The Athenaeum

Category: Sports & Wellness

  • Harper showing quiet leadership for hockey Axemen

    It takes a special type of player, with a particular blend of skills, to have a real impact in Canadian university hockey today. It’s becoming more apparent by the day that second-year hockey Axeman Stephen Harper is one of those players.

    A 22-year-old native of Burlington, ON, Harper arrived at Acadia in the fall of 2016 after a solid major junior career in the OHL. The fact that he spent time with several different organizations is more a reflection of his being in demand than not being wanted or appreciated.

    A more telling fact is that Harper, who stands 6’3”, weighs 215 pounds and is a strong skater with solid hockey instincts, has had four invites to NHL training camps, most recently that of the Ottawa Senators in 2016.

    “I started out in Erie,” he said of his major junior career. “Then I went to (a rebuilding program) in Belleville, which then switched cities and became Hamilton. I did pretty well there, and I was close enough to live at home.”

    His final year in major junior, “I was an overager, and I was traded again, to Niagara. That ended up okay, we made it to the OHL final” before losing to a London Knights team that went on to capture the 2016 Memorial Cup.

    Between Hamilton and Niagara, Harper had 25 goals and 71 points in 68 regular season games his final season in junior, then added 16 points, including six goals, in 17 playoff games.

    Harper termed the NHL camp invites – first Philadelphia, then Los Angeles, San Jose and Ottawa – as “unbelievable, a great experience. They were crazy, but in a good way. It’s rigorous, and you’re pushed to your limit, but it’s worth it for the experience.”

    As for how he came to play university hockey for Acadia, Harper acknowledged, “during my OHL days, my focus was on signing an NHL contract. If that didn’t happen, I had to look at my future.”

    After finishing junior, he received “a couple of AHL offers,” but ultimately “decided to go to university and get a degree. I can still play hockey afterwards if that ends up happening.”

    Once he chose the Canadian university stream, Harper did his research “on the best universities for both hockey and school.” He received “multiple offers, from almost every CIS school,” but eventually narrowed his choices down to Ryerson (in Ontario), Acadia, Saint Mary’s and UPEI.

    There were “a lot of factors” involved in his decision, including scholarship funding. “I decided to come east. This looked like a really competitive conference, I was happy with what Acadia had to offer,

    and Burnsie (Axemen head coach Darren Burns) is a good recruiter.”

    As well, some former Erie teammates, notably Brett Thompson and Mike Cazzola, had chosen Acadia. Cazzola had just graduated by the time Harper arrived, but Thompson was in his fifth and final year.

    Because of attending the Ottawa training camp, Harper was late arriving at Acadia. Then an injury cost him a few more games.

    Asked if he found the adjustment from major junior to university hockey difficult, Harper said, “the on-ice part wasn’t a big adjustment. The biggest thing was being back in school. I hadn’t really taken classes since I finished high school.

    “Having classes, doing schoolwork and then having a game that night took some getting used to. Since I found the right balance, it’s been great.”

    Harper finished his first season at Acadia with nine goals and 25 points in 26 games, good enough to earn a berth on the AUS All-Rookie team. He acknowledged, “if I had been able to be in school earlier, I might have ended up with better stats.”

    As it was, he ended up with a trip to the University Cup, and was part of a U Sports national bronze medal-winning team. He had five goals and eight points in eight playoff games, and added a goal in a 4-1 win over Alberta at the University Cup.

    “I was happy with my year, but I knew I could do better,” he said. He has certainly done that. As of Nov. 23, he was leading the AUHC this season with 29 points, including 11 goals, in 14 games.

    He acknowledged, “I’m obviously happy with how I’ve done so far, and how the team has done, but I know if I put my mind to it, I can take my game to the next level. It’s about getting better each day, and getting it done in the classroom.”

    One factor in Harper’s play this season has been having Kyle Farrell as a linemate. The pairing has also been beneficial to Farrell, who had nine goals and 19 points in his first 15 games.

    “He’s a good friend off the ice, and our chemistry on the ice stems from that,” Harper said of Farrell. As well, “we’re not afraid to give each other a kick in the pants if needed.”

    The Axemen have been among the top teams in the AUHC so far this season despite losing several key players, notably fifth-year defenseman Geoffrey Schemitsch, to injury.

    “The injuries have been a challenge,” Harper acknowledged. “You can’t lose players like we have and it not have an effect.” At the same time, “we’re better than our record shows right now, and we should be right there in the second half” and into the post-season.

    Harper is committed to being a success academically as well as athletically, and believes “staying disciplined” is a key to success in both. “I’m really focused on both school and hockey,” he said, – “in fact, right now I’m overloaded academically,” which he is hoping will allow him to graduate with his Business degree on schedule, if not slightly ahead of schedule.

    “I try to take care of my schoolwork first,” he said. “When I stay on top of my classes, it helps with the hockey. In my down time, I like to hang out and chill, but there hasn’t been a lot of down time so far.

    “The key is to have fun and enjoy what you’re doing. Right now, I’m feeling pretty good. It’s a joy to come to the rink each day.”

    Asked if he sets goals for himself, Harper said he normally doesn’t. “I think I know what I’m capable of. I hold myself to a pretty high standard, and try to maintain that.”

    As for the remainder of the season, Harper says, “I like the make-up of our team.” The AUHC “is the best conference in the country. The results at nationals show that, year after year.

    “Our ultimate goal,” he said, “is to compete for the national championship. We’re one of the best teams in the country. All the guys in the room know that. Once we get everybody back and healthy, (a national championship) is an attainable goal.”

    Harper said he he takes part in team activities. “We had a Thanksgiving dinner as a team a few weeks ago, and we have a Christmas party coming up.” These kind of activities are good for team bonding. “Good chemistry off the ice makes for good chemistry on the ice.”

    Harper said he has “no real regrets” with his choice to attend Acadia, and no regrets with his decision to come east for his post-secondary education. “I don’t get to see my family as often as I’d like,” he said, but on the other hand, “I’ve been away from home since I was 16.”

     

  • Hygge & Happiness

    In the past few years, your social media feed may have been bombarded with pictures- especially during the winter, with captions including the word “hygge” to describe warmth and comfort. In 2016 for example, there were 1.5 million posts on Instagram including the hashtag #hygge. The word Hygge even made the shortlist for Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year in 2016. So, what exactly is hygge, and how do we achieve it?

