X-Men hand Axemen second loss of 2023

ANTIGONISH, N.S. - The STFX X-Men snapped a three-game losing streak with a convincing 6-3 victory over the visiting Acadia Axemen at the Charles V. Keating Centre on Saturday night. 

The Axemen came out quick in the first five minutes, holding the majority of possession and quality shots in the early going. STFX had a few chances in a row off a scramble during a powerplay later in the period but Acadia goalie Conor McCollum (Pickering, ON) and the stingy Axemen defence kept the score at zero though the first 10 minutes. 

It's was STFX's Adam Holwell (St. John's, NFLD) who broke the tie, going high on the glove side with a clapper from the wing while shorthanded for his second goal of the season. Acadia however tied it up just over three minutes later, with Bailey Peach (Falmouth, NS) jumping on a loose puck in front of the X net.  

Josh Nelson (Lockport, IL) put the X-Men up again just over a minute later, showing off his hands off a feed from Zack Trott (Mulmur, ON) and Liam Hawel (Arnprior, ON). Shots at the end of the period were 17-15 in favour of Acadia. 

Trott made the game 3-1 with just over six minutes gone in the second, knocking the puck out of the air off a Jacob Hudson (Antigonish, NS) shot on the powerplay. STFX almost added to their lead with about five minute left in the period, but McCollum made a great cross crease save. 

The chippy play continued through most of the period, with the teams incurring 80 minutes in penalties over the first 40 minutes of play. Shots at the end of the second were 26 apiece as STFX held onto the 3-1 advantage. 

Acadia cut into the lead with almost four minutes gone in the third, with Jack Flaman (Vibank, SA) potting one off a shorted handed 2-on-1 from Luke Zazula (Langley, BC).  

About three minutes later, Connor Roberts (Owen Sound, ON) notched his fourth goal of the season and made it a two goal lead once again.  STFX added another three minutes later, with Roberts firing one that got stopped but Nelson banged in the rebound for the home team three minutes later.  

X-Men defenseman Clark Webster (Kensington, PEI) tallied his first goal of the season two minutes later, off a pass from Matthew Struthers (Milton, ON), but Acadia responded quickly, with Acadia's Brendan Sellan (Orangeville, ON) making the score 6-3.  

STFX netminder Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) had 34 saves in the win while McCollum made 29 saves in the loss. Shots at the end of the game were 37-35 in favour of Acadia.  

Nelson's two goal performance earned him first star and Subway player of the game honours, while Roberts picked up the second star and Acadia's Flaman was named third star.  

The X-Men next take to the ice on January 13, when they will travel to Moncton. As for the Axemen, they will host St. Mary's next Friday.  

Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics