Tag: hockey

UNB wins the AUS Hockey Championship
FREDERICTON, NB – The UNB Reds are the 2020 Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey champions after defeating the Acadia Axemen 5-1 in game three of the best of three championship series.
Alexandre Goulet (Disraeli, QC) scored three goals to lead the Reds in a 5-1 win over the Acadia Axemen on Friday, in the third and deciding game of their AUS championship series.
The game was played before a sell-out crowd of 3,374 people at UNB’s Aitken Centre.
Goulet was named the Subway Player of the Game, while Reds goaltender Samuel Harvey (Alma, QC) was named the most valuable player of the AUS playoffs.
Friday’s game began with both teams playing a close, tight-checking game.
They played a scoreless first period, but the at capacity crowd didn’t have to wait long for a goal in the second period.
Oliver Cooper (Fredericton, NB) fired a quick shot from the slot that beat Axemen goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) at the 2:51 mark.
UNB’s Mark Rassell (Calgary, AB) started the play, rushing the puck in on a partial breakaway, but firing the puck over the Acadia net. The Reds gained possession of the loose puck in the corner, before working it in front to Cooper.
With time winding down in the period, and the Reds buzzing inside the Acadia zone, Tristan Pomerleau (Riviere-du-Loup, QC) fed Goulet at the point. His low blast found its way through traffic and beat Flodell, giving UNB a 2-0 lead.
The Axemen came out swinging in the third, and at 1:08, Ross MacDougall (St. Stephen, NB) put the Axemen on the board. His point shot ended almost 146 minutes of shut-out hockey by Harvey in the UNB net.
Goulet’s second goal, at 14:27, restored UNB’s two-goal lead. It was a rocket of a shot off another nice feed from Pomerleau.
Mark Simpson (Rothesay, NB) scored into an empty Acadia net at 16:23, and Goulet completed his hat-trick 29 seconds later, beating Flodell after he’d returned to the Axemen net.
Harvey stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced for the win, allowing a total of three goals in the series.
“It’s a small margin of error for us, against them, and a couple of plays in the second that they got two goals on, a couple of them didn’t really have to happen, but that’s the way it is,” said Axemen head coach Darren Burns. “We were in the box a lot. That kind of takes the energy out and turns the momentum. That’s what hurt us in the second, those momentum switches.”
“That was great entertainment,” said Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall. “It was a hard-fought game, two teams that are pretty close. We had a great opponent.”
Both teams now prepare for the 2020 Cavendish Farms University Cup national championship tournament, in Halifax. That begins Thursday.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics
March 16, 2020
Huskies beat Axemen in must-win game three
HALIFAX, N.S. – The Saint Mary’s University Huskies men’s hockey team staved off semifinal elimination with a 6-2 win over the Acadia Axemen. The Axemen headed into the game up two games to none in the series, but home-ice advantage worked in the Huskies favor as their playoff hopes stay alive for at least one more game.
The Huskies opened the scoring less than three minutes into the period after a flurry of shot attempts. After a wrist shot from the point, Keith Getson (Bridgewater, NS) grabbed the rebound, but goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) made a nice stop. Joel Bishop (St. John’s, NL) got the puck, however, and passed it to Dawson Theede (Brooklin, ON) who put it over Flodell and into the net.
Halfway through the period, Bishop fought to carry the puck into Acadia’s zone. He was taken down near the corner, but got the puck to Noah Zilbert (Fredericton, NB), who threaded it through the slot to Stephen Johnson (Moncton, NB). Johnson got the puck to the net before Flodell could come across to stop it, making it 2-0 for the Huskies.
In the second half of the period, the Axemen had some sustained pressure, forcing the Huskies to ice the puck several times. Acadia got 14 shots on net in the first period, but the bulk of scoring opportunities belonged to the Huskies. Acadia’s best chance came midway through the period when a one-timer from Loch Morrison (Christopher Lake, SK) rang off the post.
Saint Mary’s extended their lead, however, with four and a half minutes to go. A shot from the point from Sam Dunn (Hamilton Township, ON) was redirected by Zilbert. Flodell made the initial save but Sam King (Hampton, NB) put the rebound home.
Conor McGlynn added another tally for the Huskies with just over a minute left in the period. Picking up a bouncing puck in the neutral zone, he rushed down the left-wing and fired a slap shot top corner.
On the next play, Acadia had a good scoring chance on a three on two, but goalie Eric Brassard (St. Hubert, QC) was solid and kept them off the board.
The Huskies led 4-0 heading into the second period.
Special teams made the second period an exciting one. Early on, over a minute of four on four hockey led to end-to-end chances. Midway through the period, Acadia had a five on three advantage. Their good puck movement caused the Huskies to scramble a few times, but the penalties ended with no scoring.
The Axemen had the only goal of the second period, getting on the board with under five minutes to go. A turnover by the Huskies’ defense inside the Acadia blue line was jumped on by Mason McCarty (Blackie, AB). He chipped the puck up to Stephen Harper (Burlington, ON) for a breakaway. Harper beat Brassard blocker side, narrowing the lead to 4-1 at the end of the second period. Shots in the second frame went 12-11 in favor of the Huskies.
