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basketball"},{"term":"interviews"},{"term":"journalism"},{"term":"mud fights"},{"term":"playoff formats"},{"term":"schedules"},{"term":"technical difficulties"},{"term":"ted goveia"},{"term":"tiering"},{"term":"tragedy"},{"term":"trinity western"},{"term":"trivia"},{"term":"university sport"},{"term":"Étienne Légaré"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The CIS Blog"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":"News and notes on Canadian Interuniversity Sport"},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/-\/Tommies?alt=json-in-script"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/search\/label\/Tommies"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/-\/Tommies\/-\/Tommies?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=26\u0026max-results=25"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Scott Hastie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08081415078301065374"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"http:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"122"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"25"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-5011387422178026210"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-24T17:47:00.004-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-31T12:18:12.051-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ottawa Gee-Gees"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Random Ranking Remarks"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Wesmen"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Winnipeg Wesmen's wondrous women's basketball renaissance leads Random Ranking Remarks "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JRaOM-p76co\/WIfYRmH2LaI\/AAAAAAAADNQ\/IAED7VUMrH8-elzzuvIO4ciW6wRkO25qQCLcB\/s1600\/wbb-161118-068.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JRaOM-p76co\/WIfYRmH2LaI\/AAAAAAAADNQ\/IAED7VUMrH8-elzzuvIO4ciW6wRkO25qQCLcB\/s640\/wbb-161118-068.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWinnipeg's Antoinette Miller leads the conference in assists and is fourth in scoring and steals. (Kelly Morton photo)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThe release each week of the Top Ten rankings brings out so many emotions: joy ... excitement ... scanning a screen. The exercise of publicizing a list of 10 opinion polls during the winter sports season is very anodyne. And the slow death of salaried media also means there is precious little for the university sports-lovin' mind to read. Starting this week, there will be an effort to shout out the teams whose effort and striving is bringing a little light into the university sports world.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWinnipeg Wesmen women's basketball, ranked No. 8.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EGiven what happened to the original incarnation of the Jets it is just that a point guard from Phoenix, fourth-year \u003Cb\u003EAntoinette Miller\u003C\/b\u003E, has come north to lead the Wesmen's rise from the ashes. \u003Ci\u003EIs that Nantzed enough? \u003C\/i\u003EA team which missed the playoffs last season is now 20-2 overall, with a nation's-best .909 winning percentage. With Miller, two Europeans and nine locals, several of whom played for coach \u003Cb\u003ETanya McKay \u003C\/b\u003Eon provincial teams, the Wesmen embody the Canada West model of roster building.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBack in the '90s, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mbhof.com\/2012\/12\/winnipeg-women-wesmen-88-game-winning.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWinnipeg was a very famous women's basketball team\u003C\/a\u003E. There was the 88-win streak that tied UCLA's North American all-divisions record(and since surprassed by the Connecticut Huskies of\u003Cb\u003E Kia Nurse \u003C\/b\u003Efame), along with a national title three-peat from 1993-95. After taking over in 1996, McKay kept the winning times extant with a run of bronze, silver, bronze and silver at the nationals from 2001 to '04. The recent years have been something of a tranquil period, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/usportshoops.ca\/history\/team-coachseasons.php?Gender=WBB\u0026amp;Team=Winnipeg\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewith zero playoff victories since 2009\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELast season, Winnipeg missed the playoffs after a last-second loss in their final game. That has been \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/sports\/amateur\/high-hopes-for-uni-hoops-teams-399419561.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etransferred into a rallying point\u003C\/a\u003E. I have zero idea how far they'll go. It's just great to see.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOttawa Gee-Gees men's hockey, also receiving votes!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EGees coach \u003Cb\u003EPatrick Grandmaître\u003C\/b\u003E rates some sort of OTY (\"of the year,\" pronounced \u003Ci\u003EO-tee\u003C\/i\u003E, please keep up). The effort of the many in re-establishing hockey after a two-season absence from the ice, due to a sexual assault scandal, goes beyond coaching or having good leaders. Ottawa is 12-1-2 since November 1 and is bound for the playoffs. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOttawa point leader \u003Cb\u003EKevin Domingue\u003C\/b\u003E's peregrinations through puckworld include playing for the QMJHL's Sherbrooke Phoenix during their first three seasons. How fitting that a Phoenix is helping lead a team that is rising from the ... stop, we get it, you remember one bit of Greek mythology from that undergraduate half-course in Classics.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESt. Thomas Tommies women's hockey, ranked no. 4.\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Well, if you like a good Big School vs. Small School showdown, hope for a STU-UBC matchup on the championship side at the nationals in Napanee, Ont., in March. The entire St. Thomas student population could fit inside the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, UBC's arena. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFun fact aside, depicting St. Thomas as some small-school pesky underdog denies agency to how coach \u003Cb\u003EPeter Murphy\u003C\/b\u003E, his players and staff have (presumably) see themselves. They have the bar set high. Fifth-year captain\u003Cb\u003E Kelty Apperson\u003C\/b\u003E also would rate the late-bloomer label, going from self-described \"\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/waterloo.sportsxpress.ca\/hockey\/lady-ranger-graduate-named-atlantic-university-mvp\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Efifth player on \u0026nbsp;the fourth line\u003C\/a\u003E\" on her Notre Dame Hounds midget team in \u0026nbsp;2011 to a league MVP. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWomen's hockey might rank first among team sports where the four (or three) sport conference winners are genuinely unpredictable. St. Thomas doesn't have the AUS title and the commensurate top-4 seed for nationals on lock, of course. Apperson going abroad with the 2017 Universiade team will \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theaquinian.net\/womens-hockey-squad-continues-tear\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecoincide with a stretch of road games\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHow hockey teams adapt to losing main cogs for three weeks right before the playoffs, well, that's going to be a whole thing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Martin Timmerman's \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/usportshoops.ca\/\"\u003Eusportshoops.ca\u003C\/a\u003E was an invaluable resource for this post.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/5011387422178026210\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2017\/01\/winnipeg-wesmens-wondrous-womens.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/5011387422178026210"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/5011387422178026210"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2017\/01\/winnipeg-wesmens-wondrous-womens.html","title":"Winnipeg Wesmen's wondrous women's basketball renaissance leads Random Ranking Remarks "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"sager"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08757652892056684490"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HoppI3_eGQc\/VrWGl9xFY2I\/AAAAAAAADEA\/ucwvqUnIa7M\/s220\/Neate1379-4x4M.JPG"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JRaOM-p76co\/WIfYRmH2LaI\/AAAAAAAADNQ\/IAED7VUMrH8-elzzuvIO4ciW6wRkO25qQCLcB\/s72-c\/wbb-161118-068.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-1658950966571102545"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-05T16:37:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-04-05T16:41:05.062-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"CIS expansion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Sea-Hawks"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Wishful Thinking Wednesday"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Wishful Thinking Wednesday: AUS men's hockey, getting back to even numbers"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"One hurting element of St. Thomas \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/04\/hockey-st-thomas-tommies-fold-reducing.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecalling it quits in men's hockey\u003C\/a\u003E, of course, is that it takes some shine away from Atlantic University Sport's triumphal finish to the season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe sport conference, after all, raised the bar for hosting the CIS University Cup and three of its men's hockey powers have something to show for the season, with UNB winning the national championship, Saint Mary's nabbing the nationals bronze, and St. Francis Xavier winning the conference championship. A conference, though, is like a chain: only as strong as its weakest link.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPerhaps less teams could mean more; St. Thomas being in CIS hockey, hate to say it, was a little like Eastern Michigan University playing major-college football when it's a five-minute drive away from the University of Michigan with their Big House. The Tommies averaged 3.5 conference wins over the last six seasons.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EThey will be missed, especially when it comes to evening out the schedule, and the point of this Wishful Thinking Wednesday is to help brainstorm a long-term solution. Running with an odd number of teams isn't ideal, and it can create the kind of turmoil that might make other university administrations start to look at whether it should ice a men's hockey team, or have the program iced.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBad Idea the First — Whither Memorial?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUniversity sport tends to be accepted on merit when it is an Only Game In Town and has something of a captive audiene. That loosely applies to the dominant franchises, such as UNB men's hockey, since Fredericton is one of the largest cities in Canada with neither major junior nor Junior A hockey. It also applies to Laval football, since the Rouge et Or caught the wave when Quebec City had a post-Nordiques, pre-Remparts vacuum in the mid-1990s. Similarly, the strongholds in OUA football are places such as Queen's\/Kingston, Western\/London, or Guelph, when there isn't a tie to a CFL team.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat trait is also true with Division I sports, to some extent. Putting it bluntly: there isn't a whole lot to do in Ames, Iowa, on a weeknight, so if ESPN comes to town for an Iowa State Cyclones game and you're a student, you want to be there. The same is probably true in Division I college hockey, where a lot of the programs are in somewhat isolated northeastern college towns.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt's hard to tap into that in much of Canada. All eight Canada West hockey programs are in major cities that have pro or major junior. Eighteen of 20 in OUA, with Lakehead and Trois-Rivières being the sole exceptions, are in a market with the NHL and\/or major junior.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EShifting focus, though, one ought to look at how St. John's, N.L., has been a political football in a shell game of Affiliation Musical Chairs over the past decade or so. St. John's is an excellent hockey town, but the hockey world has jerked them around something awful.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBriefly:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAHL St. John's Maple Leafs, 1991-2005\u0026nbsp;—\u003C\/b\u003E For 14 seasons, the city hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs' affiliate. That changed when, long story short, MLSE was able to take over the lease on Ricoh Coliseum and create the Toronto Marlies as an AHL spin-off. That didn't necessarily create the 'just down the road' model of affiliate agreements, but was definitely a contributor.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EQMJHL St. John's Fog Devils, 2005-08\u0026nbsp;— \u003C\/b\u003EThe expansion team started promisingly, but when Canjet canceled some of its routes into St. John's, it ceased to be viable. The franchise was sold midway through its third and final season, is now known as the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAHL St. John's IceCaps, 2011-17\u0026nbsp;— \u003C\/b\u003EWhen True North bought a NHL team and renamed it the Winnipeg Jets. the AHL franchise that had been playing at the MTS Centre became the IceCaps. Then the 2015 affiliation shuffle left St. John's in a two-year temporary arrangement with the Montreal Canadiens, which will end as soon as the Habs have an AHL-suitable arena in Laval, Que., a Montreal suburb.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDoesn't St. John's deserve high-calibre hockey that is there to stay? A good university hockey program, to quote from a great blog post by Carleton University broadcaster\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003ECarlos Verde\u003C\/b\u003E, has \"\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/averdelife.wordpress.com\/2016\/04\/04\/reflecting-on-two-years-in-canadian-college-hockey\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecoaches and players functioning at a professional level\u003C\/a\u003E.\" If only that point could get across to people.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAbout three years ago, MUN noted \"\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/themuse.ca\/2013\/09\/19\/why-does-mun-not-have-a-hockey-team\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewithout having an on campus rink, certainly ice time and a place to play would be a huge expense in terms of the bottom line finances\u003C\/a\u003E.\" However, St. John's \u003Ci\u003Ehas\u003C\/i\u003E a fine arena with Mile One Centre, and it is soon going to need a primary tenant. It is easier said than done, but Nipissing and North Bay, Ont., were able to work something out where the Lakers filled a void while the city was trying to get back into a more prestigious league.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe upside of a commitment to university hockey is you know the team won't relocate.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBad Idea the Seeond — A Big East?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESeven plus three is not just a touchdown and field goal, it also stands for the number of teams in the Maritimes in the number in Quebec, with Concordia, McGill and Trois-Rivières, which are content as associate OUA members.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOur university sports isn't prone to the same conference-jumping power grabs as its louder southern cousin, for which one should be grateful. For if CIS was, you could easily picture an overture being made to Le Trio Québec to blow that Upper Canada popsicle stand, bringing over their qualifying berth in the University Cup. The conference lines would also correspond with the CHL and Canadian Junior Hockey League.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EScheduling would become much more difficult, especially with two clusters of odd numbers, though.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBad Idea the Third, Part A — Interlock\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis will never, ever, happen, but it is Wishful Thinking Wednesday, after all. No doubt AUS will come up with something more practical to adapt the regular-season schedule. Having a randomized fifth game apiece against four other teams will, in the short run, make up for St. Thomas' absence and get everyone to the 28 also played in OUA and Canada West.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOf course, playing an opponent more than four times, beyond exhibitions, a playoff series and a possible matchup at nationals, gets repetitive.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EIf\u003C\/i\u003E only there was a way to have an interlock with OUA, consisting of a two-game trip to central Canada and hosting two teams for one weekend per season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne only brings this up as a believer in university men's puck. Making some scheduling and structural changes instead of the same old, same old, might open up some eyes that this a game that rates being taken seriously.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBad Idea the Third, Part B — Interlock, With the O-QHC!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis will never, never, ever, ever happen ... but would that the imaginary interlock was with a seven-team hockey conference encompassing Eastern Ontario and Quebec.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's not happening. Carleton and uOttawa are fine playing in a Quebec conference for women's hockey, but not for men's, and Queen's identifies more as a southern Ontario school. Royal Military would not benefit either way, and Laurentian and Nipissing are just too far from anyone.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/1658950966571102545\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/04\/wishful-thinking-wednesday-aus-mens.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/1658950966571102545"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/1658950966571102545"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/04\/wishful-thinking-wednesday-aus-mens.html","title":"Wishful Thinking Wednesday: AUS men's hockey, getting back to even numbers"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"sager"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08757652892056684490"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HoppI3_eGQc\/VrWGl9xFY2I\/AAAAAAAADEA\/ucwvqUnIa7M\/s220\/Neate1379-4x4M.JPG"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-3424842874219764828"},"published":{"$t":"2016-04-04T19:20:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-04-04T22:20:08.294-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hockey: St. Thomas Tommies fold, reducing AUS men's league to 7 teams"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Some sad news that one might have feared was coming: the St. Thomas Tommies have folded men's hockey.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs reported by the \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theaquinian.net\/breaking-news-stu-cancels-mens-hockey-program\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAquinian\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, the campus newspaper at the Fredericton, N.B., school will realize an annual savings to close to a quarter-million dollars, and the plan is that \"\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theaquinian.net\/breaking-news-stu-cancels-mens-hockey-program\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eathletic financial award commitments to a men’s hockey player will be honoured if the player continues his education at STU\u003C\/a\u003E.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt always sucks when there is suddenly one fewer team in one of the major team sports, but times are tight, especially in Irving-land. One can feel the pain and know that, practically, a campus of 2,300 students \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/education\/uniandcollege\/the-11-universities-in-canada-with-the-most-women\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethat is two-thirds women\u003C\/a\u003E would be in tough to sponsor a men's hockey program, especially with reigning CIS University Cup champion UNB next door. In fact, of the 11 universities across Canada that have a greater than 2-to-1 female-male ratio, only three are in CIS, the others being Brandon and Nipissing, which does have two hockey teams. That's extrapolated from a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/education\/uniandcollege\/the-11-universities-in-canada-with-the-most-women\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elist published in \u003Ci\u003EMaclean\u003C\/i\u003E's not too long ago\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003ESo really, it does make sense for the school to go all in on the women's hockey Tommies, who finished sixth at the CIS championship and defeated McGill in a consolation-side game.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESomeone who's been around longer could better elaborate on how this is the long tail of what's been called the 'professionalization' of university's men hockey. Other small schools such as Bishop's and Mount Allison long ago got out of the game.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt's a little early in the game to speculate about what AUS will do about running a seven-team men's hockey league. Everyone who appreciated St. Thomas' presence in university men's hockey should have time to grieve. The program's peak was probably 2001, when Jason Sands scored the overtime winner against St. Francis Xavier to seal the Tommies' first conference title.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QKvFMMSI3Gs\" width=\"420\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003EWould that AUS could create a 10-team league with Concordia, McGill and Trois-Rivières that would qualify three teams for the University Cup each season, but it is doubtful that would ever get off the ground.\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/3424842874219764828\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/04\/hockey-st-thomas-tommies-fold-reducing.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/3424842874219764828"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/3424842874219764828"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/04\/hockey-st-thomas-tommies-fold-reducing.html","title":"Hockey: St. Thomas Tommies fold, reducing AUS men's league to 7 teams"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"sager"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08757652892056684490"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HoppI3_eGQc\/VrWGl9xFY2I\/AAAAAAAADEA\/ucwvqUnIa7M\/s220\/Neate1379-4x4M.JPG"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/QKvFMMSI3Gs\/default.