(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - The CIS No. 3-ranked Acadia Axemen got back onto the winning track by sweeping the four-game season series against the St. Thomas Tommies with a convincing 6-1 win. In their last three outings prior to tonight's game, Acadia has outscored Tommies 26-15.
It was a rare start for first-year goaltender Robert Steeves, with fellow netminder Brandon Glover having carried most of the work load this season. Glover was second in the AUS for minutes played.
Thirteen minutes into the opening frame, Tommie forward JC Laflamme caught Acadia in the offensive zone, stealing the puck around an Acadia defenceman scoring on the rookies Steeves on a shorthanded breakaway.
Not long after, second-year grinder Scott Trask caught Tommies goalie Tyson Teichmann off guard with a quick wrist shot from the low slot, scoring his second goal of the season. Remy Giftopoulos and Daniel Poliziani added assists on the marker.
Rookie Zachary Franko scored his first of a two-goal night, roofing a shot short-side over the shoulder of Teichmann, giving the Axemen a 2-1 lead. Franko has quietly averaged over a point per game, and earned himself Subway first star of the game honours in this three-point outing.
Franko would start the second period scoring with his second goal of the night and 10th of the season five minutes into the second frame. The remainder of the period was scoreless with chances for both teams, however the Axemen would outshoot the Tommies 17-7.
After a St. Thomas delay of game penalty early in the third period, Acadia took advantage of their second 5-on-3 opportunity of the game, making it a three-goal game. First-year forward Remy Giftopolous would open the game up with his eighth goal of the season, giving the Axemen a 4-1 lead 51 seconds into the final frame.
Chris Owens added his second assist of the game 4:38 into the third, when he fed Mike Cazzola his 11th goal of the year.
Late in the third period with the Tommies on the man-advantage, Travis Randell blocked a shot, producing a clear cut breakaway on Teichmann for the Axemen's last goal of the night.
Steeves ended the night with 23 saves, while Teichmann made 40 stops and was named the game's second star.
The Axemen, who improve to 15-4-1 and trail the first-place UNB Varsity Reds by three points, host the visiting UPEI Panthers (9-9-2) Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Panthers come off of a 2-1 loss to the Dalhousie Tigers.
St. Thomas drops to 1-16-3 and travel to Halifax to take on the Tigers who improve to 6-13-1 and sit three points out of the last playoff spot held by Moncton.
Source: Mitchell Racine for Acadia Sports Communications