The Axemen had a strong start to the third period, scoring less than two minutes in. At the end of a dominant shift cycling the puck, McCarty almost split the defense and sent a wrist shot that beat Brassard’s glove side.
The Huskies had a quick response, however, getting a power-play goal less than 30 seconds later. On the right half-wall, Mitchell Balmas (Sydney, NS) passed to Johnson at the far side of the net. Johnson got his second goal of the game with a low shot. Nicholas Welsh (Halifax, NS) also assisted as the Huskies regained their three-goal lead.
The game got a little chippy after that, with lots of penalties assessed to both teams.
Acadia had a great chance on the power play when a shot from Liam Maaskant (Clinton, ON) at the point was redirected and hit the post.
With six and a half minutes to go, the Axemen were on the power play and pulled their goalie for the six on four advantage. When that play didn’t work, Flodell went back between the posts for another couple minutes. They pulled him again with over three minutes to go, but King scored an empty-net goal to make it 6-2 for the Huskies. That would be the final score of the game.
The Subway Player of the Game, with two goals, was Stephen Johnson.
Game four of the series will be back at the Dauphinee Centre tomorrow night (February 25th) and game five, if necessary, will be played at Acadia on Thursday, February 27th.
Provided by Sarah Moore, SMU Athletics Communications
Photo Nick Pearce
February 29, 2020
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
February 7, 2020
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.
February 1, 2020
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
February 1, 2020
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
January 23, 2020
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
December 7, 2019
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
December 6, 2019
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.

November 29, 2019
Axemen split opening weekend with 6-4 win over UNB
WOLFVILLE N.S. – The Acadia Axemen closed out the opening weekend of AUS regular season play with a statement 6-4 win against the reigning U SPORTS Champions, the UNB Reds.
Saturday night’s match-up between the UNB Reds and the Acadia Axemen began with one of the quieter periods of hockey this year at the Andrew H. McCain Arena. Neither team found the back of the net as both Acadia goalie Logan Flodell and UNB goalie Samuel Harvey were rock solid between the pipes, making 11 saves each.
UNB opened the scoring, just under five minutes into the second frame. Tristan Pomerleau circled from the Acadia blueline and darted down the left-wing boards, before driving the net and finishing off his own rebound through the five-hole of goalie Logan Flodell. The goal was assisted by Stephen Anderson and Patrick Watling.
Axemen Captain Liam Maskaant responded with his first goal of the season after a 3 on 2 rush concluded with Maskaant’s wrister being deflected into the top corner over the UNB goaltender’s glove. Eric Henderson and Jordy Stallard grabbed assists on the play.
Just 19 seconds later, forward Jack Flaman gave Acadia the lead beating Samuel Harvey with a wicked wrist shot following a play made by teammate Ross MacDougall. The goal was Flaman’s first of the regular season.
It took only a minute and ten seconds later for the Axemen to add to their lead when Mason McCarty buried his first in an Axemen sweater after deflecting Garrett McFadden‘s point shot into the UNB goal. Jordy Stallard notched his second assist of the night on the goal.
The Varsity Reds were quick to close the gap in scoring as Mark Rassell grabbed his first of the season tipping in teammate Matt Murphy’s point shot. The powerplay goal came 12:45 into the frame and was also assisted by Matt Boucher.
UNB would get the last laugh of the period as Alexandre Goulet tied up the game after tapping in a cross-crease feed from Patrick Watling with only 0.8 seconds remaining in the second.
The teams headed to their respective locker rooms for the intermission tied up at 3.
UNB’s Tyler Boland opened up the scoring at 4:23 of the third, finding a loose rebound and tucking it past Logan Flodell after he made the initial save on Stephen Anderson’s shot. Joe Gatenby got the second assist on the goal.
Only 2 minutes later Axemen defenceman Garrett McFadden tied up the game on the powerplay with a rocket slapshot from the left point that traveled through a sea of bodies before beating Harvey to the low glove. The Subway First Star of the Game, Jordy Stallard, added his third assist of the night and Morgan Nauss grabbed his second in as many games.
With 12:50 having passed in the final frame, the Subway Third Star of the Game, Mason McCarty, grabbed his second goal of the night and gave the Axemen the lead with a seeing eye shot through a screen eventually beating Harvey to the high glove. The powerplay goal was assisted by Cristiano Digiacinto.
Just over a minute later Jordy Stallard added a goal to his three assists with a quick shot in front of goal after a great breakaway pass from Ryan Foss.
The game would end with the Axemen taking it by a score of 6-4.
Acadia hopes to ride this wave of confidence into next Friday when they play Dalhousie in Halifax.
The Reds will be looking to bounce back when they play their next regular season game October 11th against Moncton.