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-4348570749692665409"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-20T19:15:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-03-20T20:43:12.422-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Carabins"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Dinos"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Gryphons"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Martlets"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mustangs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UBC Thunderbirds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Wishful Thinking Wednesday"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Women's Puck Bracketology"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Women's Puck Bracketology: Montreal routs out newbie UBC; SMU medals; a passionate plea for STU"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ci\u003E(Editor's note: In the interest of sustaining conversation, the plan for the three hockey and hoops nationals threads that I am off-site for is to have some belated Wishful Thinking Wednesday posts that pertain to each championship. Below that will be an open thread with results and whatnot.)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Super Championship weekend, let's get this inked in right off the hop, is a winner for CIS.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnd, and I swear this occurred to me before the St. Thomas Tommies -- shunted to the No. 8 seed so the Calgary \u003Cb\u003EHayley\u003C\/b\u003E's Comet Has Gones could play the prime-time Friday quarter-final, l\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.cis-sic.ca\/championships\/wice\/2016\/boxscores_champ\/20160317_x11u.xml\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eost to No. 1 Guelph\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhy not try to have the women's hockey and hoops championships \u0026nbsp;as close together as possible, and aim to have the men's basketball Final 8 and men's hockey University Cups in cities that are safe driving distance, for the diehards or alumni that might have a school make both?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe SCW is a great idea; this Shelbyville Idea is a next step. The regionalists will howl, but everyone will get a turn, and this gets out in front of the coming day when some of these tournaments are going to get too extensive for one school to bid. In fact, that day is already here?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe SCW should not be walked back. You need to be seen, and as it stands, wall-to-walling it with the eight semifinals and four finals in hockey and hoops makes sense.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhat of having an atmosphere? 'Having a national conversation about CIS, it might make sense to somewhat tether these tentpole tournaments.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EThe female teams might have a better forum for their talent and effort if the hockey and hoops tournaments were staged in close proximity. More work for the host(s), but more CIS-fluent people descending on one spot for 4-5 days, more of a cluster occurs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThey would probably come up with better ideas than this off-the-cuff stuff. Does it sound like I am spending a second consecutive weekend blogging at a university with a combo basketball\/hockey facility?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe same could work for the University Cup and men's Final 8, although in that case, it just be more workable to get schools within a two-hour drive of one another hosting. There are, and will soon, be a lot more OHL-size arenas that can be converted for basketball.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EJust a thought. Suppose St. Thomas and UNB — \u0026nbsp;if only, if only, there was a power couple, say a V-Reds man and a Tommies woman, who are passionate about sports and Fredericton could get 'em around the table — had partnered. UNB hosting the W-Final 8, then they put in a bid for women's hockey, with STU as the host team. It would involve that whole Freddy Beach community, and win-win-win, make reparations for UNB dropping its women's varsity a few years ago.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003EResults so far\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMedal Games\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGold\/silver: Montréal 8, UBC 0\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E— \u003C\/b\u003EThe more established program was ready and UBC was a little out of its depth. The mere fact that the Thunderbirds were there is great.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBronze: Saint Mary's 3, Guelph 1\u0026nbsp;— \u003C\/b\u003EMake it two CIS bronze medals for women's Huskies teams in the same day, and two in hockey for a total of three. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo what happened? Saint Mary's\u003Cb\u003E Nicole Blanche \u003C\/b\u003Egot the icebreaker 1:49 into the game, and SMU got to play from ahead the whole afternoon.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat's French-language school, West Coast school and East Coast school on the podium. Great to see for a CIS league that is still shy of its 20th anniversary.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESemifinal Saturday\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUBC 2 Guelph 1 (OTS) \/ Montreal 3 Saint Mary's 2\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E— \u003C\/b\u003EVery, very few sports seem to get a final four of conference champs, or even one with all four involved. Each was a close game. Focus there!\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EQuarter-finals\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2\/7\/3\/6 pod\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESaint Mary's Huskies 1 Western Mustangs 0 — \u003C\/b\u003EThe karma just keeps on coming, does it not? Former UNB player\u003Cb\u003E Sylvia Bryson\u003C\/b\u003E wins her case to have the women's hockey Varsity Reds reinstated. Then Saint Mary's, once pulled back from the chopping block, has won AUS and took out the defending champs. The Huskies'\u003Cb\u003E Rebecca Clark\u003C\/b\u003E's 26-save shutout including facing down a 44-second two-woman power play in the third.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMight we retire the \"goalie stood tall with [X number of] saves\" cliché? Even \u003Cb\u003EDarren Pang\u003C\/b\u003E stood tall. By definition, this is the only way to stand, although there is no end of ways to stop a shot.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMontréal Carabins 4 Calgary Dinos 0 — \u003C\/b\u003EThe same two cities that played in the Clarkson Cup last weekend.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cb\u003E1\/8\/4\/5 pod\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGuelph 3, St. Thomas Tommies 0\u0026nbsp;—\u003C\/b\u003E It is truly lamentable that STU got Lamenta'd, as Guelph goalie \u003Cb\u003EValerie Lamenta\u003C\/b\u003E had an 18-save shutout.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUBC Thunderbirds 4, McGill Martlets 2 (eng) \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E— We like a 'bird' team from a school that faced Montreal in football last fall in the semi. Now, if you haven't \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/british-columbia\/danielle-dube-39-year-old-mother-leads-ubc-into-hockey-playoffs-1.3473084\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eread the story from two weeks back about UBC's 40-year-old goalie\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Cb\u003EDanielle Dube\u003C\/b\u003E, please do, and share it on social media.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/4348570749692665409\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/03\/womens-puck-bracketology-guelph.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/4348570749692665409"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/4348570749692665409"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/03\/womens-puck-bracketology-guelph.html","title":"Women's Puck Bracketology: Montreal routs out newbie UBC; SMU medals; a passionate plea for STU"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"sager"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08757652892056684490"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HoppI3_eGQc\/VrWGl9xFY2I\/AAAAAAAADEA\/ucwvqUnIa7M\/s220\/Neate1379-4x4M.JPG"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-1078838450495051030"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-09T13:37:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-03-09T13:54:27.153-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Carabins"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"CIS women's hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Dinos"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Gryphons"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lakers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Martlets"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mustangs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"UBC Thunderbirds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Women's Puck Bracketology"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Women's Puck Bracketology: Guelph goes for No. 1 seed, Western tries to win one for Saint Mary's"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"There is a great feature some national sports network could produce about No. 1 Guelph's coach, \u003Cb\u003ERachel Flanagan\u003C\/b\u003E, and her now five-year-old child.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Gryphons' guide was, as you would recall, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thestar.com\/sports\/hockey\/2011\/03\/03\/gaels_gryphons_women_set_hockey_record.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edue any day that night five years ago this month\u003C\/a\u003E when Guelph and Queen's \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.gogaelsgo.com\/news\/2011\/3\/3\/HOCKEYW_0303115525.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eengaged in a six-overtime playoff series opener\u003C\/a\u003E. There is some human drama for you. Plus the Gryphons, under the leadership of someone who captained the team in its nascence, have become a world-beater.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThey grow up so fast.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003EIt can be easy to forget women's hockey has\u0026nbsp;been on Canadian Interuniversity Sport's roster for fewer than 20 years. Or that even 10 years ago, the nationals were usually a roll call of usual suspects: Alberta, Laurier and McGill, lather, rinse, repeat, add a host team, an assigned team and the AUS, add stir. Now it is one of the most unpredictable sports when it comes to who shows up at nationals. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHierarchy? McGill and Montréal as 1A and 1B in Quebec notwithstanding, this is a democratic sport. Take Nipissing, a new-ish team. The Lakers eliminated next year's nationals host, Queen's and then played the equivalent of a four-game series against Western last weekend. The Mustangs finally coaxed a series-winning goal past NU's\u003Cb\u003E Jacqueline Rochefort \u003C\/b\u003Eafter nearly 112½ scoreless minutes in Game 3 last weekend. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnyway, the seeding.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EWomen's hockey not only tries to avoid same-conference quarter-finals, but same-conference semifinals whenever possible, assuming that I read\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/static.psbin.com\/a\/u\/ai0i52l0tflb12\/HockeyW.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESection 4.2.2 correctly\u003C\/a\u003E, and had an administrator at a school whose team is out explain it slowly enough to me. The Western-Guelph McCaw Cup matchup on Saturday will determine the seeding.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.cis-sic.ca\/sports\/wice\/top10\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUsing the current Top 10\u003C\/a\u003E, essentially Guelph will be No. 1 next week in Calgary if it wins. The Mustangs are playing for No. 3 at nationals, but a win means McGill next Thursday instead of Saint Mary's.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf Guelph wins on Saturday, everything falls into place:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGuelph (OUA champion)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMontréal (RSEQ champion)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESaint Mary's Huskies (AUS champion)* \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUBC Thunderbirds (Canada West champion)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMcGill Martlets (RSEQ assigned)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWestern Mustangs (OUA assigned)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESt. Thomas Tommies (AUS assigned)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECalgary Dinos (host)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003EA Western win, sighs of relief all around, will not cause any controversy. Calgary to No. 7 is an easy pivot. St. Thomas and Montréal meet in the quarter-final either way, and each stay in the same half of the bracket. It's not relevant that Calgary gets a 7 seed even though it was not ranked all season and went two-and-out in the first round against Regina.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMontréal (RSEQ champion)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESaint Mary's (AUS champion)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWestern (OUA\u0026nbsp;champion)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUBC (Canada West champion)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGuelph (OUA\u0026nbsp;assigned)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMcGill (RSEQ assigned)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECalgary (host)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESt. Thomas (AUS assigned)*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003ESaint Mary's becomes the big winner, presumably, since it goes from defending national champion Western to Calgary, which was ousted on Feb. 20. For what it is worth, every so often a host team that is on hiatus for that long comes back refreshed and focus and wins, like the 2005 Weyburn Red Wings and 2012 Shawinigan Cataractes in junior hockey.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Dinos' layoff adds up to 25 days, which is almost as long as some of the more dubious Memorial Cup host teams of recent vintage. There's another story!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(* already determined) \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/1078838450495051030\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/03\/womens-puck-bracketology-guelph-goes.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/1078838450495051030"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/1078838450495051030"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/03\/womens-puck-bracketology-guelph-goes.html","title":"Women's Puck Bracketology: Guelph goes for No. 1 seed, Western tries to win one for Saint Mary's"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"sager"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08757652892056684490"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HoppI3_eGQc\/VrWGl9xFY2I\/AAAAAAAADEA\/ucwvqUnIa7M\/s220\/Neate1379-4x4M.JPG"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-6558233566003709945"},"published":{"$t":"2016-03-03T09:49:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-03-03T10:04:23.960-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleues"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"CIS women's hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mounties"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hockey: UNB Varsity Reds women's team gets court-ordered reinstatement"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Eight years and who knows how many lost playing opportunities for dedicated, determined female hockey players later, the University of New Brunswick has been \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/new-brunswick\/womens-varsity-hockey-reinstated-unb-1.3472945\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eordered by the provincial labour and employment to restore varsity status to the Varsity Reds women's hockey team by 2017-18\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHopefully, it will. Neither you nor I have the context for the second-last and last paragraphs of the CBC story, where UNB director of athletics John Richard is quoted the \"\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/new-brunswick\/womens-varsity-hockey-reinstated-unb-1.3472945\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elegal team is kind of digesting it for us\u003C\/a\u003E\" and a university statement states it \"\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/new-brunswick\/womens-varsity-hockey-reinstated-unb-1.3472945\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Econtinues to evaluate its options while co-operating fully with the process\u003C\/a\u003E.\" \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESylvia Bryson, who was one of the Varsity Reds affected by the program cut in 2008, filed complaints with both the labour \u0026amp; employment board and the human rights commission. The former has determined this was discrimination.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor those who might not know, in March 2008, just as \u003Cb\u003EGardiner MacDougall\u003C\/b\u003E's vaunted men's team was making another run for the CIS University Cup, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2008\/03\/womens-hockey-thumbs-down-to-unb.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUNB axed the women's program to save money\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile it is understood men's hockey in Atlantic University Sport is much more of the alpha-male game than it is in the OUA — why, it's almost like the conference hasn't won a Vanier Cup since \u003Ci\u003EUndeclared \u003C\/i\u003Ewas on the air — was wrongheaded and shortsighted. It was a bad look to come across as trying to up the competitive ante in the men's league by ditching the women's team. A couple years after this, Saint Mary's tried the same thing and the backlash was so swift that it reversed itself.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBeyond the public shaming, it was wrong times 10 to the 12th power since\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn the former count, as I understand it the mandate of Canadian Interuniversity Sport is to give student-athletes an outlet to play competitively. People talk about trying to raise the profile of CIS — and I like to flatter myself by believing I am on the right side of the puck in that struggle — but ultimately, that is what it is about. Women's hockey is much more under that umbrella than men's hockey. For male players, CIS typically becomes an option after doors close, if sometimes only albeit temporarily, at the topmost professional levels, i.e., the NHL and the American Hockey League.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe female players are usually more intent on playing CIS and becoming part of a community. At least that was what I argued eight years ago. In hindsight, it seems a little condescending to say that. There is also some nascent women's pro hockey with the CWHL and NWHL slowly building.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt was also shortsighted to cut a growth sport, where a goodly portion of the roster might hail from the university's surrounding region. When SMU tried to cut women's hockey, it bore noting that team, per capita, was drawing more players from Atlantic Canada than the much more expensive football team. (Laugh line: based on the past couple seasons' standings, it looks like Saint Mary's did scrap football.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe bottom line is you cannot build up the men's team by outright eliminating the other. It is great that Canadian university hockey is now at a level where no one should be shocked that the Carleton Ravens defeated the AHL's Binghamton Senators in a preseason affray, but equal opportunity is a thing. Because it is 2016. And definitely, UNB probably realizes that now, since hindsight is 20\/20.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA big stick tap to Sylvia Bryson and her support network for seeing this through. No doubt she probably had some backlash about her fight.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMoncton and St. Thomas tied for second in AUS women's hockey with identical .667 point percentages. Obviously (move sarcasm detector to \u003Ci\u003Eon\u003C\/i\u003E position) this just proves it's impossible for a quality university in New Brunswick to afford a women's hockey team that is competitive in its conference. Those schools must be much bigger institutions than UNB, especially St. Thomas.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EArchive:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2008\/03\/womens-hockey-thumbs-down-to-unb.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWomen's hockey: Thumbs-down to UNB\u003C\/a\u003E (March 2008)\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/6558233566003709945\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/03\/hockey-unb-varsity-reds-womens-team.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/6558233566003709945"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/6558233566003709945"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2016\/03\/hockey-unb-varsity-reds-womens-team.html","title":"Hockey: UNB Varsity Reds women's team gets court-ordered reinstatement"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"sager"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08757652892056684490"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HoppI3_eGQc\/VrWGl9xFY2I\/AAAAAAAADEA\/ucwvqUnIa7M\/s220\/Neate1379-4x4M.JPG"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-8960359762952118130"},"published":{"$t":"2014-02-14T15:46:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2014-02-14T15:53:18.396-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update – Do you have an exit buddy?"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ci\u003E(Longtime AUS hockey follower \u003Cb\u003EEric Drummie\u003C\/b\u003E has volunteered another report this week. Thanks Eric.)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith one week left, and only two games, we all know who is in the playoffs and who has the byes. But, we have no clue who will play who. Yet. We do know where each pair of teams sits – UNB and Acadia sit at the top with first-round byes, but first place is still up for grabs. UdeM and UPEI sit in third and fourth spot with UdeM having a one point lead and StFX and SMU sit fifth and sixth with StFX having a one point lead. So the playoff combinations are all still up for grabs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EV-Reds in cruise control\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnother weekend and another two wins for the Varsity Reds. UNB drove uptown to play STU at the Grant*Harvey Centre on Friday where specialty teams was the order of the day. UNB scored two power-play goals and a shorty in a 6-1 win. STU spoiled the shutout bid for UNB rookie\u003Cb\u003E Joel Vienneau\u003C\/b\u003E with five minutes to go in the first. UNB broke open the 1-1 first period tie with a 4-goal second period and added another in the third. V-Red rookie sensations \u003Cb\u003EPhilippe Maillet\u003C\/b\u003E \u0026amp; \u003Cb\u003EPhilippe Halley\u003C\/b\u003E were the 1st and 2nd stars with three points each (2G,1A \u0026amp; 1G,2A respectively). Maillet leads all rookies with 37 points. The game went off the rails late in the third with 1:09 left. Once the roughing, hugging and #@* had finished, including a thrown water bottle from the STU bench to the UNB bench, each team had amassed close to 100 minutes in penalties. In the end, each team would lose a player for their next game (\u003Cb\u003EMike Thomas\u003C\/b\u003E for UNB and \u003Cb\u003EIan Saab\u003C\/b\u003E for STU).