    The word hygge, is a Danish concept that can be utilized as a noun, adjective, and verb. It is pronounced as hue-guh, and used to acknowledge a feeling or moment- whether alone or with friends and family. This feeling can be achieved while at home, or out, and may be ordinary or extraordinary- as cozy, charming or special. The word is in fact, hard to translate to English as it was never meant be to translated. It was meant to be felt. The key components of hygge include togetherness, presence, indulgence, relaxation, and comfort.

    This Danish ritual involves the enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures. This has been an integral part of the Danish culture since the early 1800s.  The concept itself is derived from a Norwegian word for “well-being” including the fortification of relationships including family and friends- and the overall feeling of graciousness.

    Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects 4-6 percent of people worldwide, this form of clinical depression is brought on by the winter months. An additional 10-20 percent of people may experience mild SAD during the colder months. The amount of women who experience SAD is four times higher than that of the male population. This potentially explains why hygge is a largely female-driven phenomenon on an International scale.

    According to the 2017 World Happiness Report, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Finland and Sweden are amongst the top ten happiest countries in the World. These countries all have one thing in common: the longest and coldest countries in the World. So why do these areas have the happiest citizens if the majority of the year is categorized by darkness, cold weather, and snow? The answer lies within the mind frame towards the winter season. By utilizing a mindfulness based approach to winter, means the acceptance of the cold- therefore finding ways to take advantage of the season like spending quality time with friends and family, taking up a new hobby, and truly focusing on self and wellbeing.

    When we think of winter, there is a very “doom & gloom” undertone associated with this time of year. It is common for individuals to retract themselves socially and spend time inside, alone and continuously watching the weather- just waiting for the first signs of springtime. This practice may increase one’s likelihood of SAD- including side effects such as fatigue, lack of motivation, unhealthy eating habits, and of course the feeling of loneliness. The overall goal of hygge however, is to ensure “togetherness” as an intrinsic part of winter time.

    By removing the overall negative connotations associated with winter- we are better able to enjoy time and take advantage of the many things that this season has to offer such as game nights with friends, cozying up and reading a book, or outdoor group activities. So, if your mood is falling as fast as the thermometer, try practicing hygge by making small lifestyle changes to help boost your spirits throughout this winter season.

  • A Message to New Acadia Students from a Senior

    A Message to New Acadia Students from a Senior

    This is a warning to students at Acadia: You will miss this place. You have no idea the value of the experiences offered at this institution. You won’t appreciate Acadia until your time here is rushing to an end, or perhaps even until you have left this school and community, and all the opportunities they provide.

    Your degree will rush by seemingly as fast as a single heart beat: 0.8 seconds. One of the reasons your time here will skyrocket by is the people you meet here. You will fall in love with your peers, professors, and everyone you encounter. At Acadia, you will come to know the names of physical plant workers who greet you Saturday morning with a smile as they clean up the mess you made the Friday night before. You will get to know the names of the vast majority (if not) all of your fellow residents if you make a point of going to residence events. You will see your professors downtown, smile at them, and be greeted with a genuine “how is your weekend”? You may even walk in on a meeting between the President of the University and Athletic Director, or other campus leader – and have them stop their meeting to chat and ask you about your studies and pursuits. You will come to recognize many faces on campus, and can get to know them well enough that they brighten your day – all by simply saying hello. You will make friends through every program and opportunity you get involved with, and many of them will be ones you will wonder how you will survive without them once your time is done here.

    Newsflash: you won’t want to leave! Acadia and the Wolfville communities are so unique that you feel as if a spell has been placed over you once you are here. The feeling is something that you have to see to believe. Wolfville provides gorgeous marshlands complete with brown red mud that is somehow breathtaking, a bright blue ocean, rolling hills, beautiful and plentiful farm lands, and something to make everyone feel at home. Walking down main street on a winter evening you may be welcomed by church bells singing proudly, Christmas lights guiding you through the town, and a bright neon blue “Acadia” sign proudly beamingly the name of the amazing institution that brought you here, and acting as a reminder of all the history and pride in the community.

    There truly is an experience for everyone here. Whether it be mud sliding during welcome week, swallows putting on a show at the Robbie Tufts chimney stack, great eats from corner to corner, a pride crosswalk that screams “you are welcome here”, stunning walking trails filled with wild blackberries, acres of stunning gardens on and off campus, the opportunity for bonfires and camp songs filled with love and laughter that will warm you for months, wonderful arts opportunities including a showcase of musical talent and unique displays at local galleries, throughout town, and on campus, and everything imaginable within a five minute drive of town.

    You will find activities you enjoy here, you will grow as a person, and you will meet people you never want to leave. I promise you that. Remember, you will always be a part of the Acadia family. I urge you to get involved in everything you can, say hello to everyone on the street, and treat everyone as a friend. If you do these things, you will learn, find happiness, and flourish into an amazing, confident, and beautiful person – Acadia and Wolfville will help you find who you truly are even if you haven’t quite found yourself yet. Treasure every second.

  • A Message to Graduating Students and Students Who are Struggling

    You’re already rushed this morning. No time to eat breakfast and you’re throwing clothes on your cold body as you check the weather for today. More snow, more cold. Great…

    You already don’t feel like going to class you are also running a tad bit late, it wouldn’t hurt to miss this one. Right?

    How many of you end up in a situation similar to this? Or maybe, my friend is in class and can pass on the notes. If you’re anything like me, you might sometimes fall victim to the anxiety filled, crippling fear that is unexplained. Well, you could explain it but don’t always know why and don’t know how to tell others.

    It’s easy to get trapped in a cyclical motion during University. Go to class, study, drink, repeat, and, if you’re feeling really ambitious, you might add volunteer opportunities or even a gym routine. If you fall off the wagon or find yourself in a rut, it can be very challenging to find the motivation to feel normal again.

    Over my time at University, I have experienced the ups and downs, have been through the highs and low, and sometimes I get stuck in the lows. This is not uncommon and many people struggle in University dealing with the pressure of finding their identity. You are still going through a time in which your brain is growing and changing, so cut yourself some slack. Also, remind yourself that this could be situational and it is normal to have bad days. There were two periods during University that I went through an exceptionally hard time. Unfortunately, the most recent was before second semester of my last year.

    I was on track to graduate with a degree in Kinesiology. I attended classes and was a regular at events and well known throughout my program. I was also involved in a host of other activities that made me known throughout campus and the community. I was always very reserved and kept the majority of my struggles to myself. By doing so, no one could help me when I was failing two required courses…in my last year…in my last semester.