Provided by Griffin Herrington, Acadia Athletics Communications
October 4, 2019
Season Predictions for Canada’s NHL Teams
Coming off a season that saw three of the seven Canadian teams make the playoffs, Canadians have lofty expectations this year as a Canadian team looks to hoist Lord Stanley for the first time since 1993. All seven Canadian teams will look to break the streak, but there are only a few who have a realistic shot of doing so. Here are my predictions for how I see each team performing with the season set to begin this week:
Ottawa Senators: Coming off a disastrous season that saw the team only muster up a dismal 29 wins, the Sens are looking to have a bounce back year and regain the cup contending run they had not too long ago. The team finished last in the league, and while they have a great core of young talent, there is not much to hope for this season. Realistically, I can’t see the team fairing much better than they did last year as they still have a very young team with little experience.
While there may not be anything to look forward to this season, the future is very bright for the team. The Sens have created a new team led by forward Brady Tkachuk and defenseman Thomas Chabot. Chabot just signed an extension with the team that will see the young star defenseman make 64 million over 8 years. In addition, the Sens locked up forward Colin White, and brought in solid supporting players like Connor Brown at forward and Nikita Zaitsev on defense. The team is building for the future.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs are arguably one of the best teams in the league. They have one of the best groups of forwards, and they have some of the top players leading their team. However, that has been the narrative for the last couple seasons, yet the team cannot seem to find success in the post season. The team had 46 wins last season and finished third in the Atlantic division with 100 points. There is no doubt in my mind the team will play well this year and be one of the top teams in the NHL this season. Although, as mentioned, the regular season has not been the issue for the Leafs, its been the playoffs.
To rectify their post season sorrows, the Leafs tried to sure up their defense by adding Tyson Barrie, and depth pieces like Cody Ceci and Ben Harpur. But, to make these moves they had to let go of key pieces like Nazem Kadri and Ron Hainsey, players who were relied on. Not to mention, the Leafs couldn’t find a deal to keep Jake Gardiner, a player that was with the team for some time and was a center piece of their defensive unit.
In saying that, the Leafs will have similar success they did last season, but it remains to be seen if the transactions they made will be enough to lead them to post-season success.
Montreal Canadiens: Falling just short of the playoffs last year, the Canadiens surprised a lot of people last year as they were fare more successful than the quality of their team would suggest. Obviously, it is not a secret that success for the team is defined by the quality of play they receive from Carey Price. Price has been one of the best goalies in the league for awhile now, and the Canadiens will lean on him again as they push for a playoff spot.
Unlike other teams in their division, Montreal did not make any big moves this off-season. Head Coach Claude Julien and General Manager Marc Bergevin will be on the hot seat this season as fans are expecting the team to be a playoff contender this year. The only notable move the Canadiens made was delivering an offer sheet to Sebastian Aho. The star centerman signed the deal but it was quickly matched by Carolina, who had his rights as an RFA. You would think the Canadiens would have been more aggressive after missing out, but the team is confident their young stars will elevate their play this year.
With playmakers like Max Domi, Jonathan Drouin, and Brendan Gallagher, and potential stars like Artturi Lehkonen and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the Canadiens have potential to be an offensive force. Along with a solid top four of defensemen comprised of Shea Weber, Victor Mete, Jeff Petry, and Brett Kulak, the Canadiens have a solid team capable of contending for the playoffs.
Honestly, this season could go either way. The team definitely has the potential to make the playoffs, but if the team stumbles out of the gates and their young players don’t step up like expected, it could be a disastrous year for the Canadiens. If the latter does happen, expect a host of changes for the team, starting with management as Bergevin has had one foot out the door in Montreal for some time.
Winnipeg Jets: The Jets are coming off a fairly successful season that saw them make the playoffs and lose in a tough first round bout against the eventual Stanley Cup Champions. The team posted 47 wins last season and finished second in the Central Division. Yet, the team has had a long offseason as there has been a lot of news surrounding the team.
The Jets took the entire offseason to sign forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, and with the team recently suspending Dustin Byfuglien to protect their cap as he ponders whether he will retire or not, the team has had a lot to handle this offseason. Although, what is not in question is the quality of roster the Jets have. Led by captain Blake Wheeler, the Jets have one of the most balanced teams right from their goalie to their forwards. Their top center Mark Scheifele posted 38 goals and 84 points last season and was leaned on as a leader in his assistant captain role. Veterans like Brian Little and Matthew Perreault, are solid supporting players that rally around the many stars on this team and make them a definite cup contender.
Although, with the departure of Jacob Trouba, there are some questions on defense for the team, especially if Byfuglien retires, it could be an issue. Not to mention, goalie Connor Hellebuyck is coming off a less than impressive year that saw him post a GAA of 2.90.
Despite this, I look for the Jets to be a contender in the West again this year, and for them to be a capable cup contender as they look to break Canada’s cup drought.