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe next night UNB was hosting a depleted UdeM team missing \u003Cb\u003EAlex Quesnel\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ci\u003E \u003C\/i\u003Eand \u003Cb\u003EKevin Charland\u003C\/b\u003E (who each have missed over half the season), \u003Cb\u003ERemi Blanchard\u003C\/b\u003E, and \u003Cb\u003EMaxime Pilon\u003C\/b\u003E and\u003Cb\u003E Jean-Marc Leger\u003C\/b\u003E who were injured the night before in their game against UPEI. UNB outshot Moncton 15 to 5 in the first period but had nothing to show for it, but they would solve Adrien Lemay in the second with two goals and two more in the third period (two of which were on the power-play – a sight for sore eyes at the AUC). Final shots were 41-18 and the second shutout for returning veteran netminder \u003Cb\u003ECharles Lavign\u003C\/b\u003Ee. The win was Lavigne’s 15th of the season – one more than his 3-year career total at STU.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUNB ends the regular season on the road, and looking past their Friday match-up versus Dal, the final game of the season against Acadia is likely for first place in the AUS. With a 2-point lead, a UNB win or overtime loss will give them 1st; an Acadia win in regulation gives them 1st (Acadia has the tie-breaker). UNB lost their last game in Wolfville (5-1 on Nov. 30th ) and since these teams are likely to meet in the conference finals home ice might be the difference.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn the team front, recruited forward \u003Cb\u003EJP Labardo\u003C\/b\u003E did not play in the second half and has officially left the team for “other options” and University Cup MVP \u003Cb\u003ETyler Carroll\u003C\/b\u003E took the pregame skate versus UdeM, but did not play, but looks to be close to game shape. Defenceman \u003Cb\u003ETim Primao\u003C\/b\u003E has being playing forward on the 4th line as UNB goes with 3 pairs of D in the home stretch.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAcadia returns to form\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere have been some bumps on the road for Acadia, but last weekend they returned to form with a win on the road in Halifax versus SMU and returned home to easily defeat last place Dalhousie. The Axemen were down 2-0 early in the 2nd period on Friday night, but three unanswered goals later they were in the lead 3-2 and added two more in the 3rd for a 5-2 win. An easy 6-1 win on Saturday over Dal allowed them to keep pace with UNB and sets up the final game of the year as a winner take all (almost: a UNB loss in OT gives them first).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELiam Heelis\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003EMike Cazzola\u003C\/b\u003E remain 1-2 in scoring with 42 and 40 points respectively, and are the first to cross the 40-point mark. UNB’s Maillet and \u003Cb\u003EChris Culligan \u003C\/b\u003Eare tied with 37 points for 3rd spot going into the last weekend of the season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUdeM looking for some cat-nip\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;A short 2-game losing streak now has les Aigles Bleus looking in their rear-view mirror as UPEI has cut their lead to one point for third place in the standings. Their biggest loss came at home on Friday as they lost a tight game to rival UPEI. Moncton scored first early in the third period, but were unable to hold on and the Panthers scored three goals (one at 12 minutes and the last two in the last 3 minutes of the game) to win it 3-1. Moncton lost two players to injury during the game and neither returned the next night to play against UNB (Pilon and Leger).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe next night a depleted roster had to take on UNB and strong play of Lemay kept them in it, but it’s hard to with a short bench and only 18 shots in the game. If there is an ‘up’ side to their woes it is that UPEI has the potentially harder final weekend. Moncton has to play Acadia on Friday, in Wolfville, but have taken their last two games against the Axemen (a 6-5 OT win at home and a 4-3 OT win back in November in Wolfville). They end the season against lowly Dal, which might be the two points they need to stay in third place.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERegardless, they do have home ice wrapped up for the first round and they will play either SMU or StFX. The advantage of third place is that if you advance to the second round of the playoffs you don’t have to play the #1 team coming off their bye. If Moncton should end-up tied with UPEI, they would have the same 2-2-0 record and the same GF\/GA of 10\/10. The third tie-breaker is … well, the AUS is working on that as we type.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPanthers finally purring?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA uncharacteristic loss to Dal two weeks ago is the difference for UPEI; a win in that game and they would be in third place by one point, but instead they sit behind Moncton by one point. This came after a great effort versus Acadia, in Wolfville, which gave them a 5-2 win (and handed a two-point lead to UNB for first place).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELast weekend they did what they had to do in Moncton, winning a tight 3-1 game with three goals in the third period after Moncton had taken the lead two minutes into the period. The next night they were in Fredericton to play STU. Despite out-shooting the Tommies 51-23 (15-5 in the first periods) UPEI didn’t open the scoring until the second periods. STU would counter and they would enter the third period tied. UPEI scored two goals on 18 shots in the period and won 3-1.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis weekend UPEI is hosting StFX and SMU, who are fighting for 5th spot. So, while PEI is fighting to get ahead of Moncton, StFX and SMU are fighting to get ahead of each other. No easy games here - the nod has to go to UPEI who are tough at home. In order to move up in the standings UPEI will likely have to win both games, as they have to expect Moncton to defeat Dal on Saturday.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cb\u003EStFX – where did those mutant powers go?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe X-Men have faltered in the second half with only four wins and have only one win in their last six games (and that was agaisnt last place Dal). They are fighting off SMU for the last playoff spot. They are guaranteed a playoff spot, as DAL and STU have been eliminated, but they don’t have much to hang their cape on at this stage.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere is no single element that is wrong with the X-Men: they averaged just under 3 goals a game in the past six games, but their defense is giving up close to 4 goals. They are middle of the pack for stats and such a team should probably be higher in the standings. Interesting to note that they have lost five 1-goal games to go along with their 2 OT losses.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESMU – mush, mush, there is still work to be done.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESaint Mary’s will finish in 5th or 6th place and most of that depends on how they play this weekend against STU and UPEI. SMU hasn’t had the best schedule recently, having to play Moncton, UNB and Acadia over the past two weekends (all losses). But, the fourth game in their weekend series was a convincing 7-3 win over StFX to cut the X-Men’s lead to one point for 5th place as StFX has also been having a tough two-week stint.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe possible key to SMU’s success, or the reason for their fall from last year’s AUS runner-ups and U-Cup silver medalists, could be their power play. Last year they were tops in the conference with a PP% of 23.1 for 37 goals; this year it’s in last place - 10.4% and 14 goals. A 23-goal difference is close to a goal-a-game not on the board (important when you have four 1-goal losses on your season).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cb\u003ETommies keep pushing, but pushing up hill is always hard\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESTU played the cross-campus rivals last weekend and lost 6-1 to UNB. The first period (which was called extremely tight by the officials) ended tied 1-1, but a four-goal 2nd period ended STU’s night (with UNB scoring again in the 3rd). Tempers flared late in the third period with close to 100 minutes in penalties. Ian Saab will miss the game against UPEI as a result of a match penalty . STU did a good job of forcing UNB to outside and blocking the cross ice passes that the V-Reds prefer to make. They held UNB to 22 shots in the game, which is something when you consider UNB averages 35 shots per night.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt was a far different game the next night as STU gave up 51 shots to UPEI, but had a better overall result. There was no score in the first, and a 1-1 tie going into the third period. The Tommies just couldn’t hold on as they gave up 2 goals on 17 shots in the period. STU had their changes in this one. The game got chippy in the second period - halfway through the period a pushing–and–shoving match resulted in two 10-minute misconducts for both teams. Later in the period UPEI rookie forward Brock Beukeboom was assessed a five-minute major for charging and STU was on a five-minute power play. The period ended with Jonathan Bonneau getting a two-minute call at the horn which nullified the PP and the teams would start the 3rd period 4-on-4. UPEI scored 1:34 into the 3rd period while 4-on-4 and would increase their lead with a PP marker at 10:11. Would’a, could’a, should’a: a STU power play goal during that major would have given them the lead and then you’re in a new game.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESTU ends the season hosting StFX and SMU. Could STU be a spoiler be in the making? This season STU has four wins over Dal, a surprising win over UNB and a first-half win at home versus StFX. Both StFX and SMU are in race for 5th place, so nothing is going to come easy for STU on the last weekend of the season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETigers with few claws\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Dal Tigers lost a close game against StFX on Friday night. They scored first only to end the period tied. They took the lead again in the third only to have StFX tie it again then take the lead two minutes later with seven minutes left in the game. Dal had just 6 shots in the 3rd period.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe last weekend of the season will likely not be kind to the Tigers. They first play UNB on Friday then Moncton on Saturday. #1 (CIS #2) and #3 (CIS #10), back-to-back, with both opponents needing wins over Dal to maintain their slim points leads over their rivals in the standings. Dal upset UNB two years ago in the second last weekend of the season (3-2 in an overtime shootout that went eight rounds), but their win over UPEI on Feb. 1st might have been their last hurrah this season. \u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/8960359762952118130\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2014\/02\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-do-you.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/8960359762952118130"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/8960359762952118130"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2014\/02\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-do-you.html","title":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update – Do you have an exit buddy?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-3609830920048679549"},"published":{"$t":"2014-01-31T15:35:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2014-02-03T12:13:52.773-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axewomen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update – Like a broken record, it sounds the same each time"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ci\u003E(Longtime AUS hockey follower Eric Drummie has noticed that I have been very remiss with AUS men's hockey updates and volunteers his own report this week. Thanks Eric.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETwo weeks ago the Acadia Axemen visited UNB for their second-half return trip with a three point lead over UNB in the AUS standings; however when they returned to Wolfville after their New Brunswick road trip they were tied for the lead. Not much has changed since then and the two remain atop the AUS standings.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe numerous hockey games his season that were rescheduled due to bad weather have all now been made-up and each team have now played 22 games with six to go in the regular season. Acadia and UNB have clinched playoff spots. No first-round byes have been clinched and the remaining playoff spots are up for grabs (except in Dal’s case, as they have been eliminated from the playoffs).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EV-Reds play to their opponents' level\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EStill without UCup MVP \u003Cb\u003ETyler Carroll,\u003C\/b\u003E the V-Reds are the hottest team in the AUS and currently on a 7 game winning streak, but it hasn’t been easy of late. In the Acadia game awhile back UNB laid claim as the better team that night and pulled to within one point of first place, but had to climb back from two one-goal deficits on the way. With four goals in the 3rd period – the last three by UNB – they went on to win 5-3. The clincher for UNB was a short-handed goal by captain \u003Cb\u003EChris Culligan\u003C\/b\u003E. UNB has seen a dramatic increase in the number of SHG's – with none in the first 16 games of the season they now have\u0026nbsp; recorded 4 in their last 6 games.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe following Tuesday, UNB was in Orono to play the University of Maine Black Bears. Unlike when StFX visited UMaine the previous week and lost 4-1, UNB got out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first period. The Black Bears battled back with one goal in the second and two goals in the third to tie the game and force overtime. UNB took a penalty late in the 3rd that carried over to OT which saw Maine captain, and Hobey Baker Candidate, \u003Cb\u003EDevin Shore\u003C\/b\u003E score. \u003Cb\u003EChris Culligan\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003EAdrian Robertson\u003C\/b\u003E only played the first period; red-shirt \u003Cb\u003EBen Duffy\u003C\/b\u003E played in Culligan’s place on the top line with V-Red rookies and former Junior teammates \u003Cb\u003EPhillipe Maillet\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003EPhillipe Halley\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELast weekend UNB needed two come-from-behind efforts to win against both STU in the 22nd annual \u003Ci\u003EMark Jeffrey Memorial Game\u003C\/i\u003E and on their road trip to PEI (in overtime) to keep pace with Acadia. Before the Jeffrey game \u003Cb\u003ENick MacNeil\u003C\/b\u003E was the recipient of UNB Hockey’s most prestigious award named after the former player and coach of UNB, but the star of the game was \u003Cb\u003EMaillet\u003C\/b\u003E who scored UNB’s first goal and assisted on the next three. A slow start for UNB saw them down two goals after the first period. A goalie change didn’t appear to help as rookie \u003Cb\u003EJoel Vienneau\u003C\/b\u003E replaced veteran \u003Cb\u003ECharles Lavigne\u003C\/b\u003E to start the second period and gave up a goal on STU’s first shot of the period. UNB would battle back with two power play goals and a shorty the rest of the way – taking the lead with four minutes remaining and sealing the victory with an empty net goal – the first UNB goal for rookie\u003Cb\u003E Dylan Willick\u003C\/b\u003E. Shots were 38-12 for UNB.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn the Island the story was much the same. UNB erased four one-goal deficits to force OT with 0.8 seconds left in the third (with Vienneau off for the extra attacker after making his first start against a team other than Dal). \u003Cb\u003EJordan Murray\u003C\/b\u003E scored the tying goal, and leads all AUS rookie D-men with 15 points to date (4h overall among D-men). \u003Cb\u003ECam Braes\u003C\/b\u003E scoring his conference-leading 6th game winning goal in OT. The night was a battle of specialty teams, or failure there-of, as UPEI had 3 power play goals on 8 tries while UNB was 0-8 on the PP. UNB is home this weekend to host SFX and SMU. UNB’s only lose this half was in their first game against SFX in Antigonish (where the team says they didn’t have a good game). The games won’t be easy as StFX is tied with SMU for 6th spot with 22 points – 3 points behind UPEI for 4th place.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - STU 4 @ UNB 6\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - UNB 5 @ UPEI 4 (OT)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAxemen hit a bump on the road\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAt one point, prior to their visit to Fredericton two weeks ago, Acadia was on the road to being crowned AUS champions – well maybe the 2014 pennant winners. All that changed in a spirited and energized game. This night was one of UNB’s two Elementary School nights with the Aitken University Centre sold out and full of kids pumped up on sugar. \u003Cb\u003EMike Cazzola\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003ELiam Heelis\u003C\/b\u003E each had a goal and assist to maintain their scoring leads in the AUS conference. This was a physical game as UNB’s \u003Cb\u003EAdrian Robertson\u003C\/b\u003E delivered a hard check to former Junior teammate Heelis, resulting in a bloody nose and some heated exchanges between the benches (there was no penalty on the play). Coach \u003Cb\u003EDarren Burns\u003C\/b\u003E mentioned after the game that \"it definitely had a play-off feel\".\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe following night in Moncton was close to a disaster for the Axemen as they fell down 3-0 and 4-1 in the first period alone. Acadia would battle back and take the lead with 10 minutes left in the 3rd period, forcing UdeM to play catch up. Moncton scored two minutes later and would score early in OT, leaving Acadia with one point for the weekend and tied for 1st place. Blowing a chance to take control of the pennant race Acadia is now in a dog-fight with UNB.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELast weekend Acadia had an easy win over Dalhousie and the next night protected a 3-2 lead over StFX until the last minute of the game. The Axemen scored a short-handed goal (their conference-leading 8th) and the X-Men countered on the same power play 16 seconds later (with 13 seconds left in the game) to end the game 4-3.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - Acadia 7 @ Dal 2\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday – StFX 3 @ Acadia 4\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStFX home-ice disadvantage?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESince their big weekend to start the second half with wins over UNB and Moncton, StFX has dropped faster than Wile E. Coyote’s anvil. They have one win in their last six games (plus a 4-1 loss to UMaine on the road in Orono) and where once their home record was 7-2 it is now 8-5 with their only win coming at home vs STU. They were a step ahead of Moncton for 3rd place at the Christmans break, but they are now tied with SMU for 6th, having been passed by both Moncton and UPEI. Unless STU catches lightning in a bottle, StFX will make the playoffs, but they will probably need to improve on their offense or tighten up on defence if they want to make it into the second round.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELast weekend they lost two tight games; SMU (in OT) and Acadia, with both ending 4-3. A 3-goal lead evaporated in the 3rd period in the SMU game and they were shutout during the shootout. \u003Cb\u003EJason Bast\u003C\/b\u003E leads the X-Men with 23 points, and Christmas addition \u003Cb\u003EBrandon Hynes \u003C\/b\u003Ehas 11 points in 8 games bringing some much need offence for a team that has only one player with 20+ points. Acadia has four, Moncton has 4 and UNB has close to 4.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - SMU 4 @ StFX 3 (OT-SO)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - SFX 3 @ Acadia 4\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWeather and home-ice woes\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Panthers had a good streak going in the middle of the month with wins over StFX, SMU and Moncton, but that all stopped when they ran into UNB on Saturday night. Despite having four UPEI leads in the game, UNB tied it up late and won it in overtime. This night was UPEI’s Alumni Night with a full rink and at times it looked like it was going to be UPEI’s game, but UNB ruined the party.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe weather hasn’t been very helpful for UPEI in their games against Moncton. The two games in the first half were moved to the second half due to the Confederation Bridge being closed. UPEI has lost both of these games (the first one at home on the 15th and the second one this past Wednesday in Moncton). These four points are the difference between UdeM and UPEI for 3rd place in the standings. UPEI’s home record is 5-6 while their road record is 6-5 leaving them at .500 with an 11-11 record. It doesn’t get any easier for the Panthers this weekend as they host Acadia and Dal. They will need the same effort they showed against UNB if they hope to defeat Acadia.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday – UdeM 1 @ UPEI 2\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday – UNB 5 @ UPEI 4 (OT)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWednesday – UPEI 2 @ UdeM 4\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWho are those guys in Bleu et Or shirts?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith all the attention UNB and Acadia have been getting Moncton has been ‘under the radar’ and sits comfortably in third place. They are 5-1 in their last six games including an OT win over Acadia two weeks ago and most recently on Wednesday night over UPEI (a rescheduled game from the first half due to weather closure of the Confederation Bridge). They have climbed back onto the CIS Top 10 at spot #10. \u003Cb\u003EEric Faille\u003C\/b\u003E leads the team with 31 points, but interesting enough has no game winning goals.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis coming weekend UdeM play StFX and SMU (the same teams that UNB will be playing on opposite nights) and wins would solidify them in 3rd place. It won't be easy – as mentioned for UNB – these two teams are tied for 6th and need wins if they hipe to pass UPEI for 4th place.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - UdeM 1 @ UPEI 2\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday – UdeM 5 @ STU 1\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWednesday – UPEI 2 @ UdeM 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDoes the dog bite?