren Lowther, Dalhousie
    • Student-Athlete Community Service Award:  Madalyn Higgins, Acadia
    • Coach of the Year:  Rich Lehman, Dalhousie

    2019 AUS CROSS COUNTRY ALL-STARS: WOMEN

    Jade Roberts, Memorial (2nd year – Twillingate, N.L.)
    Jane Hergett, StFX (3rd year – Port Williams, N.S.)
    Catherine Thompson, Dalhousie (5th year – Blenheim, Ont.)
    Hannah Cormier, UNB (3rd year – Fredericton, N.B.)
    Paige Chisholm, StFX (4th year – Port Williams, N.S.)
    Emily Hamilton, Dalhousie (1st year – Halifax, N.S.)
    Madalyn Higgins, Acadia (4th year – Halifax, N.S.)

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