Calgary Flames: The Flames were the best Canadian team last year, as they won the Pacific division with 107 points. The Flames had 50 wins last season and finished with the best record in the Western Conference. However, like the two other Canadian teams to make the playoffs, they were also bounced in the first round by the Colorado Avalanche. The team wanted to make some moves to improve their roster, but GM Brad Treliving was quiet throughout the offseason.
The only move that caught some people’s attention was the trade for Milan Lucic. Lucic was traded in exchange for James Neal, who was an utter disappointment in Calgary last season as he was demoted to a bottom 6 role. Lucic was terrible in Edmonton for the majority of his tenure as it looked like he could never get comfortable with the pace of the game. Not really sure what Calgary was thinking in completing that trade, but we will see if Lucic can add anything as he approaches the end of his career.
Fortunately, the Flames have a tremendous roster that didn’t need to be changed much at all. Led by forwards Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau, along with last seasons Norris Trophy winner Mark Giordano, the Flames have a roster than can compete with anyone. There was some concern that RFA Matthew Tkachuk might not sign before the season begun, but those worries were soon quashed as the star winger signed a three-year bridge deal worth an AAV of 7 million.
I believe the Flames will have tremendous success again this season, and with an extra year of experience under their belt, hopefully they understand what it takes to win in the playoffs.
Edmonton Oilers: There are many words to describe the past few seasons the Oilers have had, and none of the words are very flattering. It’s been a debacle for the team ever since losing to the Anaheim ducks back in the 2017 playoffs. The team has been so reliant on Connor McDavid, they forgot to surround the superstar with competent players. The Oilers had 35 wins last season, and without McDavid and Draisaitl, it’d be hard to tell if their roster was of NHL quality.
The Oilers had a fairly active offseason, beginning with the announcement of their new GM Ken Holland, who came over from the Red Wings where he was the GM from 1997 to the end of the 2019 season. Shortly after, Holland announced the signing of the Oilers new head coach, Dave Tippett. Tippett was formerly the coach of the Arizona Coyotes, and is known for a tough style of coaching that maximizes every bit of talent each player has. In terms of adding players, the Oilers brought in James Neal, Markus Granlund, and goaltender Mike Smith, players that will add to the team’s depth.
Frankly, I can’t see the Oilers fairing much better than they did last year as they failed to add any substantial pieces. Defenseman Evan Bouchard looks like a nice young player, and Kailer Yamamoto may provide some much-needed skill to a team that has very little other than their stars. Besides that, it’s a roster that has many holes and question marks, and it could be another season where the Oilers look to compete for the number 1 pick in the 2020 Entry Draft.
Vancouver Canucks: Probably the most interesting Canadian team in the league this season, and the most difficult to predict given the amount of changes they’ve made in the offseason. The Canucks had 35 wins last season, and didn’t really have many bright spots besides Elias Pettersson, and a few other Canucks. However, this season has the potential to be a good one if the team finds their footing early.
The Canucks added forwards JT Miller, Michael Ferland, and defenseman Tyler Myers. One player to watch will be young star defenseman Quinn Hughes who was drafted 7^th overall in 2018 by the Canucks and played 5 games with the team last season after completing two years at the University of Michigan. The Canucks also signed Brock Boeser to a three-year deal, with an AAV of 5.875 million. Boeser is a very talented player but has been “handcuffed” to injuries that has caused him to miss games in the past.
With a solid defensive core led by the likes of Hughes, Chris Tanev, Alex Edler, and Jordie Benn, along with talented forwards like Pettersson, Bo Horvat, Boeser, and others, the Canucks could be a team to watch as they compete for a playoff spot.
With that, I think it is a stretch to say the Canucks will definitely make the playoffs, but I do believe they will be a better team than last year. The organization is still in a rebuild, but they could find success earlier than expected.
Canadian hockey fans have a lot to look forward to this year, and hopefully they can watch a Canadian team lift the Stanley Cup when its all said and done.
Sebastian Farkas is a fourth year honours politics student and Sports and Wellness Editor of the Athenaeum.

September 30, 2019
A Wake-up Call for Sexually Violent Language in Sports
In light of the recent hockey brawl that took place on Saturday, February 2nd between St. Francis Xavier University and Acadia University, several individuals have reached out to me disappointed with the way Acadia handled the situation. Armed with the facts, I interviewed multiple people with the hopes of accurately representing the feelings of students about the brawl. Some individuals within this article remain anonymous due to positions they currently hold on campus and within the Acadia community.
In case you haven’t been keeping up with the news, during the third period of the hockey game, both the Acadia and St.FX players were engaging in typical hockey banter. Acadia player Rodney Southam was pushed into the opposing team’s box during the banter and it was in that moment Southam, as identified in his official statement, told St.FX captain Sam Studnicka “You look like a little ******* rapist”. Studnicka, who has a relationship to a sexual assault survivor, was deeply affected by this comment and as Studnicka faced off against Southam minutes later the brawl ensued.
Since the second week in February, the conversation around the brawl died down following the official statements from Southam and Acadia University. But this conversation is one that should be talked about and not pushed under the rug.