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESMU is 4-4 after the break and is stuck as a result – not moving up or down. Their big game this past weekend was a 4-3 overtime-shootout win over StFX. SMU trailed by 3 at the start of the 3rd period. They scored in the first minute, at the five minute mark and again with only 20 seconds left (with an extra attacker). They played through the full ten-minute OT and won the shootout 1-0. When added to the win over Dal on Saturday it leaves SMU in a tie with SFX for 6th place. The win on Friday night gives them the tie-breaker over StFX despite one game left in the season series which might be needed to determine who finishes 5th.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis coming weekend they are on the road against Moncton and UNB which will be real tests. The team that can find a split (SFX or SMU) this weekend will have the upper hand going into the last two weekends.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - SMU 4 @ SFX 3 (OT-SO)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - SMU 3 @ DAL 0\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESt. Thomas loses tough one\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe AUS is a tough league to play in and no one knows that more than STU. Two weeks ago they had a chance to close the gap on SMU but lost 4-0 on the road. This past week they had 3-0 and 4-2 leads over UNB only to see it disappear in the third period where the Tommies only had 1 shot to the V-Reds’ 16. Things didn’t get better when they hosted Moncton on Saturday with a 5-1 loss. STU isn’t eliminated yet from the playoffs but they will need a lot of help if they are to pass StFX or SMU. This weekend they are on the road to play Dal and Acadia.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - STU 4 @ UNB 6\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - UdeM 5 @ STU \u003C\/i\u003E1\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENowhere to go\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Dalhousie Tigers are having a bad year; there is no way to sugar-coat it. They are have been eliminated from the playoffs and are now playing for pride, such as late last season when they nipped UNB 3-2 in a shootout. Dal may have played spoiler with a 5-3 win over StFX two weeks ago, but since then they have only scored a total of four goals in their last four games. Top scorer for Dal is \u003Cb\u003EPatrick Daley\u003C\/b\u003E with 14 points, and he hasn’t played the last four games. The battle for the basement happens on Friday when they are in Fredericton to play STU, then off to the Island to play UPEI.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday – Dal 2 @ Acadia 7\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - Dal 0 @ SMU 3 \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/3609830920048679549\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2014\/01\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-like.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/3609830920048679549"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/3609830920048679549"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2014\/01\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-like.html","title":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update – Like a broken record, it sounds the same each time"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-1695795269003276727"},"published":{"$t":"2013-11-20T22:25:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-11-22T13:20:04.053-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: Took a while, but \"The Battle of the Hill\" is finally a thing again"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Until tonight, cross campus rivals St. Thomas had not beat the University of New Brunswick in men's hockey for 36 games, going back to October 20, 2006 (3-1 at the York Arena). Until tonight, the Tommies had not beat the Varsity Reds at the Aitken University Centre for 28 games, over ten years ago, since February 28, 2003 (2-1 in overtime). \u003Ci\u003EThe Battle of the Hill\u003C\/i\u003E (for the uninitiated that's Fredericton's College Hill that their shared campus is built on) has been pretty one-sided these last years. Until tonight.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESTU took advantage of two first-period power play goals (although technically the first goal was even-strength as it came four seconds after the UNB penalty ended but before the culprit could get from the sin bin to the UNB zone), stuck to their systems to protect the lead, and from then on pretty much rode goaltender \u003Cb\u003EJon Groenheyde\u003C\/b\u003E to an improbable \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/mice\/2013-14\/boxscores\/20131120_7u3i.xml\"\u003E3-2 win\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs UNB head coach \u003Cb\u003EGardiner MacDougall\u003C\/b\u003E remarked after the game, \"Give them full credit, their goaltender made the saves when he had to, they got the kills when they had to, and they protected the lead very well. They got the lead, they protected it and extended it. We came back and they protected it again.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe game was not without controversy, as UNB had two apparent goals waved off. While there's no video replay in the AUS, the V-Reds own game video left them convinced that they were good goals, which of course was the consensus of the partisan UNB fans at the time. Also concerning was the number of questionable or marginal penalties called - this was not a chippy game, but 12 minors were handed out along with three automatic 10-minute misconducts for checking from behind penalties.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESpecial teams and goaltending ended up being the difference in the game. UNB only managed one power play goal in 5 opportunities, and that was while they had a one-minute two-man advantage. They outshot the Tommies 44-20 in the game, but obviously didn't bury enough of their opportunities. STU was much more opportunisitic - their third goal, the eventual winner, came in the second period from \u003Cb\u003EJonathan Bonneau\u003C\/b\u003E on a stretch-pass breakaway seconds after the UNB defence jumped up into the play at the other end and forced Groenheyde to made a big save.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith the rare lead in the third period, the Tommies were able to sit back and let UNB carry the play, have Groenheyde make the first save while at the same time ensuring that the ice was so clogged in front of their goalie that the V-Reds couldn't get clean second and third shots. And it worked.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs for former Tommies defenceman and first-year coach \u003Cb\u003EPat Powers\u003C\/b\u003E, \"I'm glad the streak is over for the institution's sake. I'm glad we were able to win this game for our team's sake.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor the AUS fans in Fredericton, I'm just glad we got our rivalry back.\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/1695795269003276727\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/11\/mens-hockey-took-while-but-battle-of.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/1695795269003276727"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/1695795269003276727"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/11\/mens-hockey-took-while-but-battle-of.html","title":"Men's Hockey: Took a while, but \"The Battle of the Hill\" is finally a thing again"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-7145078500763189390"},"published":{"$t":"2013-11-19T16:35:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-11-20T07:30:06.027-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update - V-Reds no longer perfect"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The University of New Brunswick's men's hockey team is no longer \"perfect\". After seven straight wins the V-Reds lost a game Friday night in the three-man shootout phase, after a scoreless ten-minute overtime period. UNB is still in first place, just, with the surging Acadia Axemen - now the hottest team in the AUS conference - hard on their heels. The other big news this weekend was the number of rookie goalies picking up their first wins.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EImperfect V-Reds still a work in progress\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENow that their winning streak has ended maybe we can look at UNB in a clearer light: this is not last season's Varsity Reds. Thirteen players from last year are no longer with the program; ten of whom dressed in that 2-0 University Cup win over Saint Mary's back in March. Ten. That's a lot of veteran experience in key roles to replace. There are ten new, or new-to-UNB, players on the roster this year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs well, UCup MVP \u003Cb\u003ETyler Carroll\u003C\/b\u003E has yet to play on captain\u003Cb\u003E Chris Culligan\u003C\/b\u003E's left wing in a conference game this season, which has forced the pass-first playmaker to put more of his shots on net for goals. Culligan has 8 goals and 3 assists so far this season; last year he had 4 goals and 27 assists. Defensively, UNB has been working in three new d-men with pretty heavy minutes and the odd gaffe. In nets, STU transfer \u003Cb\u003ECharles Lavigne\u003C\/b\u003E has certainly delivered as expected (well in this and a few other corners) while newcomer \u003Cb\u003EJoel Vienneau\u003C\/b\u003E just had his first start, and win, against Dalhousie.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis year's version of the V-Reds has its growing pains. Like the mental breakdowns in both the first and last minute of the second period versus Acadia that cost them two goals. Or a hot and cold power play (well actually, they experienced that often last season as well). Taking penalties while shorthanded (okay, that too happened last year). Like not burying a Tigers team that you were leading 4-0 at one point, while consistently shooting wide of the net.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHead coach \u003Cb\u003EGardiner MacDougall\u003C\/b\u003E likes to talk about winning as a process - getting better every game, shift by shift, and all that. In the past the assembled media would usually just smile as that old bromide was trooped out, but this season it really does look to be mostly true, well certainly the work in progress bit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - Acadia 4 @ UNB 3 (OTS)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - Dal 3 @ UNB 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAxemen are for real\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt took game 8 of their seasons before UNB and Acadia finally met. It was a very entertaining, wide open game to watch that probably gave ulcers to the coaches involved. Wide open, but not a ton of shots as both teams did a pretty good job of last-second shutdowns of shooting lanes and preventing second shots. \u003Cb\u003ELiam Heelis\u003C\/b\u003E, \u003Cb\u003EMike Cazzola\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003EBrett Thompson\u003C\/b\u003E put on a pretty good clinic on how they are the most dangerous line in the AUS this season, and they certainly make the most of opponents' miscues. Acadia never led against UNB, but kept managing to tie the game up, survived the overtime (thanks in large part to \u003Cb\u003EGeoff Schemitsch\u003C\/b\u003E blocking shot after shot on the PK) and then out-dueled UNB in the shootout. By the way, that was Acadia's first road win against UNB since the playoffs in 2006, so they were probably overdue.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESaturday was different in that the Axemen took the first lead, and then kept retaking it in outlasting Moncton. This is proving to be a very dangerous team in close games (and good thing I had the \u003Cstrike\u003Eforesight\u003C\/strike\u003E luck to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-2013-14-aus-mens-hockey.html\"\u003Epick them for second place\u003C\/a\u003E!). \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - Acadia 4 @ UNB 3 (OTS)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - Acadia 5 @ UdeM 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESurprise, StFX much better at home\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe X-Men have won four games at home, but only once on the road. That's why they now find themselves\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/mice\/2013-14\/standings\"\u003E just ahead of the pack in third place\u003C\/a\u003E, but falling behind UNB and Acadia. Friday they mounted a soul-crushing two-goal comeback against St. Thomas, while on Saturday they had a comfortable win against UPEI while out-shooting them 43-29. \u003Cb\u003EJarrad Struthers\u003C\/b\u003E had a big weekend for X, scoring a pair of goals on Friday and adding another brace on Saturday.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - STU 5 @ StFX 6 (OT)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - UPEI 1 @ StFX 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhile UPEI had a tough road weekend\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Panthers got off to a good start against the Huskies, and the perhaps understandably lost their focus when \u003Cb\u003EJordan Mayer\u003C\/b\u003E was hit hard by SMU captain \u003Cb\u003ELucas Bloodoff \u003C\/b\u003Eat 15:36, and after a long delay left the game on a stretcher. Bloodoff was assessed five and a game for boarding (similar to what happened to him twice at Nationals) and one wonders if there will be supplemental discipline (especially as UPEI was on the wrong side of a long \u003Cb\u003EMason Wilgosh\u003C\/b\u003E suspension last season). The good news was that Mayer was released from hospital the next day and by all reports is fine. [UPDATE: Well, apparently not completely fine. He does\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.theguardian.pe.ca\/Sports\/Hockey\/2013-11-20\/article-3487337\/Panthers-to-host-Moncton-in-AUS-mens-hockey-without-sniper\/1?utm_source=twitterfeed\u0026amp;utm_medium=twitter\"\u003E have a head injury\u003C\/a\u003E and will miss Wednesday's game.]\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESMU scored four times in the second period while UPEI had no answer. The next night the Panthers were in tough against StFX, who fired 24 shots at Wayne Savage in the first period alone as they jumped all over them after their exciting win the night before.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - UPEI 2 @ SMU 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - UPEI 1 @ StFX 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGood and and not so good weekend for Aigles Bleus\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFriday Moncton were all over visiting Dal. In a great team effort seven different goal scorers found the back of the net and rookie \u003Cb\u003EJonathan Connelly\u003C\/b\u003E earned a shut-out in his first start for les Aigles Bleus. Saturday was a different animal, as the red-hot Axemen were never behind and their rookie goalie \u003Cb\u003EBrandon Glover\u003C\/b\u003E picked up his second win in his second start.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - Dal 0 @ UdeM 7\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - Acadia 5 @ UdeM 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHuskies starting to round into form?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe've all been wondering when the SMU offence was finally going to come uncorked. Friday they had those four unanswered goals against UPEI. Saturday they exploded against the hapless Tommies, including 4 goals on the power play. SMU still has the worst PP percentage in the AUS, but at least they are now in double digits (10%). All-Star goalie \u003Cb\u003EAnthony Peters\u003C\/b\u003E is still not back in the Huskies line-up, but not to worry as rookie \u003Cb\u003EAnthony Terenzio\u003C\/b\u003E picked up his first two wins on the weekend. Rookie SMU defenceman \u003Cb\u003EStephen Gillard\u003C\/b\u003E had a goal in each period against STU for his first hat trick.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - UPEI 2 @ SMU 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - SMU 1 @ SMU 9 \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESt. Thomas loses tough one\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESTU had a two-goal lead on StFX, in Antigonish, in the final minutes of Friday's game. However, hopes were dashed when X's\u003Cb\u003E R.D. Chisholm\u003C\/b\u003E scored with one second left on the power play at 17:56, and then\u003Cb\u003E Robert Slaney\u003C\/b\u003E scored with 9 seconds left in regulation to tie the game with StFX's goalie on the bench for the extra attacker. X dominated the overtime period until \u003Cb\u003EJason Bast\u003C\/b\u003E scored at 6:03 of extra time. Talk about a kick in the shins, and probably explains why the rebuilding Tommies were no-shows against SMU on Saturday.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - STU 5 @ StFX 6 (OT)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - STU 1 @ SMU 9\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDo moral victories count?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt is an understatement to say that the Tigers are having a tough start to the season, while they await the return of their offensive leader\u003Cb\u003E Pierre Vandall \u003C\/b\u003Eand search for their first win. But to their credit, after getting waxed by Moncton on Friday, and giving up four straight goals to UNB on Saturday, Dal clawed their way back into the game against the V-Reds in front of a huge crowd (3281), thanks in particular to \u003Cb\u003EChris Ivanko\u003C\/b\u003E's two power play markers. Give credit also to goaltender \u003Cb\u003EBobby Nadeau \u003C\/b\u003Ewho made 39 saves, which could have easily been more on a night the V-Reds were uncharacteristically lacking finish and shooting wide.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - Dal 0 @ UdeM 7\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - Dal 3 @ UNB 4 \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThis week\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWendesday night we've got a full slate of games. StFX is at Acadia, STU is at UNB in round 2 of the Battle of the Hill, SMU is \"at\" Dal in the Halifax Forum Fight, and Moncton is on the Island to play UPEI.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFriday Acadia is at Dal, UNB is in Moncton, and UPEI is at STU. Saturday sees StFX at SMU, STU in Moncton while UPEI stays in Fredericton to play UNB.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/7145078500763189390\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/11\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-v-reds-no.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/7145078500763189390"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/7145078500763189390"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/11\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-v-reds-no.html","title":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update - V-Reds no longer perfect"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-2705108802432761240"},"published":{"$t":"2013-11-13T14:13:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-11-14T00:24:19.291-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"FISU"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: Team Canada Roster for FISU Winter Universiade"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The CIS has just released the men's hockey roster for the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.universiadetrentino.org\/en\/ice-hockey\"\u003E2013 Universiade\u003C\/a\u003E in Trentino, Italy. It will probably be on their website shortly. (\u003Cb\u003EUpdate\u003C\/b\u003E: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/english.cis-sic.ca\/universiade\/winter\/2013\/releases\/hockeyroster\"\u003Ehere it is\u003C\/a\u003E.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ctable border=1\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EName\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUniversity\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EElig.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHometown\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAcademic Program\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd colspan = 5\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGoaltenders\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EJonathan Groenheyde\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESt. Thomas\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E2\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESurrey, B.C.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EArts\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EAnthony Peters\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESaint Mary’s\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E3\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EBlyth, Ont.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ECommerce\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EWayne Savage\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EUPEI\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESt. Thomas, Ont.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EArts\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd colspan = 5\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDefencemen\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EJosh Day\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EStFX\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E5\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESt. John’s, Nfld.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EArts\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EMarc-Antoine Desnoyers\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EUNB\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESaint-Hippolyte, Que.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EBusiness Administration\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EMichael D’Orazio\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESaint Mary’s\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E3\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ERichmond Hill, Ont.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ECommerce\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESimon Lacroix\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EMoncton\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EOrleans, Ont.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EAccounting\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EMatthew Maione\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EUPEI\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EUnionville, Ont.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EArts\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EChristopher Owens\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EAcadia\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESt. John’s, Nfld.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EBusiness Administration\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EAlex Wall\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EUPEI\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E3\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EMount Pearl, Nfld.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EScience\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd colspan = 5\u003E\u003Cb\u003EForwards\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ELucas Bloodoff\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESaint Mary’s\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ECastlegar, B.C.