(Antigonish, NS) The X-Men hockey team claimed their third consecutive Keating Cup in as many years after a 4-2 win in Game 2 and a 3-2 overtime win over the Acadia Axemen.

The Axemen had won Game 1 by a 4-3 margin Tuesday night in Wolfville, and after the 4-2 StFX victory tonight, the two teams played a ten-minute overtime period to determine the winners of the Keating Cup, named in honor of Charles V. Keating, distinguished StFX alumnus, philanthropist and supporter of X-Men hockey.

Special teams proved to be the difference in Game 2 of the Keating Cup Challenge as the Axemen scored both their goals on the powerplay while the X-Men scored one powerplay and one shorthanded marker. Acadia opened the scoring in the game with a power play goal by Nathan Welton at 3:48 of the first period. Zack McMillan was credited with the assist.

Brett Robertson scored the X-Men’s first goal of the game, an even strength goal, at the 9:06 mark of the second period, scoring off a quick shot on a pass off the faceoff by Phil Mangan.

Acadia took a 2-1 lead on their second powerplay goal of the game by winger Christopher Bruton 11:33 into the third period. David Lomas assisted on the play.

After a Ricky Bowie hooking penalty called at the 12:47 mark of the third period, X-Man Brett Liscomb stole the puck off the ensuing faceoff draw and scored an unassisted shorthanded marker for StFX just five seconds later, tying the game at 2-2.

The game winner came off the stick of X-Men winger Bryce Swan, a powerplay goal deflected off a Phil Mangan point shot. Mangan and also Brett Liscomb were credited with the assists on the goal scored at 16:38 of the third period.

Brett Morrison rounded out the scoring for the X-Men with an empty net goal at the 18:40 mark of the game.

Danny Battochio earned the win in nets for the X-Men while Kristopher Westblom took the loss for the Axemen, who outshot StFX by a narrow 26-25 margin.

After the 4-2 X-Men win in Game 2, the two teams played a ten-minute overtime period to determine the 2008-09 Keating Cup champions. Both teams took advantage of the open ice in the 4-on-4 situation with the X-Men coming out on top with the 3-2 win.

Chris Hulit opened the scoring in the overtime frame, beating Acadia netminder Westblom with an unassisted goal 2:07 minutes in.

Ryan Desrosiers scored the second X goal on a breakaway, beating Westblom low on the blocker side at the 5:02 mark. Jevin MacLellan and Sam Roberts assisted on the play. Acadia pulled to within a goal as Jonathan Laberge scored a powerplay marker at 6:15 off a pass from Nathan Welton.

Brett Liscomb scored his second goal of the night at 7:31 off a Brett Morrison pass to increase the StFX lead to 3-1, however the Axemen did not give up and scored late in the period to again draw to within a goal. Ryan Graham was the goal scorer at 8:58, with assists coming from Blair Jarrett and Paul Kurceba.

Time ran out for the visiting Axemen, however, and after outshooting Acadia 8-6, the X-Men earned their third consecutive Keating Cup victory with the 3-2 overtime win.

Brett Liscomb received Player of the Game honors for StFX while Nathan Welton was named Player of the Game for Acadia. With the win the X-Men become the only team to win their own invitational Keating Cup tournament in the three years of its existence.

Both StFX and Acadia resume regular season AUS competition next week. The X-Men (7-5-2) will host the Saint Mary’s Huskies (10-5-0) on Wednesday night, Jan. 7 at 7:00 pm at the StFX Keating Centre, while the Axemen hit the road for Fredericton Friday night, Jan. 10 for a match-up against the UNB Varsity Reds (9-2-2).