A distraught student wanted to highlight that “Acadia is bending over backwards to protect a player with poor sportsmanship and who may not be innocent of sexual misconduct himself, meanwhile [the university] has no strong nor functional Sexual Violence Policy (SV Policy) in place”. This student acknowledges many sexual assault survivors on campus do not feel nearly the same kind of support that Southam has received for his role in the continual appropriation of sexually violent language.
Jenna Purkis, Head of Acadia’s Mental Health Initiative, informed me while “Acadia currently does have some infrastructure in place to respond to incidents of sexualized violence but all Nova Scotian Universities, per the 2015-2019 Memorandum of Understanding, are required to have a ‘stand-alone sexual violence policy’, which is still in development at Acadia.”
While Purkis assures there have been serious developments towards the creation of a functional SV policy in this past year such as a consultation with students in November and faculty regarding the current presentation of the policy in December, these proposed changes, as of late-February, have not been adopted into the current draft. This news means Acadia is not as close to having formed a working SV policy as students and faculty would have liked. The distraught student points out that due to the lack of progress since 2015, “Acadia’s commitment [to creating a functional SV policy] seems as strong as a toothpick”.
Purkis, along with this anonymous student both expressed sexual violence is an issue affecting individuals on campus and the best way for Acadia to show their support to victims is to finalize a working SV Policy.
Purkis supports her beliefs by noting that “Acadia can and should verbalize their support for victim-survivors, but Acadia’s good intentions mean very little if we do not have an adequate policy in place to follow through.”
Through the individuals that have reached out to me, it has become apparent that while Acadia can do their part in supporting victim-survivors by creating an SV policy, there is a larger problem at hand. Students have expressed that sexually violent language in sports has become appropriated and is now unfortunately embedded in ‘sport culture’
Samantha Teichman, a leader in Commit Sociology, held a community discussion following news of the brawl. The aim was to discuss in a diplomatic manner Southam’s response statement and the problems with using sexually violent language in sports and how, if possible, to fix this appropriation. In a comment from the Commit Sociology community discussion, students said that “the response must come from more than the individual players but a change from the institutions themselves.”
Currently, Acadia uses a system called Bystander Intervention Training (BIT) with their Varsity Athletes. The goal of BIT is to prepare athletes to become active bystanders who are ready to intervene in similar situations such as the brawl. Teichman noted the community touched on how Acadia’s hockey players currently undergo BIT but agree that “when events like this arise and our repercussions are not sufficient, these preventative measures (BIT) ring hollow. It was agreed [by Commit Sociology] that this event should be a time for reflection and furthermore, a learning opportunity”.
“I’ve heard “sensitivity training” for athletes suggested as a means to address incidents like these”, Purkis noted regarding the brawl. “While I do think training and programs such as BIT (in which many athletes receive mandatory training) can be useful, they absolutely are not “the” solution. They are superficial remedies for a structural and cultural problem; we can employ trainings like these to convey a message about the seriousness of sexual violence, but that message means very little without serious follow-through and consequences”.
In a conversation with another student who asked to remain anonymous, they believe that Acadia must be strict when it comes to sexually violent language and they must punish instead of protecting any student who does so.
If students are able to use this kind of language and get away with it, or worse be protected by their institutions, change will never come. This is a critical problem affecting universities across the country. At this point, the only way to rid ‘sport culture’ of sexually violent language is for these institutions to hold students responsible for their words.
Sexual Violence is a critical issue on university campuses. It is my understanding, through the various conversations I’ve had regarding the topic, that this hockey brawl is a chance for the university to take a step back and address how they can learn from this incident and improve the stature of things on campus. Instead of worrying about their own or their player’s reputations, Acadia should be using this opportunity to show support to victim-survivors on campus and make the changes necessary to improve our institution.
Commit Sociology “hope[s] to see a more constructive response of how to prevent the use of sexually violent language in sport moving forward”.
“The ASU denounces all forms of violence on campus. The ASU has been an advocate for enhancing all forms of student wellness on campus” stated George Philp, ASU President in response to this article.
“This year our Executive and Council have been active in ensuring better access to medical professionals at the Dennis Clinic, which is better staffed this semester than it has been in years. The ASU has been a strong leader in our work with the Acadia Student Resource Centre to role out the Nova Scotia Bystander Intervention Training to more students including many of Acadia’s varsity athletes. This year’s Executive has spearheaded the modernizing of Acadia’s Non-Academic Judicial Process to better support survivors of sexual violence and we look forward to the implementation of Acadia’s Sexual Violence Policy in the coming weeks. Again, the ASU is proud of the funding, services, and advocacy that we provide for all students and violence within our campus community is never justifiable.”
Rylie Moscato is a first year English student and Columnist for The Athenaeum
March 8, 2019
Player Insight: What is it like to play in the WHL?
