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Thursday, February 23, 2006
A wild one in Wolfville
Matthew Wuest /
The Daily News
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It was hardly the tight-checking, defensive battle that many predicted.
When the dust settled on a fast-paced and wide-open game at Acadia Arena in Wolfville last night, the host Acadia Axemen skated away with an 8-4 victory over the Saint Mary's Huskies in Atlantic Universities Hockey Conference semifinal action before a crowd estimated at 2,000.
The Huskies skated away with the possibility of losing coach Trevor Stienburg, to suspension for Game 2. The win puts the Axemen up 1-0 in the best-of-three series heading back to the Halifax Forum for Game 2 tomorrow at 7 p.m.
It was a seesaw battle for the first 40 minutes, tied 4-4 midway through the second period. But Acadia captain Robbie Sutherland potted the winner with 2:14 remaining in the frame and the Axemen proceeded to take over the game in the third period.
The Axemen admitted to being jumpy in the early going, chalking it up to a week-and-a-half first-round bye.
"We were just coming off an 11-day break and we had that itch to start playing - it was just like coming off Christmas break again," said Axemen defenceman Brad Horan. "We tightened up a lot better defensively (later in the game) and we're going to work on that in practice."
Acadia scored three goals in a 4:56 stretch early in the third to put Saint Mary's completely out of reach.
Former Huskies standout Keith Delaney, at 2:33, Josh Dill, at 4:40 on a penalty shot, and Matthew Albiani, at 7:29, did the damage for Acadia.
"We just decided to start shooting the puck," said Axemen forward Matt Quinn, who netted a pair in the first period. "We got it down deep, worked it low, shot a bit more and crashed the net."
Dill was hauled down on a breakaway by Huskies defenceman Scott Hotham and a penalty shot was awarded by referee Mark Hulshof. Dill, a former Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward, beat SMU goalie David Chant along the ice on a nifty backhand deke.
Stienburg was upset with the call - among several others throughout the night - and had words with Hulshof after the final buzzer. He was assessed a game misconduct at the 20-minute mark, according to the gamesheet, and could be slapped with a one-game suspension today.
Saint Mary's trailed 6-4 and was on a power play when the Dill penalty shot was called.
"We're still in this game and we have a power play and (Hulshof's) trying to play Robin Hood - half the time in this league, that wouldn't even be a penalty," said Stienburg. "That was his proudest moment, right there. He was excited to make that call.
"I'm not saying 6-4 we're going to win the game, but we had a power play and then that call ... I'm disappointed in him, I really am."
Shayne Fryia and Kevin Baker had Acadia's other goals.
Randy Upshall and Brad Self each had a pair for Saint Mary's, which scored twice on the power play after going 1-for-22 in Round 1.
Chant was hung out to dry on numerous occasions, and finished the night stopping 32 of 40 shots. Acadia's John Ceci stopped 32.
mwuest@hfxnews.ca
HIGHLIGHT REEL
AUHC best-of-three semifinal
Game 1 At Wolfville
• SCORE : Acadia Axemen 8, Saint Mary's Huskies 4.
• SCORERS :
Acadia — Matt Quinn 2, Shayne Fryia, Robbie Sutherland, Kevin Baker, Keith Delaney, Josh Dill (penalty shot), Matthew Albiani;
Saint Mary's — Randy Upshall 2, Brad Self 2.
• SYNOPSIS : The Axemen ended a seesaw battle late in the second period and scored four unanswered goals to earn the win.
• WHAT IT MEANS : Acadia takes a 1-0 lead in the series heading back to the Halifax Forum for Game 2 tomorrow at 7 p.m.
• ATTENDANCE : 2,000 (est.).
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