Hockey Axemen add Braid to lineup for 2016

WOLFVILLE, N.S. (Provided by www.axemenhockey.com) The Acadia Axemen finished up the first half of their 2015-16 ranked #1 in the CIS national university hockey rankings. Coach Darren Burns was pleased with how the team came together in the first half, and hopes that a new addition to the lineup for the second half, will help the team continue to improve as they look to get back to a third straight national tournament appearance. 

Chance Braid has arrived in Wolfville, and will begin practicing with the team next week, in preparation for the Axemen's 2nd half opener against the STU Tommies on January 9th.

"We had a solid first half, but the league is very tight. We are very excited to have Chance joining our program. He played in last spring's Memorial Cup with the Kelowna Rockets, so it's obvious he knows what it's all about to play in pressure situations," said Burns.

The 6'1, 210-pound power forward from Chauvin, Alberta spent the fall playing a handful of games in the ECHL with Idaho and Allen. Braid finished up a four-year junior career in the WHL narrowly losing in the Memorial Cup finals in overtime, with the Kelowna Rockets last season, after a midseason trade from the Prince George Cougars. Braid spent his first three years in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders.

Braid is known as a punishing power forward who doesn't mind sticking up for his teammates. The hard-nosed left winger developed into one of the most feared players in the Western Hockey League. In a previous interview, Braid talked about his play, "I've been playing the same style of hockey since I've been in Prince Albert four years ago. I just finish my checks, be hard to play against and not be afraid to play in the dirty areas."

Coach Burns added this about Braid, "His reputation as a team first player, who cares about his teammates is extremely important. He is a very strong physical player who will immediately add size and strength to our lineup. We are a gritty team, but adding a power forward with a strong hockey IQ of his caliber will no doubt help our team and create some space for some of our other forwards. This is a very skilled physical league and adding a forward who goes to the net hard and finishes his checks will be an added element to our team."

With the Axemen's impressive mix of speed, skill & grit, Braid's addition should provide another element necessary in what will be a dogfight to finish at the top of the AUS.

The Axemen take on St. Thomas Tommies and the Moncton Aigles Bleus this weekend at home beginning on Friday night at 7:00 pm against the Tommies.