The Saint Francis Xavier X-Men come to the Bell Canada Varsity Cup ranked No. 4 in Canada, and in first place in the tough AUS (Atlantic University Sport) conference. StFX sports a record of 8-4-2 in conference play (9-5-2 overall).
Head Coach Danny Flynn said he is looking forward to participating in the Bell Varsity Cup.We are honoured to be invited and to participate in the first-ever Bell Classic in Thunderbay, hosted by Lakehead University. It looks like a tremendously competitive tournament and judging by the crowds that Lakehead hockey has drawn, it should be a great atmosphere."
"We are looking forward to some terrific competition. We have a number of kids from Northern Ontario and a couple from the West that will have a chance to have their parents at hand to see the action. We are hopeful that we will have a strong showing - representing our league well. We see our participation in the Bell Classic as a great opportunity to prepare ourselves for the second half of the year.
Players to watch on StFX are Patrick Grandmaitre (6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points), Phillippe Lacasse (6 goals and 5 assists for 11 points), and Omar Ennaffati (3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points). Grandmaitre was a member of the AUS All-Star Team that just played the Canadian Junior National team in a two game exhibition series in Halifax as a warm-up to the World Junior Championships being held there.
The X-Men also have a strong goaltender in David Haun who leads the AUS conference in goals against average at 2.35.
2002-2003 Results:
Sat Nov 30 StFX 4 Acadia 3 OL
Wed Nov 27 Dalhousie 5 StFX 2
Sat Nov 23 StFX 4 Saint Mary's 3
Fri Nov 22 Dalhousie 3 StFX 2 OL
Fri Nov 15 StFX 2 Acadia 1
Wed Nov 13 Saint Mary's 4 StFX 1
Fri Nov 8 StFX 4 UNB 2
Sat Nov 2 Moncton 5 StFX 3
Fri Nov 1 StFX 4 UNB 3
Sat Oct 26 StFX 4 St. Thomas 3
Fri Oct 24 StFX 2 UPEI 2 TIE OT
Sat Oct 19 StFX 5 UPEI 2
Fri Oct 18 St. Thomas 5 StFX 5 TIE
Fri Oct 11 StFX 3 Moncton 0
Sat Oct 5 New Hampshire 5 StFX 1 EX
Fri Oct 4 StFX 3 UMass-Amherst 2 EX
Coaching Staff:
HEAD COACH - DANNY FLYNN
Flynn enters his eighth season at the helm of the X-MEN, most recently having led them to the CIAU national Final in 2001. A 1979 graduate of StFX, Flynn was a member of the schools 78 National Championship team and has gone on to make a significant mark in the coaching field.
A five year stint with the the OHLs Soo Greyhounds (90-95) saw him combine with NHL Coach of the Year Ted Nolan to help the Soo to four first place finishes and a trip to three consecutive Memorial Cups, capturing the Memorial Cup in 1993. He has also had the honour to represent our country six times, capturing a World Under 18 Title in 1992, a World Junior title in 1994, a bronze medal at the World Championships in 1995, a Spengler Cup victory in 1997 and a victory at the NCAA/CIAU Challenge in 1999.
Danny also holds the unique distinction of begin the only certified CHA Level IV coach in Atlantic Canada. Danny also works as a part-time scout for the Los Angeles Kings covering the Maritimes with focus on the University and Major junior.
ASSISTANT COACH - GREG MacDONALD
Historical Highlights:
2002-2003: as at December 22: First place in AUSwith 8-4-2 record
2001-2002: 6th place 9-10-6 , 1 AUS all star, posted league's best record in 2nd half of season
2000-2001: 1st place 17-6-3-2, 2 AUS All stars, 2 CIS All-Canadians,
2 CIS Tournament All Stars - lost in championship final
1999-2000: 2nd place 2 AUS All stars, 1 AUS MVP, 1 CIS All-Canadian
1998-1999: 1st place 2 AUS All stars, 2 CIS All Canadians
1997-1998: 1st place 3 AUS All stars, 1 honorable mention CIS All-Canadian
StFX has won 23 Atlantic University Conference (AUS) titles: 1929, 36, 37, 41,