    What could I do?

    As you now know, I was a fourth year Kinesiology student last year who unfortunately failed two required courses which halted my graduation. After getting over the initial shock, regret and shame, a new emotion took it’s place and I was offered incredible perspective.  A question immediately popped into my mind: “what now”? It continued to plague me and I had to change my attitude towards it because this is something that is probably going through your mind as you think about the future. That being said, this question will continue to show up as you are constantly reassessing and changing in accordance to life. So what now? What can you expect from this article? Well, I’ve written it in a letter format of inspiration…I hope.

    I never thought I would be in this position. I was on track to graduate in my four years but sometimes life happens. For some reason, I didn’t take any graduation pictures, get a ring or do any of the typical things graduating students did. What I did do however, was apply to graduate and I was ready for that day in May. It was the end of April when I officially found out I wouldn’t be graduating, although in my heart, I knew this would be the case earlier. I didn’t let on how I was struggling to anyone. I never talked about it and just kept on pretending that I was on the right track. Humour is a good way to distract people from the truth. This is a deflecting method that can help allow people to relate to your situation but it is always better to be honest with yourself and those around you. I didn’t tell my professors and I sometimes felt like I was doing everything right, I hired a tutor and would try and go to class. But I wouldn’t be able to finish my school work or stay on top of what I had already started.  Heck, my parents were so sure I was graduating that they already got me a computer as a graduation gift! Whoops.

    And to make matters worse, I had no idea what I was going to do next. The different options would pop in my head and I would veraciously change my career path every day. I was super passionate about each one until another one came along. To be honest, most of my future plans didn’t have a lot to do with my undergrad degree of Kinesiology. For those of you who have yet to know what you want to “be”. Here is a list of possible occupations I have considered over my four years.

    • Teacher
    • Coach
    • Professor
    • Neuroscientist/Psychologist
    • Lawyer
    • Social worker
    • Politician
    • Minister
    • Occupational Therapist
    • Addictions Counsellor
    • Forces
    • Sport management
    • Stripper (just kidding)
    • Business/entrepreneurship
    • Peace Corps
    • Massage therapist
    • Chiropractor

    And last but not least,

    • Mayor of Wolfville (I’m not kidding, I legitimately considered this and even wrote my acceptance speech).

    Going through all the possibilities is a important thing to do. That being said, the way we view jobs is typically as a lifelong career…that is not always the case. It wasn’t until my fourth year that I truly felt as if I was coming into my own. I started to become more confident with who I was as a person and what I stood for. I felt accomplished with my skills and that gave me this incredible feeling that I will be ok. When you realize this, a lot of pressure and stress comes off your shoulders. There is no point worrying too much about the future. Everyone has a different path and no matter how roundabout it may be, you will get to where you want to go, even if you don’t know that yet. My confidence in my skill set, and by skill set I don’t necessarily mean my ability to name all the muscles in the body or the force it will take a high jumper to get over blah blah blah biomechanics. Some of you will excel in these areas and that is awesome! I, however, always had an affinity for people and trying to connect and build relationships with them. In my third year, I had the opportunity to travel abroad. I went to Scotland and I learned so much from that experience. I value things like that so much because I find it is in those times of uncertainty and adventure where we have the most growth. I am also speaking subjectively. Everyone will have a different experience and values different things. That is what makes us unique and wonderful. But, there we can always learn from others and what I have to say will hopefully resonate with some of you. These experiences I will always be grateful for because it gave me this new found confidence in my future. I felt secure. I knew that I would be successful no matter what I did.

    That being said, you might find it ironic that I am writing about success, when I failed and did not graduate successfully last year. Success is not defined by failure, rather, it is defined by the ability to grow from failure.

    It is hard to look at perceived failures and turn them into positives. Perspective is difficult to come by but can be a skill that is nurtured with practice. I’m terribly indecisive, as you might have been able to tell by the list of possible professions, and this is something that causes me a lot of grief. By changing my perspective on decision-making, I have been able to make more confident decisions as well as deal with the repercussion. Over these past years, I have learned many lessons in perspective that have always left me stronger and wiser for it. I gained perspective when I blew out my knee and needed major reconstructive surgery- costing me a year of rugby. I felt like I would never be able to look at that moment and benefit from it. Now, I can look on that day and I feel proud I endured the pain and lengthy rehab. I can get overwhelmed just by thinking of the progress I’ve made. I never thought I’d be able to move like this again. I gained more perspective when I travelled to Scotland, learning to be more independent and find pride in thing other than my athletic ability. And, I gained perspective when I failed my first course. Failing courses is not abnormal. In fact, I always looked to my older sister as the epitome of intelligence. Anything Annie did or accomplish, was the gold standard in my mind. It turns out, she failed two classes in her first two years but managed to graduate in four, with honours and is working towards her masters now. Unfortunately, I failed my courses in my last year, last semester and they were required. Little bit of advice, if you have to fail a class, try and make sure it’s not one of your core classes.

    If you ever find yourself in the situation I was, don’t panic. Ask for help immediately. You can’t wait for others to notice you’re struggling. Take matters into your own hands. Be proactive. Schedule check-ups with your professors so they know you’re on the right track- and follow through with those meetings. It’s never too late to turn it around. If you put in the effort and time, you will be able to succeed. Do your work. That being said, if all else finds. Don’t wallow in self-pity or think degrading thoughts. Instead, find that perspective. What have you learned? What can you improve on? What do you know for the next time? Whatever you are dealing with, you can overcome. If you are worried about finances, parents, grades, anything…there is always a way you can manage. Humans are made to be adaptable and if you are willing to be open, you can adapt to any situation or environment to help you succeed. Just as I did when I went back to rugby 18 months after surgery, and couldn’t believe how far I came, that same feeling will hit me when I walk down the stage at graduation. Another lesson, I took from my knee, was that it may not be the way it was, but this is my new normal.

    Adaptable humans are meant to change and be changed. Growth, success, failure, perspective, adversity and a whole host of other adjectives are the nature of change. Find your “new normal” with every opportunity. Appreciate what you have and what you are in control of.

    I want to leave you with a list of things of what I have learned at Acadia. This is all life skills that I value. Education is so much more than material, you are learning about yourself and the world around you. Never stop learning. I would sometimes think about how I wish I knew or understood this stuff sooner. I am a kinetic learning and have to do things a couple times to really let it sit in. My mom hates it, she has to tell me something five times before I really listen to her right advice. I hate that she’s usually always right.

