Axemen take overtime win over X-Men

ANTIGONISH, NS - The Acadia Axemen needed overtime and a goal from second year defender Tyler Deline (Peterborough, ON) to earn a hard fought 3-2 win over the STFX X-Men on Friday night at the Charles V Keating Centre. 

Deline made a nifty move after getting the puck from and buried the game winner top shelf just over a minute into the extra period.

Acadia opened the scoring five minutes into the first period, with Ethan Ernst (Weyburn, SK) snagging the puck near the home team blueline, skating in on a two-on-one, and firing one low to the short side. Assists went to Marc Boudreau (Toronto, ON) and Luke Zazula (Langley, BC).

Things were rough and tumble at times, with plenty of big hits and both teams enjoying multiple powerplays. The visitors held a 17-10 advantage in shots after 20 minutes.    

Alex Christopoulos (Richmond Hill, ON) tied the game up with his ninth goal of the season four minutes into the second period, picking up a pass from Zack Trott (Mulmur, ON) in the slot and sending it to the back of the net. 

Jacob Maillet (Dundas, ON) gave the X-Men the lead seven minutes later, shoveling home his own rebound after getting a pass from first star of the game Ethan Burroughs (Georgetown, ON).

The lead didn't last long though, as Bailey Peach (Falmouth, NS) wristed one in from the point on the powerplay two-minutes later, making the score 2-2. Charlie Deroches (Days Corner, PE) and Cam Whynot (Kentville, NS) had the helpers.

It was a tense, back and forth third period with officials waving off what appeared to be a STFX goal due to a kicking motion with five minutes gone. Both teams pressed to take a lead, but strong play from STFX goalie and second star Lucas Pfeil (Owen Sound, ON) and Acadia netminder and third star Thomas Couture (Levis, QC) kept the game even through 60 minutes, setting the table for Deline's decided goal.  

The X-Men return to action tomorrow night, when they take on the Saint Mary's Huskies in Halifax at 7 p.m. The Axemen also hit the ice tomorrow night, when they face-off with the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax, also at 7 p.m.  

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics