Fifth-year defenceman Chris Owens saw his first university hockey action of 2014-2015 with the Axemen Oct. 22 at St. F.X. and contributed a shorthanded goal in a game Acadia ended up losing 4-3.
Owens, who first joined the Axemen in the fall of 2010 after a successful career with Miramichi Timberwolves of the Maritime Junior Hockey League, played four seasons with Acadia prior to his graduation in May of 2014 with a business degree.
His combination of offence, which saw him collect 30 goals and 104 points in 109 regular season games, and defence resulted in his being named to the Atlantic University Sport all-rookie team in 2010-2011 and selected as a first-team AUS all-star the last three seasons and a second-team all-Canadian in 2011-2012.
The St. John’s, Newfoundland, native, had a tryout this fall with his hometown team, the American Hockey League’s Ice Caps. He was ultimately sent to the training camp of the Ontario Reign of the East Coast Hockey League, according to the Axemen hockey website.
As a back-up plan, he also enrolled at Acadia in September for the 2014-2015 school year, and this past week, decided to postpone his professional quest, at least for the remainder of this season, in favour of a fifth and final year at Acadia, according to Axemen head coach Darren Burns and Acadia athletic director Kevin Dickie.
Dickie confirmed Oct. 23 that Owens was already enrolled in school and was eligible to play right away.
While at the professional training camps, Burns explained, Owens only played exhibition games, one in the AHL and one in the ECHL, which he is permitted to do without affecting his CIS eligibility.
Owens is courses at Acadia, Burns said, of sufficient number to qualify him as a student in good academic standing. He plans to play the remainder of the 2014-2015 AUS season for Acadia.
Dickie confirmed Acadia Athletics had “known for some time” that Owens was enrolled in school and had the potential to return, but stayed quiet.
“(If Owens) had made the AHL, he would have stayed. He’s decided not to go to the ECHL” at this point, Dickie said.
Burns said the Axemen are very excited to have Owens back on the roster and in the lineup. His presence “is definitely a boost for us,” but, the coach said, “it’s a team game, and we all have jobs to do.”
With three rookies on defence plus converted forwards Travis Randell and Tyler Ferry, and Geoff Schemitsch still sidelined with an injury, any extra depth on the blueline is welcome, especially with a resume like Owens brings to the table.
With the number 10 jersey he wore the past four seasons now being worn by first-year forward Zach Franko, Owens donned number three in the game against St. F.X.
Fifth-year defenceman Chris Owens saw his first university hockey action of 2014-2015 with the Axemen Oct. 22 at St. F.X. and contributed a shorthanded goal in a game Acadia ended up losing 4-3.
Owens, who first joined the Axemen in the fall of 2010 after a successful career with Miramichi Timberwolves of the Maritime Junior Hockey League, played four seasons with Acadia prior to his graduation in May of 2014 with a business degree.
His combination of offence, which saw him collect 30 goals and 104 points in 109 regular season games, and defence resulted in his being named to the Atlantic University Sport all-rookie team in 2010-2011 and selected as a first-team AUS all-star the last three seasons and a second-team all-Canadian in 2011-2012.
The St. John’s, Newfoundland, native, had a tryout this fall with his hometown team, the American Hockey League’s Ice Caps. He was ultimately sent to the training camp of the Ontario Reign of the East Coast Hockey League, according to the Axemen hockey website.
As a back-up plan, he also enrolled at Acadia in September for the 2014-2015 school year, and this past week, decided to postpone his professional quest, at least for the remainder of this season, in favour of a fifth and final year at Acadia, according to Axemen head coach Darren Burns and Acadia athletic director Kevin Dickie.
Dickie confirmed Oct. 23 that Owens was already enrolled in school and was eligible to play right away.
While at the professional training camps, Burns explained, Owens only played exhibition games, one in the AHL and one in the ECHL, which he is permitted to do without affecting his CIS eligibility.
Owens is courses at Acadia, Burns said, of sufficient number to qualify him as a student in good academic standing. He plans to play the remainder of the 2014-2015 AUS season for Acadia.
Dickie confirmed Acadia Athletics had “known for some time” that Owens was enrolled in school and had the potential to return, but stayed quiet.
“(If Owens) had made the AHL, he would have stayed. He’s decided not to go to the ECHL” at this point, Dickie said.
Burns said the Axemen are very excited to have Owens back on the roster and in the lineup. His presence “is definitely a boost for us,” but, the coach said, “it’s a team game, and we all have jobs to do.”
With three rookies on defence plus converted forwards Travis Randell and Tyler Ferry, and Geoff Schemitsch still sidelined with an injury, any extra depth on the blueline is welcome, especially with a resume like Owens brings to the table.
With the number 10 jersey he wore the past four seasons now being worn by first-year forward Zach Franko, Owens donned number three in the game against St. F.X.