    So you may be wondering what I’m doing next. The answer to my “what now”? Well, that remains to be seen. I’m keeping my options open and will take any opportunity that comes my way. I’ve applied for my BEd as well as sports management. I’m also looking into other programs in colleges and will even take a full time job if one’s offered. There is no rush. My father, who I think is the wisest man I’ve ever meant, would always tell me when I got stressed: “Micheala, life is not a sprint. It’s a marathon and regardless of the race and who chooses which event, everyone reaches the finish line”.

    I love to be inspired and motivated. I love hearing people’s personal stories about overcoming adversity or achieving their dreams. I also benefit from advice. I have done a lot of reflection over my years, and I have always been told I’m an “old soul” which i interpret as wise, so listen up! Here is a collection of things I would recommend.

    • People are way more forgiving than you think/give them credit.
    • It’s never too late, too early, or the wrong time to ask for help.
    • Don’t be embarrassed or scared to share some of the things that make you feel vulnerable. Everyone is flawed, it is our perceived imperfections that make us a perfect.
    • Be grateful and take the time to say thank you especially if you REALLY mean it (a hand written note goes a long way).
    • A little kindness never hurts.
    • The people around you, especially at Acadia are here to help you succeed and they actually care about you. Take advantage of the resources offered and ask if there is something that can be done to help you out. It’s not selfish to ask.
    • It’s better to be late than not showing up at all. Punctuality is a sign of respect. It shows maturity, that you’re professional, dependable and the list goes on. That being said, sometimes things happen that make you late. How many of you are running late for class and either get too embarrassed to walk in late or figure you can get notes from a friend and don’t even bother. Don’t do that. Suck it up, most people won’t care because it is your education at risk and for those who do mind, you get called out and life moves on.
    • Own your mistakes. Reassess and see what you can do differently.
    • Ask for feedback, self-reflect and continue to keep asking questions.
    • Be proud of failure because it means you’re trying.

    Thank you for reading (if you made it this far, congrats!) and for being open to what I have to say. I love meeting new people, sharing stories and talking. If I could ever offer anyone help, it would be a privilege for me to help you sort through anything!

    Thank you again and please don’t stress. I wish you all the best in the future, I already know you’ll do great things, just because you will be an Acadia alumni. See you at graduation (and if I don’t, I’ll see you doing great things in the future).

    All my best,

    Michaela

    Email: [email protected]

     

  • Running a Marathon: Goal Setting and Health Policy

    Running is a sport that challenges and tests individuals, but rewards with immense gratification and pride. There’s nothing quite like the euphoric feeling of a successful run. The “runner’s high” is an exhilarated sensation of joy and accomplishment, free of emotional, and psychological stress. It is usually paired with a fatigued but exceptionally rewarding physiological sense of rapidly pumping blood throughout the body, powerful, oxygen-filled lungs, and tense, contracted muscles from the pounding of every step.

    After running competitively and recreationally for the last seven years, I completed my first full marathon (42.2km) this fall in Toronto, ON. Of all I learned from this experience, the most noteworthy is that, if done correctly, race day should be the easy part. The hard part was the four months leading up to race day and the 544km I completed in training. A successful marathon is much more than having a healthy heart and young, non-arthritic knees. A network of many factors leads to the fulfilling outcome of crossing the finish line strong including fitness, nutrition, rest, commitment, dedication, sacrifice, positive mental health, cessation of negative habits, and family and social support. Each of these factors require a combination of education, practice, and ability which become more interrelated over time and solidify into a lifestyle.

    Strong commitment and dedication to finish a marathon promotes an intense drive to improve physical fitness through a vigorous training program while effectively fueling the body with proper nutrition and allowing adequate rest. Sacrificing and removing negative habits such as alcohol consumption helps to shift the focus to replace them with positive behaviours that will better contribute to health status. Mental health is significant as exercise is known to alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. The euphoria from overcoming mental challenges when pushing the body and mind past what was once its limit is intoxicating. Finally, the support and encouragement from family, training groups, coaches, and personal relationships is essential for times when those challenges test you the most.

    Many of these factors are represented in the social determinants of health, especially physical environment, social environment, and education. Available resources such as safe, accessible roads and trails, access to affordable and nutritious foods, and a work life balance that permits time necessary for training all contribute to the success of marathon trainees. As there are several healthy habits encompassed in training for this goal, community members must be able to challenge their limiting social determinants of health. Healthy public policy addressing these determinants empowers community members to pursue their own goals regardless of the obstacles they face.

    So, how can we explore the learnings of this rigorous process of training for a goal and apply it to public policy? The World Health Organization identifies that “the main aim of health public policy is to create supportive environments to enable people to lead healthy lives”. A marathon is just one example of a successful outcome from the accumulation of many healthy behaviours, facilitated by healthy public policy. The journey of training and preparing the body and mind to reach a goal, encompasses a cascade of decisions and actions, while always holding a vision of that goal. Lifestyles adapt to accommodate the diverse requirements to train or practice in order to succeed. Resources, infrastructure, and supports must be in place to guide and assist community members in various components of their training.

    These learned behaviours build influence and generate inspiration for others whether that be a circle of friends, a running group, or a community. Empowering others to set goals for themselves and to be dedicated and rigorous creates a contagious drive that grows exponentially. Working towards small goals within a larger one while always maintaining a vision of accomplishment drives improvement and commitment. It’s not about running a marathon. It’s about completing whatever a marathon is to you and finding your “runner’s high” in completing that goal. What is your marathon?

    Susan Barry, MPH (c), BSN is an Acadia graduate and an aspiring Registered Dietician at the Memorial University of Newfoundland

  • Olympic Life without the NHL: The Reasons Why

    That time is almost here again – the time where athletes from around the world compete in a series of winter sports trying to get the gold medal for their country – the 2018 Winter Olympics.

    Set for Pyeongchang, South Korea, there is one sport that fans feel will be lacking its usual luster – hockey. The National Hockey League (NHL) has decided not to send its players to the Olympics, and this has caused outrage and confusion among fans. There are a few reasons why the NHL have decided not to attend, the simplest of these reasons is that the owners of clubs do not want to get their players injured. This makes the most sense as due to the compressed schedule during the period which the Olympics take place and then, the regular hockey season happening soon afterwards it’s easy to see why the owners would be afraid of this. After all, these players are making tons of money, and if one of those players got injured it could hurt a teams’ chances for the Stanley Cup. Not to even mention the injuries that could be season ending for players such as John Tavares and Henrik Zetterberg who both participated in the 2014 Sochi games.

