Axemen score four in third to rally past Huskies 4-1

(Halifax, NS) The Acadia University Axemen rallied with four goals in the third period to top the Saint Mary's University Huskies 4-1 on Friday Jan. 6 at the Halifax Forum in Halifax, NS. The loss drops the Huskies to 9-9-1, as they sit fourth in the AUS. The Axemen improved to 12-6-1 and moved into second place in the AUS standings.  

Robert Steeves (Moncton, NB) made 22 saves in the win to improve his record to 6-2 on the season. 

The Axemen got their goals from Daniel Pettersson (Toronto, ON) (3), Taylor Makin (Lethbridge, AB) (3), Michael Clarke (Halifax, NS) (6) and Brendan Childerley (Stratford, ON) (4). 

Aaron Berisha (Mississauga, ON) scored the first goal of his AUS career for the Huskies. 

Cole Cheveldave (Calgary, AB) made 17 saves for the Huskies and had his record drop to 2-7. 

 The Huskies opened the scoring at the 10:49 mark of the first. Just seconds into a power play Hunter Garlent (Thorold, ON) picked up the puck behind the Huskies net with speed to start the breakout, he carried to the Huskies blue line and dropped a pass to Calder Brooks (Emerald Park, SK), Brooks sent it back to Garlent up the right wing, he worked into the Axemen zone made a couple of shifty moves and sent a cross ice pass into the wheelhouse of Berisha who one-timed a rocket from just above the hash-marks inside the circle to make it 1-0. 

The Axemen evened it up on a power play of their own just 0:56 into the third. Stephen Harper (Burlington, ON) carried into the Huskies zone on the left wing and dropped for Boston Leier (Saskatoon, SK), Leier fired a pass cross ice that bounced back off the far wall to Pettersson who wired a shot low blocker from just above the high slot. 

Makin made it 2-1 Axemen at the 9:27 mark of the frame. Matthew Pufahl (Saskatoon, SK) made a great hold at the Huskies blue line, carried into the left circle, then made a cross ice pass to Makin who sent it top shelf for the game winner. 

Just under two minutes later the Axemen made it 3-1 at 11:24 of the third.  

Geoff Schemitsch (Thornhill, ON) got the puck to Alexander Lepkowski (Buffalo, NY) in the left corner, Lepkowski worked it behind the net to Clarke who had all kinds of time to walk out front and make a sweet forehand backhand shelf move for the goal. 

The Huskies pulled their goalie late to try and get the game tied up but Childerley forced a turnover at the Axemen blue line and had a clean look at the empty net to make it 4-1. 

Each team went one of seven with the man advantage. 

Shots were 23-21 in favour of the Huskies. 

Up Next: 

The Axemen go home to host the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus on Saturday, January 7 in Wolfville NS, while the Huskies travel to face the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers on Wednesday, January 11 in Charlottetown, PE. 

Source, Cam Honey-Webb, SMU Communications 

Photo Nick Pearce