Junior hockey is a staple for so many Canadian households. Players are treated like NHL stars in many of these communities and junior hockey unites small towns across the country. Canada is home to the best junior hockey league in the world: the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The CHL is an umbrella organization representing three amateur leagues in the country: the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). These leagues serve as developmental leagues for young hockey players that want to improve their skills and hopefully pursue a career in the NHL (commonly referred to as the “Show”). These are the best junior hockey leagues in the world, and year after year they graduate some of the best players in the world. NHL Super Stars like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, and many others began to hone their skills in these very leagues.
So, what is it like? What is it like to be playing in one of the best three junior hockey leagues in the world? What is it like to face off against future legends of the game? Carter Czaikowski is a former defenseman for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Carter was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, where he began playing hockey for the Crowchild Blackhawks of NW Calgary before moving on to play for the Northwest Calgary Athletic Association (NWCAA) at the bantam AAA and midget AAA levels. Carter was drafted in the sixth round of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft to the Portland Winterhawks. He was the Winterhawks’ first pick in the draft and went on to play three seasons for the team.
I sat down with Carter to find out his experience in the WHL.
To begin, how did you get into hockey in the first place?
It’s a funny story. My mom put me in figure skating when I was four years old, and I loved it, until we started doing twirls and whatnot. When that started, I tossed my figure skates and grabbed a hockey stick because that’s what I wanted to play. With that being said, I believe that figure skating during my youth was paramount to building a strong skating base and moving forward with my hockey career.
At what point did you realize that you were just a little bit better than everyone else, and had a chance of playing at a high level?
I don’t know if I was better than everyone else as much as I simply loved the competitive aspect of the sport, and always pushed myself to become the best player I could. As far as playing at a high level, that was never my main goal. All I wanted was to grow into the best player I possibly could: if I did that, the level I played at was bound to take care of itself.
I want to take you back to the day you were drafted by the Portland Winterhawks. It’s funny because I don’t know if you remember where you were when you got the call, but I was sitting beside you in the computer lab at St. Vincent and I just remember how happy and excited I was for you. What was that day like for you?
It was a special day for sure. The bantam draft is one of those days where anything can happen, and it is hard to predict what team will pick you, or if you will even be picked for that matter. I was very thankful that Portland saw potential in me and gave me the opportunity to try and take my game to the next level.
You chose to take the WHL route instead of the college route by playing in the AJHL (Alberta Junior Hockey League), why?
My biggest reason for taking the WHL route was the amazing scholarship program the league offers its players. My family and I hold Canadian universities in high regard, and I wanted to complete my post-secondary education in Canada. In addition, the WHL gives its players the opportunity to play against some of the top talent in the world, all while balancing a schedule that is modelled after a professional schedule (72 regular season games). I believed it was the best place to develop as a young hockey player with lofty aspirations.
Can you describe to us what it was like to be living on your own at such a young age? Additionally, can you tell us what a billet is like, and describe life in Portland?
Moving away from home at a young age was an adjustment. To do it at 16 years old, just entering grade 11 of high school, posed some difficulties. But I genuinely believe it allowed me to mature quickly by learning important life skills. I was very fortunate to have amazing billets throughout my junior hockey career. These families take you in at a young age and treat you as one of their own. It is a very special bond and I still keep in touch with each family that I lived with over the years. Before moving to Portland, I did not know much about the city. Upon moving there, I learnt that it is a beautiful place with endless things to do. The people there are very kind, and I was able to make many meaningful relationships in Portland.
Is there something that you think many people do not know about junior hockey?
One thing that most would not know is the difficulty that one faces while playing junior hockey away from home during high school. It was a significant adjustment and I believe over time it allowed me to become a better student because I became diligent with my habits, especially in terms of understanding the value of completing things ahead of time. For example, in the month of October in my grade 11 season, I attended only seven or eight days of class, as our team was on a long Eastern road trip at the time. I was lucky to work with fantastic people who scheduled our schooling, and ensured we were accommodated to write tests from abroad, etc. Sue Johnson, our academic advisor played a big role in my academic career and I am forever grateful for all that she did for me.
During your time in Portland you had some injuries, and were in and out of the lineup – can you describe what that was like and the challenges it posed?
Injuries are extremely difficult to handle in sport as they put you on the sidelines for a substantial amount of time. I remember not being able to do anything for a prolonged period of time, and being the type A personality that I am, this was extremely difficult. However, one thing I learned from these experiences and believe has helped me since, is the importance of patience. There are times when the best thing you can do for yourself is nothing. This is something I initially found extremely uncomfortable, and I still battle with the notion today; however, learning to be patient has helped me grow as a person. Equally, another difficulty is getting back to game speed as your timing and instincts are off after returning from injury. Things that have always been second nature suddenly become foreign, and this can be immensely frustrating as it takes time to regain those instinctual tendencies that are often taken for granted. Through hard work and a relentless mindset, those habits are regained, and game speed feels natural again.
You played with some special players during your time in Portland (Oliver Bjorkstrand, Cody Glass, Paul Bittner, Nic Petan, etc.), what teammate taught you a few things?