    Some might say that if the players go however, that it will help grow the sport since more people will be exposed to it. However, there is evidence that this is not the case. While the NHL has participated in the Olympics since 1998 it has not seen a rise in overall interest of the sport. To add to this, the NHL has been unable to show the great moments in Olympics hockey, while the IOC (International Olympic Committee) gets the rewards for having that moment. An example of this was in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics when Sidney Crosby scored a game winning goal against team USA for the gold medal. The NHL has not been able to show that, but those that saw that game saw it.

    Due to these reasons, NHL players will be missing the Olympics in 2018. There are however other world hockey tournaments that the league can use to grow the sport such as the World Cup of Hockey which was restarted in 2016. While some may think it’s a shame that the NHL will not participate in Pyeongchang, I think the league will do just fine.

  • Axewomen and Axemen finish Jack Scholz meet in 2nd place

    WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia swim team wrapped up their second meet of the season with a second place combined finish at the ninth annual Jack Scholz meet hosted at Acadia University.

    Despite a great performance by the women’s and men’s team throughout the two day meet, Acadia finished second to the Dalhousie Tigers.

    The Axemen and Axewomen collected 37 top three finishes to show their developing strength both individually and as a team.

    Some of the key wins were senior swimmer Adam Deutsch, who picked up double victories in the 100m and 200m breaststrokes.

    Single wins came from Jessica Pelletier in the 50m backstroke, Ali MacEachern in the 50m freestyle, Patrick Henger in the 100m butterfly, Hannah Doiron in the 100m breaststroke, Brett Liem in the 50m freestyle and  Ben Henger in the 100m butterfly.

    The men’s relay teams put Dalhousie on notice as they came ever so close in both the 4x50m medley relay and 4x50m freestyle relay, losing by inches.

    “From the get go, the team was ready to show just how hard they have been working. The results started to pay off quickly. The biggest improvement came with 8 victories with close finishes in both men’s relays which could have gone either way,” said head coach Gary MacDonald after the two day event.

    “The team has two more weeks of tough training and then a full rest and shave to get ready for our first championship format meet which will take place at Dalhousie. It should be a very exciting competition,” added MacDonald.

    The Swim team will wrap up the first half of the swim season on the weekend of November 17-19 at Dalhousie in their third competition of the season. The AUS Championships will be hosted by UNB at their UNB Saint John campus on February 9-11, 2018.

    Acadia Medal Winners:

    Jessica Pelletier               2nd 100m backstroke, 3rd 200m backstroke, 1st 50m backstroke

    Walter Guiscardo            3rd 100m backstroke

    Alison MacEachern         2nd 50m butterfly, 2nd 200m butterfly, 3rd 100m butterfly, 1st 50m freestyle

    Kelsea Vessey                  3rs 50m butterfly, 2nd 400m freestyle, 3rd 100m freestyle, 2nd 100m butterfly

    Patrick Henger                 1st 50m butterfly, 3rd 100m butterfly, 3rd 100m butterfly

    Isaiah Grambo                 3rd 50m butterfly

    Hannah Doiron                3rd 200m breaststroke, 3rd 50m breaststroke, 1st 100m breaststroke

    Brett Liem                         3rd 200m breaststroke, 2nd 100m freestyle, 2nd 100m breaststroke,
    1st 50m freestyle

    Adam Deutsch                 1st 200m breaststroke,  1st 100m breaststroke, 2nd 200m individual medley,
    3rd 50m backstroke

    Guy Harrison-Murray     3rd 400m freestyle, 3rd 100m freestyle, 2nd 200m freestyle

    Brendan Vibert                2nd 50m breaststroke

    Ben Henger                      3rd 200m individual medley, 1st 100 butterfly,3rd 200m backstroke

    Joshua Nowlan                3rd 1500m freestyle

    Kristin MacKinnon          3rd 50m freestyle

    Collin Reynolds                3rd 400m individual medley

     

     

  • Axewomen Finish Third at AUS Championships

    Axewomen Finish Third at AUS Championships

    WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Dalhousie Tigers raced to first-place men’s and women’s team finishes at the 2017 Subway AUS Cross Country Championships Saturday afternoon.

    The championships were hosted by Acadia University at Hennigar’s Farm in Wolfville, N.S.

    The host Axewomen finished third in the team standings and Katie Robinson was the top Axewomen, finishing sixth among racers. Three Axewomen finished in the Championship top ten including Robinson, Chrissy Smith in eighth spot and Madalyn Higgins in tenth.

    Acadia head coach Ralph Williams was excited about the event and the team results. “It was a great day for Acadia. Congratulations to the Acadia organizers for putting on class A race. It could not have gone off any better. Picture perfect,” said Williams.

    “I very proud of the Acadia Women’s Cross Country Team. They have improved so much and the AUS Championship first place is getting closer to reality. Great talent and team spirit,” added Williams about his team’s performance.

    Robinson will race at the U SPORTS national championship hosted in Victoria, B.C. on November 11.

    WOMEN’S RACE RESULTS

    In the women’s 8km race, the Tigers claimed two individual medals and four of the top nine finishers. Freshman Savanna Jordan (Calgary, Alta.) captured first-place honours with a time of 30:05.0.

    “I actually thought the course was deceiving. It felt easy in the warmup run and it felt nice but the hill was a lot tougher and it was big. It was easier than the Laval course, but definitely one of the tougher AUS courses,” noted Jordan following the race.

    Dalhousie senior Michelle Reddy (Sarnia, Ont.) was the women’s silver medallist, finishing with a time of 30:56.8.

    MEN’S RACE RESULTS

    In the men’s 10km race, the Tigers edged out the X-Men to snap their six-year win streak and claim Dalhousie’s first AUS men’s cross country title since 2010.

    Dalhousie fifth-year runner Cal DeWolfe (Bridgewater, N.S.) reached the podium with a time of 32:03.95 to claim the bronze medal.

    The X-Men claimed a second-place team finish. Angus Rawling (Calgary, Alta.), a third-year StFX runner, claimed the individual gold medal, finishing with a time of 31:43.55. Third-year runner Alex Neuffer (Stradford, P.E.I.) earned silver for the X-Men in a time of 31:58.00.

