The No.2 Acadia Axemen come into the CIS Telus University Cup championships as the AUS champions after sweeping the powerful UNB Varsity Reds in three straight games for the AUS title. Acadia posted a 19-8-1 conference mark and are 26-10-2 overall.
Reigning CIS Coach of the Year and this years repeat AUS Coach of the Year, Darren Burns, will lead Acadia to its sixth appearance at the CIS National Championships. The Axemen have won the national title twice; in 1992-93 and 1995-96.
Head to Head vs. Tourney Opponents This Season:
The Axemen have played only Alberta of this year's Telus Cup opponents. The teams split the series with Alberta winning 3-2 on Dec. 29th and Acadia winning 5-4 on Dec. 30th.
The Axemen are led by AUS MVP and Co-CIS Scoring Champion Kevin Baker, who notched 24 goals and 23 assists in regular season play. Centre Brandon Benedict is another serious threat for Acadia and recorded 10 goals and 22 assists this season (17th CIS; 8th AUS).
Other players who can chip in offensively are Keith Delaney (6 goals, 14 assists), Andrew Bergen (8 goals, 10 assists), Brad Horan (9 goals, 9 assists), Kevin Koral (4 goals, 13 assists), Josh Dill (7 goals, 9 assists), and Shane Fryia (6 goals, 9 assists).
AUS Second Team All Star Kane Ludwar anchors the Axemens mobile and tough defense. Acadia, like Lakehead and Saskatchewan, is one of the few CIS teams that use a starting tandem of goalies; Lanny Ramage and John Ceci. Ramage (8-3-2; GAA 1.98; SV% .930) was named an AUS Second Team All Star while Ceci also posted impressive stats (10-5-1; GAA 2.98; SV% .900).
Acadia 05-06 Results:
Tue Mar 7 Acadia 5 UNB 3 PL
Thu Mar 2 Acadia 5 UNB 3 PL
Wed Mar 1 Acadia 2 UNB 1 PL OT2
Fri Feb 24 Acadia 5 Saint Mary's 2 PL
Wed Feb 22 Acadia 8 Saint Mary's 4 PL
Sat Feb 11 StFX 3 Acadia 2
Fri Feb 10 Acadia 5 Dalhousie 1
Sat Feb 4 Acadia 5 UNB 1
Fri Feb 3 Acadia 5 UPEI 3
Sat Jan 28 Acadia 4 UNB 3
Fri Jan 27 Acadia 4 UPEI 3
Sat Jan 21 Acadia 5 Dalhousie 2
Fri Jan 20 Acadia 3 Saint Mary's 3 OT TIE
Wed Jan 18 Acadia 8 StFX 3
Sat Jan 14 St. Thomas 3 Acadia 1
Fri Jan 13 Moncton 4 Acadia 2
Sat Jan 7 Acadia 2 St. Thomas 1
Fri Jan 6 Moncton 3 Acadia 2 OL
Fri Dec 30 Acadia 5 Alberta 4 NC
Thu Dec 29 Alberta 3 Acadia 2 NC
Sat Nov 26 Acadia 6 StFX 1
Fri Nov 25 Acadia 4 Saint Mary's 0
Sat Nov 19 Acadia 6 UPEI 0
Fri Nov 18 UNB 8 Acadia 6
Sat Nov 12 Acadia 5 UPEI 0
Fri Nov 11 Acadia 2 UNB 0
Wed Nov 9 Acadia 6 Dalhousie 2
Sat Nov 5 StFX 3 Acadia 1
Fri Nov 4 Acadia 3 Saint Mary's 1
Sat Oct 29 Acadia 6 Moncton 2
Fri Oct 28 Acadia 5 St. Thomas 4 OL
Sat Oct 22 Acadia 4 Moncton 1
Fri Oct 21 St. Thomas 5 Acadia 1
Fri Oct 14 Acadia 3 Dalhousie 2
Wed Oct 12 Saint Mary's 7 Acadia 4
Thu Oct 6 Saint Mary's 3 Acadia 2 NC
Wed Oct 5 Dalhousie 1 Acadia 1 NC OT TIE
Sat Oct 1 Acadia 2 Dalhousie 1 NC