U SPORTS No. 7 Axemen pickup 4-2 over No. 6 Huskies

(Halifax, NS) The Acadia Axemen added an empty-net goal to beat the Saint Mary's Huskies 4-2 on Saturday night at the Halifax Forum. 

It was a back and forth game, with the Huskies coming back to tie it up twice. The third Axemen lead of the night proved to be too big a hill to climb. 

Axemen tender Robert Steeves (Moncton, N.B.) was the player of the game – making 36 saves on the night. 

Mathew Pufahl (Saskatoon, Sask.), Remy Giftopolous (Ancaster, Ont.), Sam Fioretti (Calgary, Alta.) and Taylor Makin (Blairmore, Alta.) scored for Acadia. 

Jake Coughler (St. Catharines, Ont.) and Calder Brooks (Emerald Park, Sask.) responded with goals for SMU. Bronson Beaton (Springhill, N.S.) picked up two assists. 

Eric Brassard (St. Hubert, Que.) got the start for the Huskies making 15 saves in the losing cause.  

Pufahl put the Axemen on the board just 23 seconds into the game. Cristiano Digiacinto (Hamilton, Ont.) and Rodney Southam picked up helpers on the play. 

Coughler tied things up at 1-1 with just over 3-minutes left in the first. Beaton and Dylan Diperna (Nobleton, Ont.) had the assists. 

Giftopolous made it 2-1 Acadia with a power-play marker 3:32 into the third. Chance Braid (Wainwright, Alta.) set him up on the play. 

Brooks, assisted by Beaton, pulled Saint Mary's even again just over a minute later. 

Fioretti scored the winner with a shorthanded tally with just under eight-minutes to go. Boston Leier (Saskatoon, Sask.) had the assist. 

Makin slipped one into an empty net to clinch the win with 1:04 left on the clock.  

Up next, the Huskies are back at the Halifax Forum to host the U des M Aigles Bleus on Wednesday, January 10. The Axemen will host the Huskies in Wolfville N.S. on Friday, January 12. 

Cam Honey-Webb, SMU Communications 

Photo Nick Pearce