CIS No. 2 Axemen cap weekend with 5-2 win over UPEI

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI - The CIS No. 2 ranked Acadia Axemen hockey team are riding a four game winning streak that was extended by a 5-2 win over the host UPEI Panthers.

Only one goal was scored in the opening period. Thirteen seconds after Acadia was given the man-advantage, Axeman Travis Gibbons scored his third goal of the season to give Acadia a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Fourteen minutes into the second period, first year forward Zach Franko tied the game at one. At the 14:38 mark of the second frame, Brock Beukeboom was assessed a charging call and game misconduct after a first period 10 minute misconduct and checking from behind penalty.

With a Panther five minute major, the Axemen opened the game up with two powerplay goals. League leading scorer, Liam Heelis, netted is six goal of the year just over a minute into the penalty. A minute later, rookie forward Daniel Poliziani scored his second goal of the regular season to give Acadia a 4-2 lead after two periods.

The Axemen went back to work in the third, when Mike Cazzola scored his fifth goal of the season to give Acadia a commanding 5-0 lead with less than 12 minutes remaining in the final frame.

But the complexion of the game changed quickly. On the powerplay, UPEI's Brent Andrews cracked Brandon Glover's goose egg with just under nine minutes remaining in the third to  finally get the Panthers on the scoreboard. A minute and 44 seconds later Darcy Ashley added a second goal for the Panthers, closing the game to three goals.

Outshooting the Axemen 17-5 in the third period, UPEI took advantage of hooking penalty with 18:35 remaining in the game by pulling their goalie for the two man-advantage. The Axeme worked hard in killing the penalty and neutralizing the extra attackers, wrapping up the game with a 5-2 win in Charlottetown.

The Axemen return home this week with the Saint Mary's Huskies visiting on Friday and then the StFX X-Men, who handed Acadia their only loss this season, visit on Saturday night. Acadia currently sit in first place in the AUS standings with 14 points - a 7-1-0 record, with the Huskies trailing by one point with a 6-1-1 record.