    “It was a difficult course but a really fun course too. It was challenging but the right amount. I think this is straight up the best course in the AUS. We went to Quebec City and that course is a lot of hills, up and down. It took a toll on my legs, but this one was nice. You really worked on it,” commented Rawling on the course.

    Rawlings added, “I took a lead on the downhill and I knew I was going to be alone for the next 5 km. I hit a big hill in the valley and I figured they are going to close on my and I wont be able to hold this lead, but I guess I did. A big surprise.”

     

  • Axemen Hockey Weekend Update

    Axemen at UNB – Friday, October 27

    One week after suffering a 3-2 overtime loss in Wolfville, the UNB Varsity Reds handed the Acadia Axemen a 7-2 loss.

    Freshman forward Kris Bennett scored twice and added three assists to the lead the Varsity Reds. He was named the Subway Player of the Game.

    Stephen Anderson (Morell, PE) had two goals and two assists, and Mark Simpson scored twice. Olivier LeBlanc also had a goal for UNB.

    Boston Leier and Stephen Harper scored for the Axemen.

    Acadia’s Alex Lepkowski took UNB’s Chris Clapperton hard into the boards.

    Clapperton lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before being taken off on a back board. Lepkowski was assessed a five minute penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.

    “You just hate to see that in sports,” said Axemen head coach Darren Burns. “We want to compete, but you never want to see a guy get injured.”

    Bennett opened the scoring on the ensuing power-play.

    Leier tied the score 1-1 early in the second before Bennett and Simpson scored 45 seconds apart as UNB built a 3-1 lead.

    A four goal third period was too much for Acadia to overcome.

    Burns feels his team started well, but couldn’t recover from UNB’s quick strikes midway through the second period.

    “Obviously that bang, bang, that opened the flood gates a little bit and we got outside our structure, what we need to be successful, from there,” he said.

    Alex Dubeau stopped 13 of 15 shots in the UNB net, while Robert Steeves made 36 saves on 43 shots in the Acadia net.

    The Axemen dropped to 4-2-1 and tied for the third place in the AUS, before visiting UPEI on Saturday.

    Axemen at UPEI – Saturday, October 28

     

    The Acadia Axemen surrendered their lead three times, but held the Panthers down long enough to escape the Island with a 7-5 win Saturday night.

     

    Subway Player of the Game Samuel Fioretti scored the game’s first and last goals, while teammate Kyle Farrell scored a pair as well to lead the Axemen to victory.

     

    Boston Leier finished with four points on a goal and three assists, with Owen MacDonald and Rodney Southam finding the back of the net for the other two.

     

    “We played hard but there are things we need to sharpen up,” Fioretti said. “We just stuck to it and we didn’t quit when they started to get momentum.”

     

    “We got goals here and there, but then we let up a bit and took our foot off the gas,” Fioretti said, “I think a lot of it is discipline too. We took some penalties, which allowed them back in the game. It’s definitely something we’re going to focus on moving forward.”

     

    The Panthers look to snap their five-game losing streak on Nov. 1 when they travel to Moncton, N.B. to take on the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus. The Axemen, who improve to 5-2-1, return home to host the 2-5-1 Dalhousie Tigers this Wednesday evening starting at 7:00 p.m.

    Contributed by Andy Campbell (UNB Athletics Communications)  and Thomas Becker (UPEI Athletics Communications)

  • Axemen Drop Decision to X-Men

    The StFX X-Men improved to 9-1-2 and sit in first place in the AUS standings ahead of Cape Breton by 1 point (who have two games remaining) after a 2-1 win over the host Acadia Axemen.

    The X-Men scored the only goal of the first half at the 42nd minute when Dan Hayfield, on a free kick 15 yards out to right of the goal, netted a hard kick high that was nearly stopped by Axemen keeper Nic Jefferies.

    Late in the second half, near the 87th minute, Liam Harrigan scored the X-Men’s second goal off of a corner kick that was mishandled by an Acadia defender and Harrigan picked up the lose ball.

    The Axemen final closed the lead to one on a Cooper Coats goal in extra time. Coats goal was set up by teammate Travis Fenning who drew the defenders as he approached the 18 yard box and then dropped the ball back and to the side to Coats for the one-time kick and goal.

    In the dying minutes of play, the Axemen pressured to tie the game, but fell short giving StFX the important 2-1 win. Tylor Connolly led Acadia with four shots on goal.

    Out-shooting the X-Men 12-5, X-man Thomas Pieroway made seven saves, while Acadia’s Nic Jefferies was tested several times with 1 save.

    In Acadia’s second and final match of the regular season, the Axemen settled for a 1-1 draw against the visiting UPEI Panthers in the last regular season match of the 2017 season.

    The draw clinches a playoff berth for the Axemen after posting a regular season record of 5-4-3.

    The Axemen out-shot UPEI 16-3, with Panther Brett Strba stopping 8 shots on goal, but on the other end, Acadia keeper Nic Jefferies was tested several times.

    Sam Smiley opened the scoring at the 16 minute mark of the first half for the Panthers after a nice feed from Mohammad Jaber.

    The Axemen responded back at the 35th minute on an unassisted goal by Cale Sanders.

    The second half saw no additional goals, but plenty of opportunities including four of five corner kicks  for the Axemen couldn’t help grab the win.

    The Axemen will finish the 2017 AUS regular season in fourth place in the standings with 18 points. The Axemen will take on UPEI in Quarterfinal play at the AUS Subway Men’s Soccer Championship beginning this Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

  • Axewomen top X-Women 2-0

    All goals came in the opening half.

     

    The first goal came at the hands of third year striker Jenna Boudreau who worked past the defender in the 18 yard box and picked up a lose ball for a one-time kick past StFX keeper Erin Visser 19 minutes into the opening half.

    Senior midfielder Katie Ross scored the Axewomen’s second goal on a penalty kick assessed to Axewomen after Boudreau was taken down by an X-Women as she broke for the net. Ross’ kick was at mid-level and to the right of the keeper who dove in vain for the well placed boot.

    “We played well and stayed discipline”, s,aid Axewomen head coach Amit Batra.

    The Axewomen out-shot StFX 13-4, with Visser making six saves, while her Acadia counter-part Spencer Skinner, stopped two shots for the shut-out.

    “Our whole goal was to try and peak at the right time of year. We’ve often started out really well, but the key is how we finish. We’ve had a solid season and look to keep improving every game,” noted Batra.

