Wolfville, N.S. – The Acadia Axemen (1-1-0) kicked off their home-opener with a nail-biting 2-1 victory over the StFX X-Men (0-0-1) in overtime.
Despite chances on both sides – including one power-play for the X-Men and two for Acadia – neither team could put the puck in the net in the first period.
The opening period was full of animosity between the two teams. The referees were constantly pulling players apart after whistles throughout the first frame.
Shots on goal were 9-4 in favour of the Axemen after one period.
The Axemen began to pull away from StFX in the second period, as they continued to outshoot and overpower the X-Men.
Axemen forward Jackson Houck scored the first goal of his AUS career with 8:57 left in the second period. Houck scooped up the rebound in front of the StFX net to give the Axemen a 1-0 lead.
The Axemen had several opportunities that were turned aside by X-Men goalie Chase Marchand, including a stellar sprawling glove save that prevented a sure goal.
With 7:26 remaining in the second period, there was a considerable delay in game action due to a body check from Axemen forward Rodney Southam that broke the handle on the visiting team's penalty box.
Following the delay, the X-Men seemed reinvigorated as StFX forward Adam Stevens scored a power-play marker a mere 27 seconds after returning to the ice.
After yet another ice delay, the second period continued and ended in a 1-1 tie. By the end of the second period, the shots were 23-11 for Acadia.
The third period once again saw chances on both sides – including a strong power-play by the X-Men and a breakaway by Axemen forward Owen Macdonald – but neither team could break the tie.
Axemen forward, and Subway player of the game, Stephen Harper scored the game-winner with 1:38 left in overtime. Harper broke down the right wing and fired a hard wrist shot into the top right corner of the net.
Axemen goaltender Dawson Carty turned aside 20 of 21 shots, while his StFX counterpart Chase Marchand stopped 33 of 35 shots.
The second and third stars of the night were Marchand and Axemen forward Owen Macdonald, respectively.
The Axemen now head on the road to the USA to take on Boston University and UMass-Lowell in exhibition play, then return to AUS regular season action at StFX on Wednesday, Oct. 10. The X-Men host Saint Mary's Saturday night in Antigonish.
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Courtesy Acadia Sports Information