Axemen edge Huskies 4-3

(Halifax, NS) The Saint Mary's Huskies faced off against the Acadia Axemen in AUS men's hockey action at the Halifax Forum.  The Huskies tied it up late in the third after a three goal deficit but the Axemen came away with a 4-3 win.

The game got off to a slow start, with both teams playing very conservative hockey.

Acadia opened the scoring 11 minutes in with a power play goal from Marc McNulty (Medicine Hat, AB). Off the face off, he walked to the middle of the ice and his shot from the point went top corner. Johnny Corneil (Lindsay, ON) got the assist, putting the Axemen up 1-0. That would be the only goal of the period.

Coming out with some jump, Garrett McFadden (Kincardine, ON) rushed down the right wing and stuffed the puck short side past Xavier Potin (Austin, QC) to make it 2-0 for the Huskies 19 seconds into the second period.

The Huskies had a scoring opportunity with 14 minutes to go; a slap shot from Nicholas Welsh (Halifax, NS) beat goalie Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) blocker side but rang off the post.

The score was 2-0 for the Axemen heading into the third period.

Acadia extended their lead to three goals with Jordy Stallord (Brandon, MB) receiving a stretch pass, splitting the Saint Mary's defence, and making no mistake on the breakaway. Ryan Foss (Oakville, ON) and Liam Maaskant (Clinton, ON) had the assists.

The Huskies were quick to respond, when Jake Coughler (St Catharines, ON) scoring a power play goal 28 seconds later. Hunter Garlent (Thorold, ON) assisted.

Playing with some more urgency, the Huskies struck again just as another power play ended, this time with a shot from the point from Calder Brooks (Emerald Park, SK) to Hunter Garlent. Logan Denoble (Peterborough, ON) and Dylan Di Perna (Nobleton, ON) also had the assists.

Dominating most of the third period, the Huskies tied the game with just over four minutes to go. Denoble, working the puck behind the net, made a nice pass out front to Stephen Johnson (Moncton, NB) for a quick wrist shot and the game tying goal.

The comeback was short lived, however, as Acadia scored 36 seconds later. It was Stallord from Foss again.

That would do it for this game as the Axemen won 4-3. Stallord scored two goals, including the game winner, and was awarded the Subway Player of the Game.

For their final regular season games, both teams host Moncton - Acadia on February 9 and Saint Mary's on February 10.

Sarah Moore for SMU

Photo Nick Pearce