    The Axewomen soccer team concluded the 2017 regular season with a 3-1 win against the visiting UPEI Panthers. Acadia improved to 7-3-2 and concluded the season fourth in the AUS standings.

    Out-shooting UPEI 24-2 with Panther keeper Amanda Stanyer posting 11 saves on 14 shots on goal, the Axewomen dominated the last 45 minutes by scoring all of their goals in the second half.

    Team leading scorer Jenna Boudreau scored her fifth goal of the season on a great individual effort at the 52 minute mark.

    Twenty-four minutes later, Meghan Earle scored an amazing goal on a bicycle-style kick that thrilled all of those in attendance.

    Annie little scored the ‘insurance goal’ with twelve minutes remaining in the half.

    Panther Jennifer Balderston scored with just over two minutes remaining in the game on back-up keeper Nicole McInnis who replaced Spencer Skinner in the second half.

    “We had a lot of the play the first half, it was a matter just continue to do the same things. Our locker room was actually great on making sure we focus on the process. We kept creating the chances on goal, but their goalkeeper was excellent,” said Acadia head coach Amit Batra following the game when asked what changes were made in the second half.

    The Axewomen are matched up against defending AUS champion and host of this year’s AUS Subway women’s soccer championship StFX this Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. in quarterfinal play.

  • Axewomen winless in opening weekend of AUS regular season

    WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The defending AUS champion Dalhousie Tigers swept the host Acadia Axewomen 3-0 in the AUS regular season opener at Acadia.

    Tigers’ Subway Player of the Game, Julie Moore, posted a game high 13 kills and a 0.286 hitting percentage to lead Dalhousie to a three set win.

    Mieke DuMont posted 7 kills and 7 digs. Defensively, Moore and Catherine Callaghan had 11 digs each and Moore led with three service aces.

    Sarah Ross and Lauryn Renzella each added 8 kills for the Axewomen, while Renzella added 10 digs. Willow Gedlaman, from her setter position, had 20 assists, while her counter-part Courtney Baker for the Tigers had 32.

    “Each day we learn how we can be better, whether it is technical, tactical or system based. We didn’t play our best volleyball today and in a team sport we must rely on a contribution from everyone, in order to be successful. We will look to compete consistently tomorrow,” commented Acadia head coach Michelle Wood following the match.

    In the Axewomen’s second game of the opening weekend, the Saint Mary’s Huskies posted a 3-0 sweep over the Acadia Axewomen Saturday night from the Homburg Centre in Halifax.

    The Huskies took the three sets 25-20, 25-14, 25-14.

    Lucy Glen-Carter paced the Axewomen’s offence with 12.0 points, 11 kills and 33 total attacks in the loss, as Acadia drops to 0-2 on the year.

    Lauryn Renzella finished with six kills and Sarah Ross and Sydney Tonner each had three for Acadia.

    Anna Watt led SMU with 21 total attacks and a trio of Huskies had seven kills apiece: Lindsay Donovan, Kristina Alder and Watt, while Emilla Conlon had 32 assists in the victory.

    Saint Mary’s improves to 1-0 early on the year and visit 1-0 Dalhousie Sunday October 29th at 1pm, while Acadia travels to 0-1 UNB Saturday November 5th at 7pm.

     

    Contribution by Dominic Nolasco, SMU Communications

     

  • Bermuda native Parris continuing his soccer odyssey in Wolfville

    On a map, Pembroke, Bermuda and Wolfville, Nova Scotia are quite a distance apart. And that’s not taking into account things like weather and a different culture, lifestyle and mindset. The culmination of an approximately 15-year soccer career finds Pembroke native Ryan Parris in his final year at Acadia, and in a prominent role as a midfielder and team leader for the soccer Axemen. Parris, who turned 21 earlier this year, said in a recent interview that he has been playing soccer – ‘football’ in Bermuda, as it is in much of the rest of the world – for “about 15 years.”In Bermuda, he “used to play for both my school team and a club team.” School football “is played in the fall, and club soccer for the rest of the year” – though not in July or August, which is one of many things Parris has had to adjust to here in Canada, where soccer is now pretty much a year-round sport. Parris already knew he wanted to continue his education and obtain a business degree, so “my last year in high school, I went away to boarding school in Port Hope, Ontario.” In doing so, “I got to experience one bad Ontario winter, which ended up being a ‘warm-up’ for here.”Having decided to enroll at a Canadian university, Parris also thought he might be able to play varsity soccer. He emailed Axemen head coach Findlay MacRae, “asking if I could try out for the team.”He also had a tryout with Algoma University in Ontario, but he had “family ties” to Acadia – “six or seven of my family, including an uncle, his two children and a couple of other cousins, had all attended Acadia” – which helped him make his final decision. Parris arrived in Wolfville in the fall of 2014 prepared to be an Acadia student, but with “no guarantees” of being a varsity soccer player. However, he “made the team my first year. I came off the bench for my first two games, but I’ve been a starter ever since.”He had started his soccer career as a centre back, but at the start of high school, “moved up to midfielder,” and has remained there since. “I like being in the middle of things, and in control,”he said, and the midfielder position, with its great versatility, has become a natural spot for him. At the same time, “it’s a very busy position. At the end of the game, you know you’ve been in a game.”

    The Axemen have steadily improved during Parris’s time with the team. “My first year, we were fourth or fifth, then third. Last year, we were first in the regular season, lost to Cape Breton in the AUS final and made it to nationals.”The entire season was “a real experience for me,” and the team’s performance “a real achievement,” and definitely something to build on for this season. Asked the similarities between soccer in Canada and in Bermuda, Parris said, “the biggest differences I’ve found are the speed and the physicality of the game. “Football tends to be played at a slower pace in Bermuda, and “it’s definitely not as rough a sport at home. Soccer here kind of reminds me of the English league. You need to be in a lot better shape.”Parris sees his role on the field as controlling the midfield on defense and “getting the ball up to the strikers” in transition. “I like the feeling of controlling the ball,” he said. “You’re able to control what happens next.”He added, “I enjoy playing a team sport, and being part of a team. You come to rely on your teammates, and they rely on you.” At the same time, “playing in the AUS final last year, and making it to nationals, was the highlight of my time here so far, maybe even the highlight of my entire career.”The Axemen started the 2017 season with two wins, a draw and one loss in their first four games. “The league as a whole definitely looks more competitive this season,” Parris said. “When I started here, UNB was the team to beat. Now there are five or six good teams, including us,” all good enough to contend for the conference title.  He confirmed, “our goal for this season is to finish first again, and this time, win the conference final. It’s redemption time for us.”The Axemen “lost a lot of our backline” to graduation, including AUS Player of the Year and All-Canadian Andrew Snyder who both graduated and completed his five years of eligibility in 2016. However, Acadia has “some new players back there who are doing a decent job so far,” and hopefully can continue to do so as they gain varsity experience. Asked if he sees himself as a team leader, Parris acknowledged, “I’d like to think, at this point of my career, I’m someone my younger teammates can look up to,” and maybe see as a role model. “I’m not really a motivational kind of guy. I prefer to let my play speak for me.”Despite the loss of several key players from last season, Parris says the Axemen are arguably “better technically and skill-wise” than they were last season. The new defenders are showing good promise, and there are “a couple of good attackers as well.”