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ECommerce\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ETyler Carroll\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EUNB\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E3\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EStrathroy, Ont.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ERec. \u0026amp; Sports Studies\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EMike Cazzola\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EAcadia\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E2\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EGuelph, Ont.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EKinesiology\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EChris Culligan\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EUNB\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E5\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EHowie Center, N.S.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ERec. \u0026amp; Sports Studies\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EChris Desousa\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EUPEI\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E3\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EMississauga, Ont.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EArts\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EEric Faille\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EMoncton\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ELachine, Que.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EAccounting \u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ELiam Heelis\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EAcadia\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E3\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EGeorgetown, Ont.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EScience\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EMichael Kirkpatrick\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EStFX\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E3\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ENorth Sydney, N.S.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EBusiness Administration\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ENick MacNeil\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EUNB\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ECreignish, N.S.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EBusiness Administration\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ERob Slaney\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EStFX\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EPortugal Cove, Nfld.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EHuman Kinetics\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ECory Tanaka\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESaint Mary’s\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E5\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EStouffville, Ont.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EMBA\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EPierre Vandall\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EDalhousie\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ESt-Louis-de-France, Que.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EEngineering\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd colspan = 5\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAlternate (forward)\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EJason Bast\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EStFX\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003E4\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003ERegina, Sask.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003Ctd\u003EHuman Kinetics\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESTAFF\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGeneral Manager: Danny Lynch (UNB)\u003Cbr \/\u003EHead Coach: Gardiner MacDougall (UNB)\u003Cbr \/\u003EAssistant Coach: Brad Peddle (StFX)\u003Cbr \/\u003EAssistant Coach: Forbes MacPherson (UPEI)\u003Cbr \/\u003EVideo Coach: Todd Sparks (UNB)\u003Cbr \/\u003EEquipment Manager: Serge LeBlanc (Moncton)\u003Cbr \/\u003ETherapist: Joe Glenn (UNB)\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/2705108802432761240\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/11\/mens-hockey-team-canada-roster-for-fisu.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/2705108802432761240"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/2705108802432761240"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/11\/mens-hockey-team-canada-roster-for-fisu.html","title":"Men's Hockey: Team Canada Roster for FISU Winter Universiade"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-8611514722383403829"},"published":{"$t":"2013-11-06T16:00:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-11-07T08:05:58.172-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"FISU"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: AUS Update"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I've kind of dragged out writing this post waiting for more details to firm up (such as rosters) for Friday's AUS Men's Hockey All-Star game, but enough with the procrastination.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe were short one game this past weekend, as high winds closed the Confederation Bridge and prevented UPEI from traveling to Moncton Friday night. I go back long enough to remember travelers being marooned on ferries back in the day (but fortunately not me), so not the worst outcome. Despite that, the Panthers managed to maintain their hold on third place in the AUS and #4 ranking in the CIS. Will Wednesday night be the night they hand UNB their first loss? Certainly the game of the week to watch.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E \u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cb\u003EV-Reds continue to win despite their power play power outage\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUNB had an unusually hot power play going into the weekend (albeit based on a small sample size of four games), and the more expected reality returned; hot is usually followed by cold. The V-Reds were 0-for-the-weekend with the man advantage, and it prevented them from pulling away from St. Thomas on Friday (that and three crossbar clangs) and it allowed Moncton to get back into the game on Saturday. Fortunately for UNB the other half of the special teams, the penalty kill, was flawless on the weekend and snuffed out a potential momentum shift for their opponents. We all know the hockey maxim: special teams and goaltending win you championships. UNB has most of that working so far, but not all of it. If and when they do, look out. Oh, and we also learned that d-men \u003Cb\u003EBen Shutron\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003EAdrian Robertson\u003C\/b\u003E are both equally able at stopping pucks that get by their acrobatic goalie.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003EFriday: UNB 3 @ STU 2\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday: UdeM 1 @ UNB 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAxemen are 2nd hottest team in AUS, and in 2nd place. Coincidence?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile some may focus on UNB's 6-game win streak, Acadia has won their last four straight. On Wednesday the cruised to a win at home against Dalhousie, with \u003Cb\u003ELiam Heelis\u003C\/b\u003E scoring two more goals (he now has 7 goals in 6 games) and rookie netminder \u003Cb\u003EBrandon Glover\u003C\/b\u003E picked up his first shutout. Saturday was a closer affair, with \u003Cb\u003EJoe Gaynor\u003C\/b\u003E scoring in the 1st and 2nd period before SMU put on a push in the 3rd period but only creating one goal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWednesday: Dal 0 @ Acadia 5\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday: SMU 1 @ Acadia 2\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPanthers make the most of their single game\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUPEI scored two games worth of goals in their game against STU. The well rested Panthers, unable to get off the Island Friday night, made short work of the Tommies, scoring four times in the first period and five times in the second period. Rookie \u003Cb\u003ECody McNaughton\u003C\/b\u003E had a hat trick during that onslaught. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday: UPEI @ UdeM (postponed)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday: STU 2 @ UPEI 10\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cb\u003EAigles Bleus didn't respond as well to night off\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUdeM was supposed to be the fresher team Saturday night, but whether it was bus legs or rust the V-Reds jumped all over the them and were up 3-0 just past the 12 minute mark. UNB's roving goalie \u003Cb\u003ECharles Lavigne\u003C\/b\u003E (what trapezoid?) gifted Eric Faille a goal very early in the second period, but was solid outside of that in frustrating any potential Moncton comeback.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday: UPEI @ UdeM (postponed)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday: UdeM 1 @ UNB 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWelcome back Huskies\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn the log jam for fourth place you will also find Saint Mary's. They still don't have \u003Cb\u003EAnthony Peters \u003C\/b\u003Eback in nets, but \u003Cb\u003ECurtis Black\u003C\/b\u003E didn't cost them the game against Acadia and got the win against StFX. The SMU power play has been shockingly bad all season (worst in the AUS) and didn't disappoint on the weekend. Fortunately for them, their equally bad penalty kill turned around, as least for the weekend. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003EFriday: SMU 1 @ Acadia 2\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday: SMU 4 @ StFX 1\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat's up with the X-Men?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EConsistency is not StFX's strong suit right now. It seems like every game they have good periods and no-so-good periods. After spotting Dal the first goal Friday night, they score three of their own before the end of the first period, and yet found themselves having to win in overtime. Saturday they scored first, but SMU replied with four unanswered goals. Sure it is early in the season, but you would want to sort this out before too long. Kudos should go to the X-Men for staging a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/atlanticuniversitysport.com\/about\/BecAUSeWeCare\/StFX_Salutes_Armed_Forces\"\u003EMilitary Appreciation Game\u003C\/a\u003E Saturday.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday: Dal 4 @ StFX 5 (OT)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday: SMU 4 @ StFX 1 \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETommies in the mix\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI would have never imagined that the three \"Saints\" would all have the same number of wins, two, after three weekends of play. To STU's credit, they played a disciplined, structured game against UNB on Friday, and they made it a one goal game after the V-Reds scored two early goals. They also refused to play into the V-Reds hands and open it up in the third period. Rookie netminder \u003Cb\u003EAlex St. Arnaud\u003C\/b\u003E made 45 saves to keep his team in the game, but still the V-Reds ran their win streak to 36 games in the Battle of the Hill. After that bruising, give-everything game, it was not a surprise that the short-staffed Tommies got beat on the Island by the rested Panthers who avoided their normal grudge match with Moncton. However, the margin of victory did look more like last season than this season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003EFriday: UNB 3 @ STU 2\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday: STU 2 @ UPEI 10\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Cb\u003EOne point is better than no points\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile Dal has yet to win this season, they did recover from a blanking at the hands of the Axemen to force a comeback tie with the X-Men, before eventually losing in overtime. The Tigers offence has really suffered this season without the injured \u003Cb\u003EPierre-Alexandre Vandall\u003C\/b\u003E, and \u003Cb\u003EBen Breault\u003C\/b\u003E opting to turn pro.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Ci\u003EWednesday: Dal 0 @ Acadia 5\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday: Dal 4 @ StFX 5 (OT)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThis week\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt is a condensed schedule in conference play as each team gets one mid-week game before Friday's All-Star \"break\". Wednesday UNB is at UPEI to renew acquaintances for the first time since their chippy playoff series in late February. A much anticipated game that could be a sell-out. Moncton is at STU for the first time, and both are looking for a win after last weekend. StFX is at the Halifax Forum to play Dal on Wednesday, while Thursday SMU hosts Acadia at the Forum.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFriday is the previously mentioned all-star game, which will serve as the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/mice\/2013-14\/releases\/20131106rrzsdj\"\u003Efinal audition\u003C\/a\u003E for \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/mice\/2013-14\/releases\/20131105zlioif\"\u003Eplayers hoping\u003C\/a\u003E to make the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/mice\/2013-14\/releases\/201310280ucb1n\"\u003EAUS version of Team Canada for the World University Games in December\u003C\/a\u003E. It won't be easy for the coaching trio of UNB's \u003Cb\u003EGardiner MacDougall\u003C\/b\u003E, StFX's \u003Cb\u003EBrad Peddle\u003C\/b\u003E and UPEI's \u003Cb\u003EForbie MacPherson\u003C\/b\u003E to decide on their squad; AUS rules mandate that the eight teams must have at least one representative each on the 22 man squad, and no team shall have more than four reps.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESaturday morning everyone will check out of the hotel, and those who make the cut will check into a different hotel together and begin two days of practices and team-building on the Olympic ice surface at the Grant*Harvey Centre. It should be fun for fans, but it is competing for attention with UNB's hosting of the CIS men's soccer championship from Thursday through Sunday. Not to mention many students and Frederictonians will be bailing out of town for the long weekend.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/8611514722383403829\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/11\/mens-hockey-aus-update.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/8611514722383403829"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/8611514722383403829"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/11\/mens-hockey-aus-update.html","title":"Men's Hockey: AUS Update"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-829852763120035049"},"published":{"$t":"2013-10-28T16:06:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-11-06T19:17:10.770-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: AUS Update - Week 2 a lot like Week 1"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The second week of the AUS men's hockey conference saw the same match-ups as the first weekend, but in the other teams' barns. UNB remains the only undefeated team, Dalhousie the only winless team, and everyone else is evenly divided in groups of two in the middle.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENew-look V-Reds are a lot like the old V-Reds\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDespite returning only a dozen players from their national championship team, including University Cup MVP \u003Cb\u003ETyler Carroll\u003C\/b\u003E who is out indefinitely with an upper body injury and hasn't played since the preseason, the Varsity Reds are cruising along pretty well so far. Friday night UNB inserted another recruit into the line-up, \u003Cb\u003EPhillipe Maillet\u003C\/b\u003E, and he picked up an assist on a \u003Cb\u003EChris Culligan\u003C\/b\u003E goal on his first shift in the first minute of his first game. In case you're keeping count, and I'm sure the rest of the AUS is, that is skater #20 for the V-Reds so far this season. Under the new AUS roster cap they've now got a spot left for Carroll plus just one additional skater this season. Saturday night Maillet picked up his third assist of the weekend on \u003Cb\u003ECam Critchlow\u003C\/b\u003E's game winner to cap a UNB comeback over the opportunistic X-Men.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - UNB 4 @ SMU 2\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - UNB 4 @ StFX 2 \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAxemen can win on road with fewer shots on goal\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETrust me, I'm not the only one who questions the high shot counts at the Acadia Arena. Two weekends ago the Axemen recorded a combined 111 shots on goal against STU and UPEI. This past weekend Acadia was on the road against the same two teams and recorded a combined 58 shots on goal. Is the Olympic-sized ice in Wolfville the only difference? Acadia exploded in the third period against the Tommies just like the previous week, and then were able to squeak out a win on the Island the following night thanks to two goals from \u003Cb\u003ELiam Heelis\u003C\/b\u003E, including a shorty in the third period. Heelis now leads the AUS scoring race with 6 goals and 2 assists after four games.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - Acadia 7 @ STU 2\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - Acadia 2 @ UPEI 1\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPanthers have the early goaltending edge\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile fans often comment on UPEI's quick transitional play, their goaltending tandem of \u003Cb\u003EWayne Savage\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003EMavric Parks\u003C\/b\u003E should not be discounted. Granted it is early in the season (and they've played a game in Wolfville), but the duo have a combined goals against average of 1.50 and a save percentage of .949. Friday the Panthers had a 2-to-1 shot margin in a 2-1 home opener win, while Saturday they were on the wrong side of a close 2-1 game.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - Dal 1 @ UPEI 2\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - Acadia 2 @ UPEI 1\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMoncton not as good on the road\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESuddenly the high-flying and national ranked Aigles Bleus are a .500 team. The high and lows of the early season. Friday night they were down by two when they pulled their goalie, but could only manage one goal with 8 seconds left on the clock. Saturday they had a 3-1 lead early in the second period, but the Huskies woke up and rang off four unanswered goals. A bright spot for UdeM are the hot hands of 2nd-year forward \u003Cb\u003EPier-Antoine Dion\u003C\/b\u003E, who had two goals and an assist in the loss to SMU and has at least one point in every game so far, for a total of 7 points. Dion had 9 points last season. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - UdeM 2 @ StFX 3\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - UdeM 3 @ SMU 5\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETommies still in the .500 club\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESTU had 3 wins in a forgettable season last year. They've got two already in the first two weeks of this season, both times against Dal. On the flip side they've come undone against the Acadia in the third period in both of their games. On the plus side rookie \u003Cb\u003EBrendan Childerly\u003C\/b\u003E is tied in the scoring race with UNB star \u003Cb\u003EChris Culligan\u003C\/b\u003E, each with 4 goals and 2 assists. On the negative side, frustrated Tommies goalie \u003Cb\u003EJon Groenheyde\u003C\/b\u003E made contact with an official in the third period and earned a match penalty and ejection, and is suspended \"indefinitely\". The good news on Saturday was that STU rookie goaltender \u003Cb\u003EAlex St-Arnaud\u003C\/b\u003E earned his first career win in the annual Lou Chabot Memorial game.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFriday - Acadia 7 @ STU 2\u003Cbr \/\u003ESaturday - Dal 2 @ STU 5\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHuskies find their missing power play\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESMU was 0-for-3-games with the man advantage to start the season. Saturday they get their first power play goal and they earn their first win. Coincidence? More importantly perhaps, \u003Cb\u003ECurtis Black\u003C\/b\u003E got his first win in the Huskies net. Black only had one start last season, the last game of the regular season, which the Huskies lost 4-3 to StFX in overtime. With all-star workhorse \u003Cb\u003EAnthony Peters\u003C\/b\u003E on the shelf since the start of the season, all the weight is on Black's shoulders now. Friday night SMU was completely outplayed by UNB in the first period, down 3-0, and made a game of it in the last two periods. Saturday they dug a shallower hole against Moncton before managing a successful comeback, helped by \u003Cb\u003ELucas Bloodoff\u003C\/b\u003E's two second-period goals. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFriday - UNB 4 @ SMU 2\u003Cbr \/\u003ESaturday - UdeM 3 @ SMU 5\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EYes, the X-Men are still better than their record\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe first time StFX played UdeM they came up a goal short. This time they came away with the one goal win. On Saturday UNB dominated the territorial play and shot clock in the first period, but it was the X-Men with the intermission lead. UNB tied it up in the second, only to see \u003Cb\u003ERobert Slaney\u003C\/b\u003E, with his third goal of the weekend, retake the lead for the home side in the third period. The V-Reds continued their customary push and were rewarded with two goals in a 30 second span, plus a late empty netter to seal the win. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - UdeM 2 @ StFX 3\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - UNB 4 @ StFX 2\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETigers in early trouble\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFour games in and Dal has yet to win a game. They've lost both of their games against STU, which are must-wins. They managed to keep the score close against UPEI on Saturday only because goaltender \u003Cb\u003EWendel Vye\u003C\/b\u003E stood on his head. Without injured offensive leader \u003Cb\u003EPierre-Alexandre Vandall \u003C\/b\u003Ein the lineup so far this season Dal's scoring has pretty much disappeared. Great time for some players to step up and make a mark.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFriday - Dal 1 @ UPEI 2\u003Cbr \/\u003ESaturday - Dal 2 @ STU 5\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUpcoming in Week 3\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDal is at Acadia for our first Wednesday match of the season. On Friday, SMU takes their turn at the Axemen. Also, STU hosts cross-campus rival UNB and will try to end their long losing streak (35 games) in the Battle of the Hill, UPEI crosses the Fixed Link to renew their rivalry with Moncton, and the Tigers are at the X-Men.