Axemen extend win streak to six with win over CIS No. 2-ranked UNB

(FREDERICTON, N.B.) - The CIS No. 5-ranked Acadia Axemen gained ground on the undefeated CIS No. 2-ranked UNB Varsity Reds in the AUS men's hockey standings with a 4-3 overtime shootout win.

The Varsity Reds experienced their first loss of the regular season in a game that posted a 21-20 shots on net Acadia advantage in regulation time.

UNB grabbed an early lead only 20 seconds into the opening period when Adrian Robertson scored on the UNB man advantage. Acadia's Joe Gaynor was handed a two-minute roughing penalty after only 12 seconds of time came off the clock after the opening faceoff.

Just over five minutes later, AUS all-star defenceman Chris Owens scored on a one-timer fed by Brett Thompson on the power play to tie the game for the first of three times.

Before the end of the first frame, the V-Reds Cam Braes put UNB back in the lead on the third and last powerplay goal of the night.
 
Outshooting UNB 8-6 and landing several late period opportunities to tie the game, the Axemen carried the momentum into the second period, tying the game at two only 11 seconds into the second frame when Dustin Ekelman picked up an errant pass and took it home.

UNB captain Chris Culligan put UNB ahead by one with a mid-second period goal to give the Varsity Reds their third and last lead. The UNB captain's goal was followed by Acadia captain Liam Heelis' eighth goal of the season with 22 seconds remaining in the second.

A scoreless third period pushed the tight game into overtime and after an 8-5 shots on net Acadia advantage, the game was settled in a shoot-out. With Cam Braes netting the first shoot-out goal, second-year sniper Brett Thompson scored by beating UNB goalie Charles Lavigne on the top corner. Following Taylor MacDougall's missed opportunity, the Axemen's Alex Beaton pocketed the game winner.

"I felt tonight we really brought the game we needed to give ourselves a chance to win," said third-year forward Liam Heelis. "All the boys battled hard and were willing to do whatever it took to win and that mindset is critical going into a game against a previously undefeated competitor."

Acadia improves to 7-1-0, while the Varsity Reds hold onto first place with a 7-0-1 record, one point ahead of the trailing Axemen in the AUS standings. The win extends Acadia's winning streak to six games and Acadia's Liam Heelis retains his status as the AUS leading scorer with 12 points, including eight goals. Goaltender Evan Mosher captures his sixth win of the season by stopping 29 shots

Source: Acadia Sports Information