Hockey Axemen back on track with 3-2 win over X

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Sam Fioretti's (Calgary, Alta.) second of two goals was the game winner as the Axemen snapped a two game losing streak with a 3-2 win against the red hot third place StFX X-Men.

On a two game winning streak, the X-Men hoped to extend it to three while in Wolfville for Bell Let's Talk Night.

The X-Men opened the evening with a goal by Kristoff Kontos (Penetanguishene, Ont.) with just over nine minutes remaining in the first period. Kontos received a great pass from teammate Holden Cook (Oshawa, Ont.) for the easy tap in.

The Axemen responded two minutes later when second year forward Boston Leier (Saskatoon, Sask.) scored his 12th goal of the regular season on a wrist shot that caught the top corner for the tying goal.

With no change in score in the second period, Sam Fioretti scored in the opening minute of the final frame. Fioretti's goal was his first of a two goal third period.

Fourth year forward Brad Cuzner (Glace Bay, N.S.) tied the game at two when he stole the puck from Axemen defenseman Geoff Schemitsch (Thornhill, Ont.) in the neutral zone for an unassisted shorthanded goal.

Fioretti would score the game winner with 3:02 remaining in regulation time when he picked up a loose puck beside the sprawling Drew Owsley (Lethbridge, Alta.) after teammate Boston Leier had a golden opportunity to score.

Outshot 31-25, X-Man Drew Owsley received Subway Second Star honours while on the other end a rare start for Robert Steeves (Moncton, N.B.) resulted in his recognition as the game's second star. Fioretti's two goal and six shots on net performance received the top honour as the Subway First Star.

The Axemen improve to 17-4-2 and will head to Halifax this Friday night to take on the host Saint Mary's Huskies (13-7-2) at Scotiabank Centre for the first annual Varsity Showdown at 8pm. The X-Men (15-4-3) take on the Dalhousie Tigers (6-13-4) within same venue but at 6pm.