     

    The biggest thing is that “we still need to jell as a group. Once that happens, we could be better than last year.” In particular, “it’s good to have someone like (fifth-year striker) Matt Berrigan back, to serve as a leader up front and a team leader in general.”Parris is scheduled to graduate in May of 2018 with his degree in Business Administration, with a major in finance. He will likely resist the temptation to return for a fifth season of soccer at Acadia. Next spring, though, won’t be the end of his post-secondary education. “I’d hope to go on to an MBA, then go back to Bermuda and get a job there. There are lots of openings back home in that field.”His classes and soccer commitments aside, Parris has participated in extracurricular activities along with his teammates. “Our team has done a lot of community service activities over the years. I’m looking forward to doing whatever I can to enjoy my final year here.”He also spent one winter playing indoor soccer with Valley United. “In the summers, I’ve gone home, and they don’t play soccer in Bermuda in the summer.”Parris admitted to having a few anxious moments during the recent spate on hurricanes in the Caribbean, but fortunately, “Bermuda wasn’t really in the path of any of the storms.”He acknowledged, “I came to Acadia as much for the business program as for the soccer, but I’ve been impressed with what a great all-round school Acadia is, both academically and athletically.”In fact, he has “no regrets at all” over his choice of university. “I was just thinking the other day, I don’t believe I could have chosen a better school, for the whole university experience.”

  • Acadia Men’s Rugby

    Men’s rugby at Acadia has roots dating back to 1878 when the Acadia Rugby Football Club was founded in December of that year. Nearly 140 years later, the club still proudly stands as one of Acadia’s oldest recognized clubs. Today, ARFC consists of two teams competing in both divisions of the Nova Scotia University Club League, and is open to all Acadia Students regardless of experience in the sport.

    We are always more than happy to teach those new to the sport, and we believe that the diversity of rugby background featured on the team is one of the reasons our club is truly special. ARFC is comprised of some players who are entirely new to the sport, as well as players who have competed at the national level. This creates a very unique club dynamic in which more experienced athletes are given an opportunity to share their knowledge with newer members. 

    One of the greatest aspects of the game of rugby is its social side, and we do our best to keep this side of rugby culture very much alive.  Unlike many sports where rivalries seem to extend far beyond the end of a match, in rugby there is a level of respect for the opposition going through the same test of physical demand.

    After a grueling contest it is common practice in rugby to enjoy a few post match beverages with members of the opposition, and one quickly meets many friends throughout the rugby community. Those looking to join are welcome to stop by a training session at the Dykes field (430 Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday) to find out what we are all about. Our next home will take place October 14th, stop on by to enjoy some exciting rugby action and support your Acadia Men’s Rugby Club! 

  • Huskies hold off Axemen in 17-10 win Friday night

    (HALIFAX, N.S.)—The Saint Mary’s Huskies used 17 second-half points to come from behind and defeat the Acadia Axemen 17-10 Friday night at Huskies Stadium in Atlantic University Sport football action. 

    The Huskies survived two late Acadia drives and moved to 3-0 on the season. 

    Trailing 17-10 with 3:05 in the fourth quarter, the Axemen started from their on their own 31-yard line when a 59-yard pass play brought Acadia to SMU’s 20-yard line. 

    Three plays later the Axemen faced a 3rd and Goal from the 7-yard line when Saint Mary’s intercepted their pass in the end zone and returned it 10 yards to their 5-yard line. 

    Acadia forced a Saint Mary’s punt and took over with 21 seconds left at their 37-yard line. 

    A 6-yard pass and two 15-yard personal fouls gave the Axemen one last play with no time at the SMU 37-yard line. 

    An Acadia incomplete pass ended the game. 

    The Axemen scored the only points of the first-half on a 3-yard plunge by running back Dale Wright (Markham, ONT.) with 4:30 left in the 1st quarter.  

    DeAndre Smith (Dunn, North Carolina) put the Huskies on the board in the 3rd quarter when he intercepted Acadia quarterback Cody Cluett (Cole Harbour, N.S.) and returned the turnover 69-yards for a SMU touchdown and tied the game 7-7 with 8:24 in the quarter. 

    Both teams traded field goals with Acadia’s Jarett Saumure (Timberlea, N.S.) kicking a 17-yard field goal with 4:33 left in the third and SMU’s Brian Hope (Port Coquitlan, B.C.) nailed a 35-yarder with 14:51 left in the fourth. 

    Kaleb Scott (Mount Albert, ONT.) pushed the Huskies ahead 17-10 at the 12:28 mark in the 4th quarter when the SMU quarterback connected with receiver Tristen Giusto (Hamilton, ONT.) on a 38-yard touchdown pass. 

    Scott finished with 272 passing yards on 15-33 attempts while Cluettt had 153 yards passing on 11-30 attempts. 

    Wright had 146 yards for Acadia on the ground while Scott led Saint Mary’s with 97 yards. 

    Giusto finished with two receptions for 51 yards for SMU while teammates Josh Henry (Pickering, ONT.) caught three passes for 53 yards and Brandon Ihanza (Toronto, ONT.) had four catches for 80 yards. 

    Axemen receiver Cordell Hastings (Calgary, Alberta) had 87 yards on four catches and Caleb Ryder (Moncton, N.B.) finished with two grabs and 27 yards. 

    Acadia drops to 2-2 and has a bye in Week 5 while Saint Mary’s travels to 1-1 Mount Allison September 23rd at 2 p.m. Atlantic time. 

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