Axemen hand Aigles Bleus 8-2 loss in exhibition play

WOLFVILLE N.S. – The Acadia Axemen continued their preseason winning ways on Friday night with a high scoring win against the visiting Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus.

The first period was an action-packed 20 minutes, with both teams firing on all cylinders straight from the drop of the puck.

The Axemen opened the scoring with two quick goals in the first five minutes of action.

Garrett McFadden batted in the rebound of teammate Michael Zipp's shot for his first of the year only 2:48 into the game. Jack McClelland had the second assist.

Only 32 seconds after the first goal, Axemen forward Stephen Harper tapped in a perfect feed from defenceman Alexander Lepkowski to tally his second goal in as many games.

The scoring for the period was just getting started.

Moncton got on the board at 7:06 into the period when captain Vincent Deslauriers pickpocketed an Acadia defenceman before heading towards goal and beating Acadia goalie Dawson Carty with a perfect shot to the far-side high glove.

With 7:48 remaining in the first, Axeman forward Cristiano Digiacinto snapped one from the offensive zone faceoff dot into the short-side top corner past goalie Alexi Thibaudeau.

A hectic scrum in front of the Acadia goal led to Moncton forward Edouard Michaud finally tucking home the loose puck from Robbie Graham's shot with a little over 5 minutes left in the first frame.

The score after one was 3-2 for the Axemen.

Just twenty seconds from the halfway mark of the game Owen MacDonald showed off his patience in front of the net following a wicked saucer pass from Harper and two quick stickhandles before roofing the puck over Thibaudeau's right shoulder on the power play.

Harper tallied his third assist of the night (second on the power play) after his shot was deflected in front by Rodney Southam to give the Axemen a three-goal cushion with only 3:41 remaining in the second period. TJ Fergus also assisted on the play.

The Axemen led 5-2 at the end of the second period.

Just like the previous, the third period was all Acadia again.

A 2-on-1 rush allowed Owen MacDonald to pick up his second point 8:44 into the third with a beautifully feathered pass onto the tape of Jack Flaman who scored his first of the year.

Following a Moncton goalie change, the Axemen added two more quick goals coming at 10:41 and 11:27 into the final period. The goals were scored by Jack McClelland and Jack Flaman who both got their second points on the night. TJ Fergus bagged his second assist of the game on McClelland's goal, and Rodney Southam complemented Flaman's second goal with an assist of his own.

The game ended with a final score of 8 to 2 for the Axemen.

Acadia outshot Moncton 37-28, and were 2 for 3 on the powerplay, Moncton was 0 for 3.

The Axemen look to continue their offensive hot streak as they head into their final game of the preseason Saturday night when they take on McGill University.

The Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus will be looking to return the favour as they play Acadia in their next game to kick-off the regular season this coming Friday.

Provided by Griffin Herrington, Acadia Athletics Communications