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn Saturday UNB hosts UdeM in another battle of rivals, SMU is at StFX and the Tommies visit the Panthers.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/829852763120035049\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-aus-update-week-2-lot-like.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/829852763120035049"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/829852763120035049"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-aus-update-week-2-lot-like.html","title":"Men's Hockey: AUS Update - Week 2 a lot like Week 1"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-849048224041883316"},"published":{"$t":"2013-10-21T16:05:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-11-06T19:17:10.775-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: What we learned in the first week in the AUS"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"So what did we learn from the first week of AUS men's hockey conference play?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlus ça change ...\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EEven with only a dozen players back from their championship team UNB is still pretty good. Gardiner MacDougall is arguably the best recruiter in the CIS, and his new recruits from across the country were all front and centre this weekend. But most of the talk after the games was the play of two sometimes under-rated veterans: workhorse \u003Cb\u003EAntoine Houde-Caron\u003C\/b\u003E who had success driving the net to spark the the V-Reds offence on Friday and captain \u003Cb\u003EChris Culligan\u003C\/b\u003E on Saturday, minus his two regular wingers, who put the team on his back in the second period in order to erase a two-goal deficit and skate to a hard-fought victory against a bitter rival. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday - StFX 2 @ UNB 5\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday - SMU 3 @ UNB 5\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPanthers on the prowl\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUPEI looked very good in the preseason, and were the only road team to win both their games this past weekend. No one should underestimate this team, who may have flown under the national radar due to being eliminated in the playoffs by UNB the last two years running. While beating Dal is no surprise, taking a three-goal lead in the first ten minutes against Acadia is.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFriday - UPEI 5 @ Dal 1\u003Cbr \/\u003ESunday - UPEI 4 @ Acadia 2\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMoncton \"Sedin Twins\" delivering as advertised\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhat an opening weekend for UdeM rookie twins \u003Cb\u003EAlex\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003EAllain Saulnier\u003C\/b\u003E. The Moncton natives were co-captains of their hometown Wildcats last season, and were renowned for their chemistry, particularly on the power play. Alex scored twice on Friday, assisted both times by Allain. On Saturday Alex scored without his brother's assistance, but Allain did assist on two other goals, including one for another Alex, Emond.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday: SMU 1 @ UdeM 5\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday StFX 3 @ UdeM 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAxemen still need more finish around the net\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003EAcadia led the AUS in shots on goal last year, although the shot count does seem to get inflated at Acadia Arena. 59 shots on Friday only yielded three goals. On Sunday afternoon they converted two goals out of 52 shots on net. On the other hand rookie Axemen netminder \u003Cb\u003EBrandon Glover\u003C\/b\u003E might be happy if he never gets another Sunday afternoon start; he gave up four goals on 11 shots before getting the hook early in the second period.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday: STU 1 @ Acadia 3\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESunday: UPEI 4 @ Acadia 2\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHope in Tommies Land\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs long as \u003Cb\u003EJon Groenheyde\u003C\/b\u003E can stand on his head, and the team can manufacture some scoring, STU has a chance to win. The Tommies 2nd-year goalie made 43 saves in the first 40 minutes as St. Thomas nursed a one-goal lead into the third period on Friday. Saturday's game was less one-sided and had a better outcome, as the two teams traded goals all night and the hard-working Tommies delivered the first win for their new coach \u003Cb\u003EPat Powers\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday: STU 1 @ Acadia 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday: STU 4 @ Dal 3\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETigers drop must-win game\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELike for STU, wins are probably going to be a challenge for Dal against the six teams who finished ahead of them last year. And the year before. And the year before that. You get the idea. So while one might shrug off getting clawed by the Panthers (I know, terrible pun), they have to win those games against the Tommies if they have any hope of making the playoffs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFriday: UPEI 5 @ Dal 1\u003Cbr \/\u003ESaturday: STU 4 @ Dal 3\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe X-Men are better than their record\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHard to believe that StFX didn't earn a point on the weekend. Friday they played a close tight-checking game with UNB that didn't get away from them until the last five minutes or so when X had to open up their play to try to tie the game. On Saturday they spotted les Aigles Bleus a three-goal lead before battling back and coming up one goal short.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday: StFX 2 @ UNB 5\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday StFX 3 @ UdeM 4\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESo how long is this Huskies slump going to last?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf anyone needs a pity party, it is SMU. Seriously. They were winless in the preseason. Assistant coach \u003Cb\u003ETom Lee \u003C\/b\u003Eis battling cancer, again, and so far the bone-marrow transplants seem to be taking, fortunately. Head coach \u003Cb\u003ETrevor Stienburg\u003C\/b\u003E is stepping back temporarily for health reasons. If that is not enough to stress out interim head coach \u003Cb\u003ETyler Naugler\u003C\/b\u003E, Huskies goaltender \u003Cb\u003EAnthony Peters\u003C\/b\u003E (he of 26 starts last season) wasn't available this weekend due to injury so backup \u003Cb\u003ECurtis Black\u003C\/b\u003E was thrown into the fire in New Brunswick.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFriday:\u0026nbsp; SMU 1 @ UdeM 5\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESaturday: SMU 3 @ UNB 5\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENext weekend\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe same dance partners swap venues. UNB and UdeM are at SMU and StFX while Acadia and Dal are at STU and UPEI.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/849048224041883316\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-what-we-learned-in-first.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/849048224041883316"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/849048224041883316"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-what-we-learned-in-first.html","title":"Men's Hockey: What we learned in the first week in the AUS"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-5903876760546142440"},"published":{"$t":"2013-10-17T21:01:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-10-21T08:11:21.186-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"FISU"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"previews"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"University Cup"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: 2013-14 AUS Men's Hockey Preview"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ayJil-_vcoo\/UmBPC5gihdI\/AAAAAAAAAIY\/xRFTt9dBGIU\/s1600\/72715_10151456576843880_420886725_n.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ayJil-_vcoo\/UmBPC5gihdI\/AAAAAAAAAIY\/xRFTt9dBGIU\/s400\/72715_10151456576843880_420886725_n.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E2013 CIS University Cup \/ Josh Schaefer Photography\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EAUS men's hockey kicks off for real tomorrow, while the rest of the CIS has been at it for a couple of weeks now. Saving the best for last! \u003Ci\u003E(Getting my trolling of OUA and Canada West supporters out of the way early\u003C\/i\u003E). The truth is that AUS hockey is considered a pretty big deal in most local media markets out here in the Maritimes, plus the fact that the conference has the best fan attendance in the CIS. And their men's hockey teams do pretty well on the national stage.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe UNB Varsity Reds won their 13th AUS championship last season, followed by their 5th CIS University Cup (and 4th in the last 7 years) by the lowest score ever (2-0) in the national championship game against conference rival Saint Mary's. A good showing for the AUS in Saskatoon to say the least.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOnly one team from the AUS gets a ticket to the 2014 PotashCorp University Cup, putting a lot more emphasis on playoffs this year. The conference schedule makers have responded this season, making both the semi-final rounds and finals best-of-five series. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo who's it gonna be? Hard to argue against the reigning champ Varsity Reds, but they've had another large turnover in players and of course anything can and does happen in AUS playoffs. Not to mention that the other teams have ganged up and trimmed UNB's legendary depth with the new 22-skater roster cap. So maybe they're beatable this season. Saint Mary's, Acadia, and StFX are all legitimate challengers for the AUS crown, and UPEI and Moncton could be in the mix as well (and perhaps not coincidentally the first four names are all bidding to host the 2015 and 2016 University Cups). \u003Ci\u003E[Update: The Halifax Metro is \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/metronews.ca\/news\/halifax\/826914\/halifax-to-play-host-to-cis-mens-hockey-nationals-in-2015-2016-source\/\"\u003Ereporting\u003C\/a\u003E that Friday the joint SMU\/StFX bid will announced as the successful bidders.]\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDalhousie will need someone ahead of them to stumble for them to make the the playoffs. STU's rebuild program got interrupted when coach Troy Ryan left the team in the off-season, so it would be really surprising if they can climb out of the AUS basement.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA new wrinkle this year is that it is the AUS' turn to represent the CIS in men's hockey at the FISU World University Games in December in Trentino, Italy. UNB's \u003Cb\u003EGardiner MacDougall\u003C\/b\u003E plus UPEI's \u003Cb\u003EForbie MacPherson\u003C\/b\u003E and StFX's \u003Cb\u003EBrad Peddle\u003C\/b\u003E will be the coaching brain trust. They have not yet made the cuts for the team roster, so there will be a lot of incentive for players to try to have a career first-half and force their way into a Team Canada jersey. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe AUS has stepped up their marketing and promotions this year, and hockey is getting more attention. Today, Thursday, the AUS has for the first time posted detailed team profiles for each of the teams on their \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/mice\/index\"\u003Ewebsite\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Cb\u003EGlenn MacDonald\u003C\/b\u003E of the \u003Ci\u003EHalifax Herald\u003C\/i\u003E has his annual preview of the four Nova Scotia teams in today's \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/thechronicleherald.ca\/sports\/1160992-new-man-behind-huskies-bench\"\u003Epaper\u003C\/a\u003E. The bible of AUS previews is still \u003Cb\u003EBruce Hallihan\u003C\/b\u003E's annual opus, which will be in tomorrow's (Friday's) \u003Ci\u003EDaily Gleaner\u003C\/i\u003E in Fredericton.\u0026nbsp; And below, you'll find my much less detailed contribution (but it does have fearless picks!). \u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003EACADIA AXEMEN\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2012-13 Regular season record:\u003C\/b\u003E 17-9-2 (3rd place in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlayoffs:\u003C\/b\u003E 3-4-0. Got by Moncton is first round and lost to SMU in 2nd round.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPower play:\u003C\/b\u003E 18.4% (5th in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPenalty kill:\u003C\/b\u003E 87.4% (1st in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast Season:\u003C\/b\u003E Good first half marred by three-game losing streak to start second half, and then .500 hockey the rest of the way. Hot goaltending almost undid them in the Moncton series (they outshot UdeM 68-39 in game 3 double-OT win) and did bite them in the Saint Mary's series. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Departures:\u003C\/b\u003E F Andrew Clark, F Jonathan Laberge \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Arrivals:\u003C\/b\u003E F Michael Clark, F Scott Trask, F Taylor Makin, F\/D Tyler Ferry, D Chris Buonomo, D Geoffrey Schemitsch, G Brandon Glover.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECoach:\u003C\/b\u003E Darren Burns (13th season)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Player:\u003C\/b\u003E Two-time All-Canadian defenceman Chris Owens is Acadia's version of Erik Karlsson.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2013-14 Outlook:\u003C\/b\u003E While Clark and Laberge are big losses, the Axemen do return 18 players, including AUS rookie of the year Mike Cazzola. This team should have learned a lot from their comparative second half slump last year that cost them a first-round bye. The only AUS team to play on Olympic-sized ice, they could maybe exploit their home rink advantage a bit more. If they can have a little more finish around the net (they led the AUS in shots on goal last year) this year and continue to get solid goaltending they are going to be dangerous.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProjected conference finish:\u003C\/b\u003E 2nd place. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003EDALHOUSIE TIGERS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2012-13 Regular season record:\u003C\/b\u003E 8-17-3 (7th place in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlayoffs:\u003C\/b\u003E N\/A. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPower play:\u003C\/b\u003E 16.7% (7th in AUS) \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPenalty kill:\u003C\/b\u003E 76.1% (8th in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast Season:\u003C\/b\u003E The Tigers had another tough season. They had the largest roster in the AUS as Coach Donnelly tried different combinations of players to try to find some scoring. Bobby Nadeau had some good games in nets, but was only healthy enough to make 9 starts, while Wendell Vye struggled.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Departures:\u003C\/b\u003E F Ben Breault, F Shea Kewin, F Daniel Bartek, D Jacob Johnston\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Arrivals:\u003C\/b\u003E D Wes Herrett, D Luke Madill, D Tyler Hart, F Andrew Rieder, F Fabian Walsh, F Alex Cote, F Mitch O'Neill \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECoach:\u003C\/b\u003E Chris Donnelly (3rd season).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Player:\u003C\/b\u003E Pierre-Alexandre Vandall will be expected to continue to spark the offence.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2013-14 Outlook: \u003C\/b\u003EThe still-not-released CIS report continues to hang over the Tigers like the Sword of Damocles, except no one is talking about it. While Dal may be better this year, and have had a decent preseason, they still don't look ready yet to make the playoffs unless their goaltenders can steal them a ton of games. Competition can be cruel in the AUS.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProjected conference finish:\u003C\/b\u003E 7th place.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003EMONCTON AIGLES BLEUS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2012-13 Regular season record:\u003C\/b\u003E 12-10-6 (6th place in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlayoffs:\u003C\/b\u003E 1-1-1. Pushed Acadia to double-OT in game 3 of 1st round. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPower play:\u003C\/b\u003E 16.9% (6th in AUS) \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPenalty kill:\u003C\/b\u003E 83.9% (2nd in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast Season:\u003C\/b\u003E After a good start, including a rare win at UNB, les Aigles Bleus cooled off in mid-November and had a 7-game losing streak that extended into the first week of January. Overtime was not kind to Moncton last year; they lost 6 of 7 that went past regulation time. Despite being badly outshot in their playoff series, Moncton did put a scare into Acadia, taking them to the second overtime in Game 3. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDepartures:\u003C\/b\u003E F Christian Gaudet, D Mathieu Boulduc, F \u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003EMarc-André Côté, F Francis Rochon, G Andre-Michel Guay\u003C\/span\u003E \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EArrivals: \u003C\/b\u003EF Alex Saulnier, F Allain Saulnier, D Pierre Durepros, F Steve Lebel, F Danny Chiasson\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECoach:\u003C\/b\u003E Serge Bourgeois (5th season). \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Player:\u003C\/b\u003E Éric Faille really stepped up last year and became the team's offensive leader.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2013-14 Outlook:\u003C\/b\u003E 17 players are back. The Moncton power play should be lethal with the Saulnier twins, and the other new forwards should help them improve their overall goal scoring as well. UdeM look to be better, but good enough to pass the teams that finished ahead of them last year? It will be interesting to see where this team finishes.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProjected conference finish:\u003C\/b\u003E 6th place.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003ESAINT MARY'S HUSKIES\u003C\/span\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2012-13 Regular season record:\u003C\/b\u003E 18-7-3 (2nd place in AUS)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlayoffs:\u003C\/b\u003E 6-2-3. Beat Acadia in four games in semis and lost to UNB 2-0 in game 3 of AUS finals. Lost to Alberta 4-3 in OT at UCup and beat Waterloo 5-1. Lost 2-0 to UNB in championship game.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPower play:\u003C\/b\u003E 23.1% (1st in AUS) \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPenalty kill:\u003C\/b\u003E 82.1% (5th in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast Season:\u003C\/b\u003E The Huskies had their typical slow start last season before rounding into fine form, including a 7-game winning streak that bridged across the Christmas break. After earning the first-round bye, they dropped the first game to Acadia before winning three straight (with Peters in nets twice named player of the game). They lost first game of AUS finals 1-0 in double-OT vs. UNB, and rebounded with solid 5-2 win at home, only to be shutout by the V-Reds in game 3 in Fredericton. The wildcard entry at the University Cup in Saskatoon, they lost in OT to Alberta while being outshot 2 to 1. Once again they rebounded, beating Waterloo 5-1, and thanks to the tie-breaking formula, advanced out of their pool to play UNB for the Cup. Unfortunately they got shutout by the V-Reds 2-0 for the second time in a row.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Departures:\u003C\/b\u003E F Shawn O'Donnell, D Justin Wallingford, D Paddy O'Keefe\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EArrivals: \u003C\/b\u003ED\u003Cb\u003E \u003C\/b\u003EStephen Gillard, D Alex Cord, D Cam Wind, F Steven Shipley, F Francis Menard, F Steven Beyers, F Mitch Maynard, G Anthony Terenzio,\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECoach:\u003C\/b\u003E Trevor Steinburg (17th season) *. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Player:\u003C\/b\u003E All-star goaltender Anthony Peters started 26 regular season games last season and was often the difference maker for SMU, especially in the AUS playoffs and at the University Cup. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2013-14 Outlook:\u003C\/b\u003E News broke this week that Steinburg would be stepping back from the team and taking a sudden and temporary break from coaching for health reasons, with longtime assistant coach Tyler Naugler taking over behind the bench. This comes on the heels of a winless preseason. But this still a veteran squad that was in a one-goal game with UNB until late in the championship final when they pulled Peters. CIS player of the year Lucas Bloodoff arrived at the University Cup with a broken hand and was pretty much ineffective. He's healthy now, as is Michael Stickland who missed most of last season. While it might be natural to pencil them in at second place again, not having CIS coach of the year Stienburg around for awhile might cost them a spot.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProjected conference finish:\u003C\/b\u003E 3rd place.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003EST. THOMAS TOMMIES\u003C\/span\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2012-13 Regular season record:\u003C\/b\u003E 3-24-1 (Last place in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlayoffs:\u003C\/b\u003E N\/A. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPower play:\u003C\/b\u003E 6.5% (8th in AUS) \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPenalty kill:\u003C\/b\u003E 78.6% (7th in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast Season:\u003C\/b\u003E The Tommies suffered a horrendous start (losing 12 in a row) and never recovered in a rebuild year. Their power play went missing, as did most of their offence. The only real bright spot was the play of rookie goaltender Jonathan Groenheyde, who weathered more rubber than any goalie in the AUS.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Departures:\u003C\/b\u003E F Matt Eagles, F Alex Labonte\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Arrivals:\u003C\/b\u003E F Brendan Childerley, F Derek Froats, D Jordan Moore\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECoach:\u003C\/b\u003E Pat Powers (1st season).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Player:\u003C\/b\u003E If they win games, it will because Jon Groenheyde saved the day in nets.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2013-14 Outlook:\u003C\/b\u003E The departure of coach Troy Ryan caught everyone off guard, and the late hiring of Pat Powers didn't leave him much recruiting time. Powers was head coach of Western last year while Clarke Singer was on sabbatical and did a good job, but he's inheriting a significantly different roster with the Tommies. Powers will make the Tommies a difficult team to play against, but they still look to be offensively challenged. It will probably be a long season for the STU faithful. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProjected conference finish:\u003C\/b\u003E 8th place.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003EST. FRANCIS XAVIER X-MEN\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2012-13 Regular season record:\u003C\/b\u003E 16-10-2 (4th place in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlayoffs:\u003C\/b\u003E 0-1-1. Lost two 1-goal games vs. UPEI in 1st round (2nd in double-OT). \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPower play:\u003C\/b\u003E 22.1% (2nd in AUS) \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPenalty kill:\u003C\/b\u003E 83.1% (3rd in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast Season:\u003C\/b\u003E While StFX wasn't the most consistent team last year, they had improved on the year before, and did finish just two points out of third place and on a three-game winning streak. However they lost two close games in the first round of the playoffs to UPEI and suddenly their season was over. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDepartures:\u003C\/b\u003E D Nick Pageau, G Joey Perricone\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EArrivals:\u003C\/b\u003E F Robert Slaney, F Blake Gal, D Nathan Chiarlitti\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECoach:\u003C\/b\u003E Brad Peddle (8th season).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Player:\u003C\/b\u003E Forward Jason Bast was the CIS Rookie of the Year in 2010-11 and their go-to forward last season.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2013-14 Outlook:\u003C\/b\u003E StFX was fairly young last year, but they've returned 21 players this season and probably lost the least of any of the teams. Gal has been scoring in the preseason and former Leafs farmhand Slaney red-shirted last season and will be an impact player this year. X are a gritty bunch with good special teams and opportunistic scoring, and they never seem to worry about being out-shot in games with Drew Owsley in nets. A very dangerous opponent who could finish as high as second place.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProjected conference finish:\u003C\/b\u003E 5th place.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003EUNB VARSITY REDS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2012-13 Regular season record:\u003C\/b\u003E 23-5-0 (1st place in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlayoffs:\u003C\/b\u003E 8-2-0. Took four games to knock off UPEI in semis and a deciding 3rd game in finals vs. SMU. At Nationals beat host Saskatchewan 3-1, UQTR 8-3 and then SMU 2-0 in UCup final.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPower play:\u003C\/b\u003E 18.8% (4th in AUS) \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPenalty kill:\u003C\/b\u003E 81.9% (6th in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast Season:\u003C\/b\u003E Only Acadia and SMU were .500 against the V-Reds in the regular season; their only other loss was to Moncton. In nets, Dan LaCosta was 15-1 with a .938 save percentage and 1.92 GAA and not named an All-Star; he then shut-out the Huskies 2-0 in both the AUS and CIS championship games. Other than a propensity to get into penalty trouble, and only average special teams, there were very few flaws with the deep UNB team last year.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Departures:\u003C\/b\u003E F Colby Pridham, F Bryce Swan, F Matt Fillier, D Daine Todd, D Josh Kidd, D Ben Wright, G Travis Fullerton, G Dan LaCosta\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EArrivals:\u003C\/b\u003E F JP Labardo, F Mike Thomas, F Dylan Willick, F Cam Maclise, F Shea Kewin, D Matt Petgrave, D Jordan Murray, D Keevin Cutting, G Joel Vinneau\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECoach:\u003C\/b\u003E Gardiner MacDougall (14th season).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Player:\u003C\/b\u003E Chris Culligan is the best, and perhaps most unselfish, playmaker in the AUS. If he took more shots on goal ...?\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2013-14 Outlook:\u003C\/b\u003E Only a dozen players are back from last year's championship team. Under-rated Travis Fullerton won't be in the UNB nets for the first time in five years, and LaCosta is gone as well. Pridham and Todd will be particularly missed. But MacDougall added a number of new players last season and the team hardly missed a beat, so you might assume similar results this year. There will be a lot of pressure on former STU goalie Charlie Lavigne (who in effect red-shirted last season) to match his predecessor's success as the new number one, but at least he won't be required to steal games as was needed with the Tommies. The new defencemen have all got a lot of minutes in the preseason, and had a few adventures in their own zone, while there has been less pressure, so far, on the new forwards. D-man Matt Petgrave may have the biggest upside of the new recruiting class.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProjected conference finish:\u003C\/b\u003E 1st place.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003EUPEI PANTHERS\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2012-13 Regular season record:\u003C\/b\u003E 15-11-2 (5th place in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlayoffs:\u003C\/b\u003E 3-3-0. Squeezed by StFX in 1st round but could only manage one win against UNB in semis. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPower play:\u003C\/b\u003E 19.0% (3rd in AUS) \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPenalty kill:\u003C\/b\u003E 82.9% (4th in AUS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast Season:\u003C\/b\u003E The Panthers has a poor first half and were much, much improved in the second half, reeling off a 5-game win streak after the Christmas break. Over the last two seasons they have become a much quicker team, which still maintaining their Island hockey edginess. After getting by StFX in the first round of the playoffs, they then had the misfortune to run into UNB for the second year in a row, and it didn't go well.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Departures:\u003C\/b\u003E F Jordan Knox, F Mike MacIsaac, D Dylan Quaile, D Matt Boyle\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Arrivals:\u003C\/b\u003E F Cody McNaughton, D Brock Beukeboom, D Derek Ryckman, D Casey Babineau\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECoach:\u003C\/b\u003E Forbes “Forbie” MacPherson (5th season).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKey Player:\u003C\/b\u003E Chris Desousa is their top forward and key man in all situations.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2013-14 Outlook:\u003C\/b\u003E UPEI is returning 18 players, all with a burning desire to get past UNB. They have solid goaltending, led by 1st Team All-Star Wayne Savage. Their new defenceman have all looked good in the preseason, where UPEI went 5-1. The Panthers are hard to play against and very good on transition and should only be better this season. Finishing in second place is not out of reach.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProjected conference finish:\u003C\/b\u003E 4th place.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/5903876760546142440\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-2013-14-aus-mens-hockey.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/5903876760546142440"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/5903876760546142440"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-2013-14-aus-mens-hockey.html","title":"Men's Hockey: 2013-14 AUS Men's Hockey Preview"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ayJil-_vcoo\/UmBPC5gihdI\/AAAAAAAAAIY\/xRFTt9dBGIU\/s72-c\/72715_10151456576843880_420886725_n.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-631058407053569264"},"published":{"$t":"2013-10-16T11:19:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-11-06T19:17:10.729-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update - Preseason is over and a coach is on the sidelines"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The fourth and final week of preseason play in AUS men's hockey was a light schedule: Acadia hosted Dalhousie in Berwick, NS on Friday and Saint Mary's played StFX in Truro in what has become an annual charity game for minor hockey. Saturday night St. Thomas travelled up the St. John River to Grand Falls to play Moncton on Saturday night.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003EThe Axemen cruised to a 5-1 win over the Tigers, while \u003Cb\u003EDrew Owsley\u003C\/b\u003E made 27 saves in a 2-0 X-Men shutout of the Huskies. SMU are notoriously slow starters, but in six exhibition games they've had four losses in regulation, one in over-time, and an OT tie (when a game against Acadia was halted due to a player injury). Sure they've got a lot of injuries, but still.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe teething pains continue for the rebuilding Tommies under Pat Powers. Les Aigles Bleus blew out a close game in the second period and skated to a 6-2 win.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOff the ice, the big news in the AUS this week comes from Chris Cochrane's column in Tuesday's Herald: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/thechronicleherald.ca\/sports\/1160764-cochrane-stienburg-taking-break-from-smu-coaching-duties\"\u003EStienburg taking break from SMU coaching duties\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Cb\u003ETrevor Stienburg\u003C\/b\u003E is a passionate coach who guided his team all the way to last season's University Cup championship game against UNB. I certainly didn't see this coming, just days before the regular season starts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EIt’s because he questions how he’s handled the coach’s responsibility to create the best environment for his players and to set a strong leadership example that he has decided to take a break from the Huskies. \u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EStienburg will retain his head coach position but will step away from the day-to-day operation for now. With a new AUS season opening Friday, assistant coach Tyler Naugler will direct the Huskies until Stienburg decides to return.\u003C\/blockquote\u003EWho says AUS (all CIS?) hockey coaches aren't under a lot of stress to win and get the most from their players. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E“I’m just taking a little bit of time, whatever is needed,” said Steinburg, who has plenty of praise for his veteran coaching staff and the potential of the team he’s assembled.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E“I need that balance, I don’t know if I’ve ever had it. I don’t like myself the way I am (with his players) right now. I feel like I want to launch my stick in the stands every time a guy makes a mistake. I love every guy in the room; I recruited every guy in the room. I need to make it more enjoyable for them.\"\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E“I need to be a better friend to develop these players, first as people, then as hockey players.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E“And I’ve got two kids. I don’t want to take this crap home to them. So I just want to step away and get my head straight.”\u003C\/blockquote\u003EHopefully Stienburg finds that balance quickly, not the least for the selfish reason in this corner that he is an emotional coach that makes every game, and post-game, more interesting (much like Torts in the NHL).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBack to the ice. All eyes will be on Fredericton opening night when UNB raises their two championship banners Friday while hosting StFX (who really should be ranked at least #10). Saturday the Huskies are in town for their first meeting with the V-Reds since that fateful game in March. Moncton hosts the same two visitors on the alternate nights.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAcadia hosts St. Thomas on Friday while Dalhousie hosts UPEI. The teams trade dance partners for Saturday night.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBruce Hallihan\u003C\/b\u003E's annual AUS hockey preview, a must read every year, will be in Friday's \u003Ci\u003EDaily Gleaner\u003C\/i\u003E. The Gleaner is unfortunately behind a paywall, so make sure yourself get a copy of the paper. I will try to have my much less detailed season preview effort posted before the puck-drop on Friday, so that everyone can have fun second-guessing my predictions.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/631058407053569264\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-preseaon.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/631058407053569264"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/631058407053569264"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-preseaon.html","title":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update - Preseason is over and a coach is on the sidelines"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-3653033882822448984"},"published":{"$t":"2013-10-08T11:42:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-11-06T19:17:10.712-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"NCAA"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ravens"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Thunderwolves"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update - Preseason Week 3"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Four AUS teams went south of the border on the weekend, and only UNB came away with a single win. Not that much different from previous years since you have to factor in bus legs, sometimes very different officiating, and good NCAA opponents excited to play their first game of the season and in front of their own fans. Let's be honest, NCAA Division I teams are good, and many of them are stocked with NCAA draft picks and future draft picks.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn their way to Boston StFX stopped in Shediac, NB on Thursday night to play UdeM. The X-Men were up 2-1 after the first period, and 4-1 early in the second period thanks to \u003Cb\u003EMichael Kirkpatrick\u003C\/b\u003E's second goal. Les Aigles Bleus outshot X 40-36 in the game, but were only able to score once in the third period in the 4-2 loss.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESaturday night in Beantown, StFX and Boston University exchanged power play goals in the first period, but it was the Terriers getting the only goal late in the third period for the 2-1 victory. BU outshot X 54-32 in the game. Sunday afternoon the X-Men faced off against a fresh Boston College team and X's \u003Cb\u003EKirkpatrick\u003C\/b\u003E continued to have the hot hand with two goals in the first period. The Eagles, NCAA champs two years ago, woke up in the second period and blasted five goals (including a penalty shot) and added three more in the third period for an 8-2 win.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDalhousie were also in Boston Saturday, where they lost to Northeastern 5-0 while being outshot 46-19. The night before the Tigers were in Ottawa to play Carleton and lost 7-3. Sunday the Tigers weren't done traveling, as they played Maine in Orono in an afternoon game and lost 5-1. The Black Bears outshot them 42-18. A tough weekend on the scoreboard and a lot of bus time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDal's cross-rink rivals Saint Mary's were in Troy, NY on Saturday to play Rensselaer. RPI scored an early penalty shot and added a power play goal before \u003Cb\u003ECory Tanaka\u003C\/b\u003E got the Huskies on the score sheet in the first period. The Engineers added one goal on the PP and one even strength in the second period, and a third PP goal in the third period for the 5-1 win. SMU did have the 23-21 edge in shots on goal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESunday afternoon SMU was in Hamden, Connecticut to play Quinnipiac, who lost to Yale last year in the NCAA championship game. The Bobcats were up 2-0 after the 1st period, and then their special teams took over with three power play goals and a shorty in the second period. SMU did score one goal late in the second period, but QU replied with another PP goal early in the third period. \u003Cb\u003EMichael Stickland\u003C\/b\u003E did score on the Huskies power play later in the period, but that was all the visitors could manage. QU outshot SMU 39-16 in the 7-2 win and were 4 for 9 on the power play.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESaturday Acadia was at the sold out Whittemore Center (Attendance: 6,501) in Durham to play the University of New Hampshire in a battle between two teams who play on Olympic-sized ice. UNH had a power play goal in the first period and another early in the second. A minute after another Wildcats goal, the Axemen's \u003Cb\u003EScott Trask\u003C\/b\u003E scored. Unfortunately for Acadia, UNH scored twice more in the last minute of the period. \u003Cb\u003ELiam Heelis\u003C\/b\u003E scored twice for the Axemen in the third period, but the home side added another goal and won 6-3. Shots were 28 apiece. UNH was 3 for 7 on the power play while Acadia was 0 for 5.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn Sunday the Axemen were on the big ice in Burlington to play the University of Vermont. The Catamounts were 4 for 18 (!!!) on the power play (scoring twice while 5 on 3) while \u003Cb\u003EHeelis\u003C\/b\u003E scored the only Acadia goal, also on the PP. Shots favoured Vermont 36-18.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe other tourists in the States where UNB, in mile-high country in Colorado. The Varsity Reds were down only 1-0 going into the third period Saturday night, with a 21-19 edge in shots against Colorado College. However UNB ran into penalty trouble in the third period, and \u003Cb\u003EAlexander Krushelnyski\u003C\/b\u003E (son of the former NHLer) scored twice on the power play and added another even strength for a natural hat trick. The Tigers added another PP goal after that for the 5-0 win, and outshot UNB 15-9 in the final period.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESunday night the V-Reds were in Denver, and veteran defenceman \u003Cb\u003EBen Shutron\u003C\/b\u003E scored twice in the first period to give UNB the 2-0 lead over the Pioneers. Midway through the second period the V-Reds were on a 5 on 3 power play when DU's \u003Cb\u003EDaniel Doremus\u003C\/b\u003E came out of the penalty box, picked off an errant pass and scored on the shorthanded breakaway to draw within a goal. Denver poured it on in the third period, outshooting UNB 19-4 in the final 20 minutes but \u003Cb\u003ECharles Lavigne\u003C\/b\u003E made big saves in the V-Reds net to preserve the 2-1 win.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMonday UNB was supposed to bus back to Colorado Springs to play Air Force, but the game was cancelled due to the ongoing federal government shutdown in the States. Thanks for nothing Tea Party!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUPEI weren't in the States, but they did make the long trip to Thunder Bay to play Lakehead. Friday night the Panthers spotted the Thunderwolves the first goal, and then replied with two goals in the second period and two more in the third. UPEI outshot LU 40-29 in the 4-1 win. Saturday night UPEI was up 3-0 after the first period, and stretched their lead to 5-0 in the second period before the home side got on the scoreboard.\u0026nbsp; The Panthers kept up the offensive pressure and added two more goals in the third period. The final score was 7-1 and UPEI had another healthy 40-29 margin in shots.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESt. Thomas was the only AUS team playing in their own rink on the weekend. They hosted RMC and got a much needed 5-1 win, the first under new STU coach Pat Powers. Tommies scored in the first minute of the game, added a power play later in the period and another in the second period. STU was up 4-0 going into the third period, where the PP clicked once again. The Paladins' \u003Cb\u003EScott Domenico\u003C\/b\u003E scored shorthanded a few minutes late, but the Tommies came away with a solid 5-1 win.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis weekend is a pretty light schedule in the AUS to end the preseason.\u0026nbsp; Friday night Acadia hosts Dalhousie in\u0026nbsp; apple country in Berwick, NS. Also on Friday Saint Mary's hosts StFX in Truro, NS. Saturday night STU is upriver in Grand Falls, NB to play Moncton. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/3653033882822448984\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-preseason_8.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/3653033882822448984"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/3653033882822448984"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-preseason_8.html","title":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update - Preseason Week 3"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-5481209187470810350"},"published":{"$t":"2013-10-01T17:51:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-11-06T19:17:10.720-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AHL"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleus"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Badgers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Paladins"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ravens"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Thunderwolves"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update - Preseason Week 2"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The second week of exhibition play has come and gone for AUS men's hockey, and now most of the teams are preparing for their annual American road trip weekends. Sure, off to the States where government workers (customs agents?) are sure to be a happy and co-operative bunch while wondering when they're going to get paid again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUNB played mid-week in a mid-afternoon game against the AHL's Portland Pirates at their practice facility in Saco, Maine. This has become sort of an annual event, with the idea that the V-Reds would play the Pirates and then travel onto play whatever NCAA teams in New England they had lined up. The schedule didn't co-operate this year, so after losing 4-0 they had to bus back to Fredericton to host the Carleton Ravens on Friday. Of interest in the Portland game was that former UNB forward\/d-man \u003Cb\u003EDaine Todd\u003C\/b\u003E was playing defence for the Pirates while former X-Men defenceman \u003Cb\u003EMark Louis\u003C\/b\u003E plays forward (they apparently were short size when they signed him last year, so they converted the speedy 6'4\" Louis to forward). The first scorer for Portland was \u003Cb\u003EPhillipe Halley\u003C\/b\u003E, who was announced at one point this summer as a recruit for UNB (and obviously has decided to turn pro instead).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECarleton came out with a lot of jump and truculence Friday night against UNB, and after scoring the first goal the V-Reds took five straight selfish reactionary penalties and gifted the Ravens two 5-on-3 power play goals. UNB eventually hauled their heads out of their posteriors and took advantage of a Carleton penalty string in the second period to tie the game, and a beauty play by their big line in the third period to re-take the lead and then out-skate the flagging Ravens for the 3-2 win.\u0026nbsp; V-Reds head coach \u003Cb\u003EGardiner MacDougall\u003C\/b\u003E made no bones to the fact that in the first period \"Carleton was hungry on every puck and we had a sort of entitlement to us and we've got to be better than that.