One of my teammates that I learned a lot from was Cody Glass, who happened to be one of my closest friends on the team. Cody and I spent a lot of time together and one thing that I always admired about him was his genuine love for the sport and his “never quit” attitude. He is a special player, and an even greater person, who I know will have great success as a professional.
Mike Johnston was your coach in Portland: can you describe what it was like to have him as a coach? Especially, as he coached in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and had the opportunity to coach Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Fleury, and other high-level athletes during his tenure.
Mike Johnston is a coach that expects a lot from his players but is fair in his expectations. I was lucky to have him as a coach as he taught me a lot about the game, but also in terms of how individuals should carry themselves on and off the ice. Through and through, Mike is a professional, who portrays a level of decorum that you don’t see everyday.
I have to ask about Cale Makar. Obviously, growing up you got to know him pretty well as you two were the star defensemen at what was formerly called Crowchild Hockey Association in NW Calgary. How does it feel that you had the chance to share the ice with Cale, and got to know him personally while growing up? Did you ever think he was going to be this successful playing the game?
Cale is a class act. To this day, he is still the same person he was when we were young. I was fortunate enough to be really good friends with him when we were younger, and we were able to push each other to become better players both in practice and on game days. I am not surprised by the amount of success he has already achieved in his young career due to his absolute passion for the game. Cale, like Cody, is a special person who loves hockey in a way that few do. I am excited to continue watching him grow and achieve great success in the future.
Did you ever think you could make the NHL? If so, was that always your dream?
When I was a boy, like any Canadian growing up, I thought I had a chance of playing in the NHL. Once upon a time, that was indeed my dream. I believe that having that goal enabled me to become a better hockey player each day. The life lessons I gained from striving towards this goal are unparalleled, and I am thankful that I was a boy with big dreams.
If you had to do things over, would you do it again? After having time to reflect, would you still have taken the WHL route?
Absolutely. I am not one to live with regrets and I believe the lessons I learned both on and off the ice, are not learned in many other environments. The WHL is a tough league to play in, and it is something that I was fortunate enough to do.
What has it been like to be away from the game for some time now? Did you ever consider playing U Sport Hockey or college hockey in the US?
Being away from the competitive atmosphere of junior hockey has been a change of pace. Although, I believe my competitiveness in hockey has translated into forming my approach towards my education. I did consider playing U Sport hockey, but I have thoroughly enjoyed playing a different pace of hockey in my intramural league at school and at various other skates I participate in.
Finally, describe to us what you have been doing since leaving the game? And what is the new goal for Carter going forward now that hockey is behind you?
Since leaving the game, I have been working towards a degree in Supply Chain Management at the Haskayne School of Business here at the University of Calgary. I am in my second year of studies and have enjoyed my time here considerably. As for new goals, I am focused on getting into law school in Canada and working towards becoming a corporate lawyer. I have applied many of the lessons I learnt in hockey to my schooling, and I love the competitive nature of my business program. With that being said, I am taking it one day at a time, as I am still focused on becoming the best version of myself each day.
I want to thank Carter for taking the time to sit down with me and tell his story about being a player in the WHL. I look forward to watching him succeed in the future, wherever he decides to take his life next.
Sebastian Farkas is a third year Politics student and Sports and Wellness Editor of The Athenaeum
February 1, 2019
Opinion: Do or Die for Cheaton Cup?
Cheaton Cup, an event originally started as both a charitable event and as a way to settle inter-residence rivalries on the ice has been moved to the Wednesday of March 27^th instead of its traditional Saturday. This should not be considered a major change, and while I’m not privy to the specifics, I’m quite sure that the powers that be did this for a good reason. After all, Cheaton Cup is known through out Nova Scotia as being a fantastic hockey game.
Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), it’s also known for its parties. Regrettably, the parties and alcohol fueled revelry have resulted in not a charitable boon but an effective net loss. The cost in security services and damages is higher than ticket profits. A small minority of Acadia’s students are passionate about that element and in their drunkenness wrack up costs through damages, fights, and hospital fees.
From what I’ve gathered, the change of dates was a calculated attempt to mitigate damage and costs. In theory, with more students in class on a school day, they would be less encouraged to drink.
I have no doubt these were noble intentions. However, I still fear that the change will result in students drinking on either the weekend prior to the Wednesday or on the weekend after- whichever has the bulk of the parties and festivities. In a worst case scenario, they party on both weekends. While I have confidence in the more experienced students, I fear the younger students might drink the day of the event and after. This would typically result in hungover students on the Monday, although with the date change this would leave them on the Friday.
I fear that any students who miss their Wednesday or Thursday classes will actively skip their Friday classes and make their own independent reading break. Students doing this unsponsored and unofficial reading break will likely be joined by people from outside the valley, who are attracted by the parties. I believe that changing the date is not enough of a deterrent, if it even acts as one in the first place.
“All well and good, that’s their choice,” I hear you say. “I don’t drink, so it’s not my problem”.
Not necessarily.
