FREDERICTON, N.S. - The CIS No. 4 ranked hockey Axemen exploded with 5 goals in their first 10 minutes of hockey as they handed the St. Thomas Tommies a 9-5 loss in the last of a two game road trip this weekend. The quick start led the way to a lopsidded victory over the St. Thomas Tommies, and gives the Axemen a 11-3 record through 14 games on the season.
The scoring opened with Mike Cazzola scoring his first of two on the night, and his 8th of the season at 4:38 into the first period, with Brett Thompson picking up the assist. Just 54 seconds later, 1st year forward Boston Leier converted on a play with Cazzola and Thompson to make it 2-0. Before that goal could be announced, the Axemen made it 3-0 as first year forward, Sam Fioretti scored with the assist going to Tyler Ferry.
The Tommies desperate to stop the bleeding, responded 53 seconds later as Connor Sanvido beat Axemen goaltender Robert Steeves to cut the Acadia lead to 3-1.
Just over a minute later, rookie forward Boston Leier netted his second of the game on a play with Sam Fioretti; and 1:42 later, Remy Giftopoulos made it 5-1, with Zach Franko and Liam Heelis picking up helpers. Finally the scoring slowed, at least temporarily, although St. Thomas was able to add a second goal at 17:48 of the period as Stephen Janes scored to make it 5-2 after 1 period of play.
Acadia came out strong again in the second period, scoring three straight goals, with Cazzola picking up his second on the night and ninth of the year, followed by Dylan Anderson getting his first of the season, in just his second game, after returning from a high ankle sprain that had sidelined him for the first 13 games of the season.
Captain Liam Heelis scored his 8th on the season, from Franko and Giftopoulos to make it an 8-2 game. St. Thomas answered back with two late second period goals, one from Felix Poulin and the second from Kody Orr, closing the gap to 8-4 after two periods of play.
But Acadia stopped any hopes of a miracle comeback quickly in the third period as defenceman Dan Poliziani scored on the powerplay, from Chris Owens and Boston Leier, just 20 seconds into the final frame to make it 9-4. Cody Orr would score his second on the night for the Tommies to round out the scoring on the night and make it a 9-5 final.
St. Thomas falls to 1-11-3 on the season, a night after winning their first game of the season by shutting out the Dalhousie Tigers. Acadia outshot STU 33-23, with Acadia going 1-4 on the powerplay and the Tommies not having a powerplay opportunity. Robert Steeves got the win in goal for the Axemen, while Tyson Tiechmann took the loss for the Tommies.
With the win, UNB's victory, and Saint Mary's victory on Saturday night, the Axemen remain in a second place tie with UNB, just one point back of Saint Mary's for the top spot in the AUS. Acadia returns home for their final home game of the first half on Wednesday, when they will host the Dalhousie Tigers.
Provided by axemenhockey.com