The Axemen season came to an abrupt and somewhat unexpected end with a 6-5 overtime loss to the UQTR Patriotes in quarter-final action March 13 at the University Cup in Halifax.
“It’s a tough game, a tough result, and a tough pill to swallow,” head coach Darren Burns said at a post-game media conference.
“The toughest part of the game for me as a coach is to see the season end for these guys the way it did.”
Vincent Marcoux netted the game-winner with 1:20 remaining in the first overtime. UQTR broke out two-on-one and instead of passing, Marcoux shot and beat Axemen goalie Brandon Glover cleanly.
The overtime goal spoiled what had to that point been one of Acadia’s best performances of the season, at least for two-and-a-half periods.
The Axemen took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room after one period on a power play goal by Chris Owens, assisted by Remi Giftopoulos and Brett Thompson, at the 120-minute mark.
Giftopoulos made it 2-0 1:22 into the second period, again on the power play, with Owens and Matt Pufahl drawing assists.
Boston Leier then made it 3-0 with an evening strength goal less than a minute later, at 2:05, with Sam Fioretti drawing the lone assist.
Martin Lefebvre got UQTR on the board with an even-strength goal at 12:17, but Taylor Makin restored Acadia’s three-goal lead at 16:27 on assists from Leier and Travis Gibbons.
The Patriotes began the third period with a purpose, and were quickly rewarded when Guillaume Asselin scored after just 58 seconds.
The Axemen appeared unfazed, and Mike Cazzola restored the three-goal cushion at 6:41, assisted by Zach Franko and Alex Beaton.
Felix Plouffe gave UQTR some life with an even-strength goal at 9:44, but Acadia still appeared fully in control.
The Patriotes then struck twice in the span of 19 seconds to tie the score. Billy Lacasse beat Glover at 12:04, and Asselin at 12:23 to tie the score.
That was the turning point of the game, Owens said at the media conference after the game.
“They got some momentum, and were able to take advantage of it by putting pucks in the net,” said Owens, whose five-year Acadia career ended with the loss.
The Axemen managed to regroup, and had a number of chances in the remainder of the period, arguably the best by Leier as time wound down. However, they could not manage to put the puck past Guillaume Nadeau, who replaced starter Francis Desrosiers in goal for UQTR after Acadia’s fourth goal.
Acadia was awarded a power play early in the overtime, but despite some good puck movement, they were unable to score. Final shots on goal were 41-32 in favour of the Axemen.
“It sounds strange to say it, but I thought for the most part, we played a good game,” Burns said. “Them scoring early in the third period was certainly a factor, but we kept coming. It’s not like we panicked. We got a couple of bad bounces, but strategically, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
As for the significance of Acadia not being able to score on the power play in overtime, Burns said, “ironically, though we weren’t able to score, I thought it was the best our power play has been all season.”
Burns had special praise for his team’s first-year players,
“We had a tremendous veteran presence, but the play of our first-year guys is the reasons we became a better team from late October on. They provided the spark to our season.”
The Axemen season came to an abrupt and somewhat unexpected end with a 6-5 overtime loss to the UQTR Patriotes in quarter-final action March 13 at the University Cup in Halifax.
“It’s a tough game, a tough result, and a tough pill to swallow,” head coach Darren Burns said at a post-game media conference.
“The toughest part of the game for me as a coach is to see the season end for these guys the way it did.”
Vincent Marcoux netted the game-winner with 1:20 remaining in the first overtime. UQTR broke out two-on-one and instead of passing, Marcoux shot and beat Axemen goalie Brandon Glover cleanly.
The overtime goal spoiled what had to that point been one of Acadia’s best performances of the season, at least for two-and-a-half periods.
The Axemen took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room after one period on a power play goal by Chris Owens, assisted by Remi Giftopoulos and Brett Thompson, at the 120-minute mark.
Giftopoulos made it 2-0 1:22 into the second period, again on the power play, with Owens and Matt Pufahl drawing assists.
Boston Leier then made it 3-0 with an evening strength goal less than a minute later, at 2:05, with Sam Fioretti drawing the lone assist.
Martin Lefebvre got UQTR on the board with an even-strength goal at 12:17, but Taylor Makin restored Acadia’s three-goal lead at 16:27 on assists from Leier and Travis Gibbons.
The Patriotes began the third period with a purpose, and were quickly rewarded when Guillaume Asselin scored after just 58 seconds.
The Axemen appeared unfazed, and Mike Cazzola restored the three-goal cushion at 6:41, assisted by Zach Franko and Alex Beaton.
Felix Plouffe gave UQTR some life with an even-strength goal at 9:44, but Acadia still appeared fully in control.
The Patriotes then struck twice in the span of 19 seconds to tie the score. Billy Lacasse beat Glover at 12:04, and Asselin at 12:23 to tie the score.
That was the turning point of the game, Owens said at the media conference after the game.
“They got some momentum, and were able to take advantage of it by putting pucks in the net,” said Owens, whose five-year Acadia career ended with the loss.
The Axemen managed to regroup, and had a number of chances in the remainder of the period, arguably the best by Leier as time wound down. However, they could not manage to put the puck past Guillaume Nadeau, who replaced starter Francis Desrosiers in goal for UQTR after Acadia’s fourth goal.
Acadia was awarded a power play early in the overtime, but despite some good puck movement, they were unable to score. Final shots on goal were 41-32 in favour of the Axemen.
“It sounds strange to say it, but I thought for the most part, we played a good game,” Burns said. “Them scoring early in the third period was certainly a factor, but we kept coming. It’s not like we panicked. We got a couple of bad bounces, but strategically, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
As for the significance of Acadia not being able to score on the power play in overtime, Burns said, “ironically, though we weren’t able to score, I thought it was the best our power play has been all season.”
Burns had special praise for his team’s first-year players,
“We had a tremendous veteran presence, but the play of our first-year guys is the reasons we became a better team from late October on. They provided the spark to our season.”