The option of leaving campus for the weekend has always been present. Those students are constricted by their class schedules unless they’re relieved of their classes for the day. While not only being uncomfortable or potentially triggering for students, some of those students will be Safety and Security personnel and RAs who also have to attend classes. This would dilute the already small, trained pool of personnel who would normally take measures to ensure that their residents are enjoying Cheaton safely.
Like it or not, it’s an open secret that one of the duties of an RA is to attend to heavily inebriated individuals, at the very least ensuring they end up in the recovery position. I fear this change, by reducing the trained cadre of advisors, will ensure that the costs of this event will impact student health.
Those inebriated masses are forced into either staying in class and disrupting other students, rather than recuperating in their beds as they would on the weekend. Nobody wins here. Students will decide to pre-drink and attend class which will more than likely affect students and faculty at a minimum. What concerns me from a health perspective is that having Cheaton on a school day where may cause people to feel pressured into catching up with their pre-drinking comrades. The difference being that the time frame is measured in minutes and not hours.
My biggest concern is that with the date change people who wouldn’t normally be around or on campus are now present and causing problems. The date change means that students who attend Wolfville Elementary School right next to campus will be walking with parents to attend their classes while Acadia students are drinking. The last thing anyone involved needs is a drunken Acadia student harassing or harming an elementary school student.
The parties, whenever and wherever they occur, will go late. I have full confidence that there will be noise violations and involvement from the RCMP long into the night. While this has always occurred regardless of the date, it becomes an issue as on a Wednesday a higher number of people will have to attend school and work the following day.
Between Green Jesus and Red Death damage is expected and will be accommodated for. I think this change will have, at least for the short term, dire consequences in both student health and cost of damages for this year’s cup. Traditionally the damage has been limited to the weekend but I fear it will stretch out for more than a week. I fear this will be the more damaging outcome not only on Acadia’s reputation, but on student health. This will prove costlier simply by having to pay security to monitor the student body for the week.
All transitions are difficult, but I think this choice will (in the long run) cut down on damages and save costs as campus adjusts to the new date. In the short term, I fear that everything discussed above will make this years Cheaton Cup more difficult and costlier.
Until Cheaton Cup 2019 is done we won’t be able to assess if this change was as poor of a choice as I believe it is. To be honest, I hope I’m wrong and everyone has a fantastic time. However, there’s no right answer that leaves everyone happy. Sometimes, all you can do is prepare and mitigate the damage.
Sean A. Schofield is a fourth year History major
January 18, 2019
Reds edge past Axemen in 2-1 win
WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen (2-3-0) were unable to mount a comeback against the undefeated UNB Reds (5-0-0) on Friday night, as they lost 2-1. Although the teams were evenly matched for most the game, UNB dominated the third period to take the win.
Despite chances on both sides, the first period was a scoreless affair. UNB dominated the play early in the period, but Acadia eventually found their footing before the midway point of the first.
By the end of the first period, the shots were 12-9 for the Axemen.
UNB broke the scoreless tie with a shorthanded marker in the second period from Reds forward Samuel Dove-McFalls.
Dove-McFalls buried the puck into the empty net after the Axemen goalie fell over and let go of the loose puck, making it 1-0 for UNB.
The Axemen responded just under six minutes later when they tied the game off a goal from Acadia forward, Rodney Southam.
Southam scored off a weird bounce like McFalls’ goal, as the puck ricocheted off the glass behind the net and bounced in front where Southam potted it to make it 1-1.
By the end of the second period, the shots were 22-19 for the Axemen.
UNB came out firing on all cylinders in the third, with a power-play goal 17 seconds into the final frame.
Reds forward Kris Bennett broke into the offensive zone, cut to the left and ripped a shot into the bottom right corner of the net, past the Axemen goalie to make it 2-1.
The Axemen were mere inches away from tying the game when forward Kyle Farrell flew in on a breakaway. Farrell slid the puck under the goalie’s pads, but the UNB defense were able to clear the puck off the line before it went in.
That was the closest the Axemen would come to tying the game in the third, despite pulling their goalie late in regulation time.
“A lot of flow to the game, especially playing against UNB, a top team in the nation for many years. I think we actually did a very good job considering we have 12 new guys who are seeing them for the first time. We did a good job keeping them to the outside and skating with them,” noted Axeman Rodney Southam following the game.
Axemen goaltender Logan Flodell turned aside 25 of 27 shots, while his UNB counterpart – and Subway First Star of the Night – Rylan Parenteau stopped 29 of 30 shots.
Southam pointed out he’s not surprised by Parenteau’s performance.
“I have been playing against him all my life and he is a pretty acrobatic goalie. Seeing him in there, I said to ‘good job’ to him, but definitely not the way I wanted it to end,” said Southam.
The second and third stars of the night were Axemen forward Rodney Southam and UNB forward Kris Bennett, respectively
The Axemen take to the ice again at home tomorrow night against the UPEI Panthers. Puck drop is at 7:00pm.
Joshua Foote works at the Acadia Athletics Communications Office
October 22, 2018

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