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESaturday night went better for the Ottawa visitors a few blocks away at the Grant-Harvey Centre, the St. Thomas rink. CU's \u003Cb\u003EFrancis Dupuis\u003C\/b\u003E made 26 saves in the 3-0 shutout win while STU's \u003Cb\u003EJon Groenheyde\u003C\/b\u003E was much busier (as he has become accustomed to) dealing with 44 shots. The Tommies didn't have the luxury of waiting at home for the Ravens; Friday night they were in New Glasgow, NS to play StFX and lost 4-1.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe other OUA team taking a swing through the Maritimes was the Brock Badgers. On Friday they were in Halifax to play Saint Mary's. After being down 4-0 at one point in the game, Brock used a bit of a Hail Mary style trick-play in the last minute to score just after their penalty ended, drawing within a goal. Eight seconds later they scored again to tie the game and effectively force overtime. The Badgers then went on to win the game 6-5 in OT*. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Badgers were back in overtime on Saturday, this time against the Dalhousie Tigers in a game played in East Hants, NS. This time the visitors came up short, with Dal winning 2-1. The previous night Dal was over on the Island to play UPEI and were thumped 5-1.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe only other game saw Moncton play Acadia in Berwick, NS, and the Axemen squeezed out the 5-4 win.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELooking ahead, the Varsity Reds leave Wednesday for their first-ever trip to Colorado where they'll play an extended weekend of three games in three nights against NCAA opponents: Colorado College on Saturday, Denver University on Sunday and the Air Force Academy on Monday.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Saint Mary's Huskies will be making their first trip in a while to the States; they play RPI on Saturday and Quinnipiac on Sunday. StFX spends the weekend in Boston and have BU on Saturday and BC on Sunday (arguably the toughest match-ups). Acadia is playing State schools: New Hampshire on Saturday and Vermont on Sunday. Dal has dance dates with Northeastern on Saturday and Maine on Sunday after first playing Carleton in Ottawa Friday night.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENot everyone in the AUS is heading to the States for the weekend. Thursday night Moncton hosts StFX (en route to the US) in Shediac, NB. UPEI makes the long trip to Thunder Bay for two games against Lakehead on Friday and Saturday. STU stays home and host RMC on Saturday night, which is sure to attract a bit of a crowd from down the road at CFB Gagetown. \u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/5481209187470810350\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-preseason.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/5481209187470810350"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/5481209187470810350"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/10\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-preseason.html","title":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update - Preseason Week 2"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-9197316025610991083"},"published":{"$t":"2013-09-23T17:38:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-11-06T19:17:10.785-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Axemen"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Badgers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"exhibitions"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Gee-Gees"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lancers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Patriotes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ravens"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Varsity Reds"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Men"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update - The Preseason Edition"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Yes, I know it's prime CIS football and soccer season, but the AUS men's hockey teams started their preseason play this week and fans got their first looks at the new recruits.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut first, off the ice, we now have not one, but three separate AUS bids to host the 2015 \u0026amp; 2016 CIS University Cup tournaments. StFX and Saint Mary's earlier in the summer had announced a novel joint bid that would see all games played at the Halifax Metro Centre (a two hour drive from Antigonish) with the X-Men acting as the host team one year and the Huskies as host the other year. Then this week came news that Acadia was also bidding for the same years and they were also looking to host the games at the Metro Centre (an hour from Wolfville). So a win-win for Halifax. Then on Friday came the surprise news that UPEI was also putting in a bid to host the tournament at the rechristened Charlottetown civic centre - EastLink Centre. You get the feeling that the AUS really, really want to host the University Cup ... or four teams are looking for a route to the championship that doesn't involve getting past UNB on the ice.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESpeaking of the anti-UNB crowd, this season will indeed see the implementation of the new roster caps in the AUS: 22 skaters and unlimited goalies. There is no injured reserve, so if I player suffers a season-ending injury, you're sh!t out of luck. The rosters have to be locked down opening night, so there may be several players, enrolled in classes and playing exhibition games now, who may not find out until October 18 whether they will make the official season roster or not. You also have to expect that many, or all, of the AUS coaches may want to keep one or two spots open for Christmas recruits as well - for those players who discover riding the buses, and benches, in the ECHL may not be worth forfeiting their Major Junior education packages and that they want to play in the AUS after all.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOh, and that ongoing CIS investigation of the Dalhousie men's hockey program? Surprisingly, still not finished, despite the rumours of player payments outside of the acceptable Athletic Financial Awards have been pretty widely reported in Halifax. You would have thought the CIS would have dropped their report on some Friday in July or August, but now it looks like it will have to be released during this season, if ever.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETurning to the games on-ice,\u0026nbsp; Monday saw UNB travel to the Acadian Peninsula t the village of Cocagne to play Moncton. Les Aigles Bleus scored first, but the V-Reds took advantage of their special teams to notch two on the power play and a shorty for the 4-2 win.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn Thursday UPEI was in Fredericton to play the new-look Tommies. While they didn't win, new head coach \u003Cb\u003EPat Powers\u003C\/b\u003E had STU playing a structured system that kept them in the game against the speedy Panthers, despite the 2-1 loss. After the win UPEI hopped back on their bus and travelled overnight to Trois-Rivières, QC to play in the Patriotes Tournament.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMoncton also bused to Trois-Rivières, and they played Ottawa in the tourney's afternoon game Friday, losing 4-3 to the Gee-Gees. Friday evening UPEI took on host UQTR and managed a 4-3 OT win with \u003Cb\u003EChris Desousa\u003C\/b\u003E notching the winner, his second of the game. Saturday Ottawa was the winner again, 3-1 over UPEI, while in the evening match overtime was cruel to les Patriotes again as defenceman \u003Cb\u003ESimon Jodoin\u003C\/b\u003E knocked in his own rebound for the 3-2 UdeM win.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn Fredericton UNB was hosting the OUA's Windsor Lancers in their first-ever visit to the Aitken University Centre for the V-Reds annual Fall Classic invitational. Friday night was a 5-0 UNB win, but the game was close for two periods with the score 2-0 going into the third period. Saturday saw the Lancers exhibit more jump, scoring early in both the first and second periods and chasing rookie UNB goalie \u003Cb\u003EJoel Vienneau\u003C\/b\u003E before carrying a lead into the third. Despite extending their lead to 4-2, Windsor was not able to deal with the UNB push-back, and the V-Reds went on to score three unanswered goals for a 5-4 come from behind win.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cb\u003EThomas Nesbit\u003C\/b\u003Et made a strong case to stay on the right wing of UNB's first line with University Cup MVP \u003Cb\u003ETyler Carroll\u003C\/b\u003E and team captain \u003Cb\u003EChris Culligan\u003C\/b\u003E, scoring twice and adding four assists in the two games.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere was hockey in Nova Scotia as well, as the four Bluenose teams congregated for the weekend in Wolfville for the Don Wells Memorial tournament. In a bit of surprise Saturday afternoon, Dalhousie beat their Halifax Forum roommates Saint Mary's 5-3. In the evening game the host Axemen lost 3-1 to the X-Men. On Sunday afternoon in the tourney championship final Dal's \u003Cb\u003EAndrew Wigginton\u003C\/b\u003E scored his third goal of the game in overtime for the 4-3 win over StFX. The evening consolation final ended in a rare 4-4 overtime tie between SMU and Acadia, as the decision was made to halt the game after first-year Huskies forward \u003Cb\u003ECameron Wind\u003C\/b\u003E was taken off in a stretcher after an incident on the ice.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis week sees UNB travel to Maine for a Wednesday afternoon game against the Portland Pirates, the AHL affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes, at their practice facility in Saco. The V-Reds are back home Friday night to host the Carleton Ravens. Also on Friday, the Brock Badgers will be playing Saint Mary's, STU is playing StFX in New Glasgow, NS and Dal is at UPEI.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn Saturday Carleton stays in Fredericton to play the Tommies while Moncton will be in Berwick, NS to play Acadia.\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/9197316025610991083\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/09\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-preseason.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/9197316025610991083"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/9197316025610991083"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/09\/mens-hockey-aus-weekly-update-preseason.html","title":"Men's Hockey: AUS Weekly Update - The Preseason Edition"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-8984837158400338738"},"published":{"$t":"2013-06-27T09:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-06-27T09:00:01.514-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleues"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS women's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mounties"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Women"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2013-14 AUS Women's Hockey Schedule Released"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The schedule for the next AUS season \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/wice\/2013-14\/schedule?confonly=1\"\u003Ecame out earlier this week\u003C\/a\u003E, with the puck set to drop on October 19. The X-Women will be looking to repeat their success from the 2012-13 year that saw them capture the AUS championship and a bronze medal at the CIS level.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe big change to note right off the bat is the adoption of a new playoff format this year. The format, changed from the previous 'Final 6' setup, will see a best-of-three series between the third- and sixth-, and fourth- and fifth-seeded teams. The top two seeds will earn a bye to the semifinals where they will play the winner of each matchup. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith the schedule now set, let's take a look at each team and how their season could play out.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESt. Francis Xavier X-Women\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast season:\u003C\/b\u003E 23-1-0 (AUS champions)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow we'll remember 2012-13: \u003C\/b\u003EThere are many avenues to choose from. 80 goals in 24 games, an 18-game regular season win streak. Their one loss came to Saint Mary's but that was the only blemish on their season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEarly test: \u003C\/b\u003EEven for a fresh team, playing games on back-to-back days can be rough. The X-Women will have to do that when they face Saint Mary's on a Saturday afternoon before making the long trip to Moncton for an afternoon game on Sunday early in the season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnalysis: \u003C\/b\u003EThings will be pretty easy for the X-Women in the first half. Their furthest trip, to Fredericton, will happen for the first time on November 9 before they return to face the Mounties in Sackville the following day. They open the season with two games at home and won't have to make any long trips until the second weekend of the season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESaint Mary's Huskies\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast season:\u003C\/b\u003E 12-8-4 (AUS runner-ups)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow we'll remember 2012-13: \u003C\/b\u003EOn the play of several strong rookies, a good core of veterans including \u003Cb\u003ERebecca Mosher\u003C\/b\u003E, and new head coach \u003Cb\u003EChris Larade\u003C\/b\u003E, the Huskies surprised everyone and managed to\u0026nbsp;finish third in the regular season standings before making it to the championship game.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEarly test: \u003C\/b\u003EThe Huskies players will have October 26 circled on their calendars. That date will mark the first meeting between the Huskies and the X-Women since both teams met in the conference championship back in February. The match will also serve as the Huskies' home opener, adding extra incentive to both teams to bring their best effort to this game.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnalysis: \u003C\/b\u003EThe first two months of their season will be critical to the team, determining if they can build upon their magical run last year to the final. The team only has three sets of back-to-back games in the first half of the season including two sets of them on the road so those quick turnarounds will provide some insight into the team's progress from last year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESt. Thomas\u0026nbsp;Tommies\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast season: \u003C\/b\u003E16-7-1 (second in regular season)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow we'll remember 2012-13: \u003C\/b\u003ESt. Thomas started fast out of the gate. The Tommies only lost two games before November 17 \u0026mdash; both to the X-Women. They took the regular season series against the Huskies but couldn't solve \u003Cb\u003ESienna Cooke \u003C\/b\u003Ein the playoffs. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEarly test: \u003C\/b\u003EThe first two weekends of the season will be tough for the Tommies. They face a pair of back-to-back games in the first two weekends of the season. They'll also have a quick turnaround in their first two games of the season playing on a Saturday evening in Halifax before travelling to Antigonish for a Sunday afternoon matchup.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnalysis: \u003C\/b\u003EThe Tommies play fourteen games in the first half of the season. This comes in the form of seven sets of back-to-back games. They'll have a rough go of it to start but will enjoy a second half that only features one set of games on back-to-back days, in early January. They will also represent the AUS as hosts of the CIS women's hockey championship so the team will have that to look forward to come March, as well as having a berth in their back pockets should they stumble.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUPEI\u0026nbsp;Panthers\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast season: \u003C\/b\u003E13-10-1 (fourth in regular season standings)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow we'll remember 2012-13: \u003C\/b\u003EUPEI won the Meh Award of the Year. They hovered around the middle of the standings, losing some weeks, winning the next. They finished with a record over .500 but that was about it.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEarly test: \u003C\/b\u003EThe Panthers' early test will come towards the end of November when they play four games in nine days. Facing St. Thomas twice, Moncton once and Saint Mary's a single time, it will be a good test for a team that came off as average last season to show that they can handle playing that number of important games within a short time-frame.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnalysis: \u003C\/b\u003EThe team's efforts in net were done by committee last season so it'll be interesting to see if the teams hands the full-time duties over to second-year \u003Cb\u003EMarie-Soleil Deschenes \u003C\/b\u003Eor continues a revolving door.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMoncton Aigles Bleues\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast season\u003C\/b\u003E: 11-11-2 (fifth in regular season)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow we'll remember 2012-13: \u003C\/b\u003ETheir captain being ejected \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/02\/2013-aus-womens-hockey-championship-day_23.html\"\u003Ein their final game of the playoffs\u003C\/a\u003E, along with several other players. Other than that black-eye on their season, Moncton continued to enjoy success posting a record of .500 or better for the seventh straight year \u0026mdash; or longer, as the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/wice\/archive\"\u003EAUS\u003C\/a\u003E\/\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/english.cis-sic.ca\/sports\/wice\/2012-13\/standings-conf\"\u003Erecords only go back to the 2006-07 season\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEarly test: \u003C\/b\u003EMoncton will play seven games at home, including three in October, to start the season. They'll need to take advantage of these home dates early on to ensure a favourable playoff matchup at the end of the season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnalysis: \u003C\/b\u003EMoncton doesn't have to leave New Brunswick until the start of November and only have to travel as far away as Sackville in October.\u0026nbsp;The first month should provide the team with some time to adapt themselves to the rest of the league without having to leave their comfort zone.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMt. Allison\u0026nbsp;Mounties\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast season:\u003C\/b\u003E 7-13-4 (sixth in regular season)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow we'll remember 2012-13: \u003C\/b\u003EA highly-touted team from 2011-12 having the wheels off, and avoiding last place only due to the Dalhousie Tigers losing half a season. They were also quickly dismantled by the X-Women in the opening game of the AUS Women's Hockey Championships, an event they hosted.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEarly test: \u003C\/b\u003EThe Mounties will only play once at home in October but will also enjoy a four-game home stand to begin November. It'll be important for the team to balance both of these different experiences in order to gauge their success for the rest of the season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnalysis: \u003C\/b\u003E2012-13 was a wreck that I'm sure most in Sackville would like to forget. The team only really won six games thanks to Dalhousie's suspension. \u003Cb\u003EZach Ball \u003C\/b\u003Eand the Mounties will have a tall task ahead of them this coming year.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDalhousie Tigers\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELast season: \u003C\/b\u003E2-20-2 (last place, with the second half of the season forfeited)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow we'll remember 2012-13: \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tsn.ca\/cis\/story\/?id=412726\"\u003EThis.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEarly test:\u003C\/b\u003E Dalhousie will open the season on the road against the X-Women and follow that up by hosting the Tommies the day after. It will be early in the season at that point but last year's top two contenders in the league will be a prime test regardless of the players lost due to graduation.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnalysis: \u003C\/b\u003EBefore their season was wiped out, the Tigers actually had something going. Okay, sure, they were 2-10 before the holiday break but a few of those games were in overtime and of those twelve games, six were decided by a single goal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/8984837158400338738\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/06\/2013-14-aus-womens-hockey-schedule.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/8984837158400338738"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/8984837158400338738"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/06\/2013-14-aus-womens-hockey-schedule.html","title":"2013-14 AUS Women's Hockey Schedule Released"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Robert Murray"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/110011940316269854794"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-QxYDs5UgePg\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAAAvA\/-mtmX56njRg\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-2814126290053413312"},"published":{"$t":"2013-05-31T08:13:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-06-06T09:30:08.782-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS men's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coaches"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Men's Hockey: STU head coach Troy Ryan resigns"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"So much for the quiet off-season. \u003Ci\u003EThe Daily Gleaner\u003C\/i\u003E's \u003Ca href=\"mailto:murray.nick@dailygleaner.com\"\u003ENick Murray\u003C\/a\u003E reports (pay-walled) that St. Thomas Tommies men's hockey head coach \u003Cb\u003ETroy Ryan\u003C\/b\u003E submitted his resignation yesterday.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EAfter two years of trying to rebuild the program, Ryan informed STU athletic director Mike Eagles last Friday he was done and gave his official two weeks' notice on Thursday, forfeiting the final year of his three-year contract. \u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003EThough neither Ryan or Eagles would comment on what exactly went wrong between Ryan and the Tommies' organization, Ryan said it just wasn't a good fit anymore. \u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"You're always optimistic that, and it's not placing blame, but that things would get better or things would change, or I would get better at dealing with certain situations,\" Ryan said in an interview Thursday. \u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\"tr_bq\"\u003E\"It just got to the point where I didn't think it was the best fit. Whether I wasn't the best fit or they weren't the best fit for me, it's time to leave.\"\u003C\/blockquote\u003EThere were rumours all season that Ryan was butting heads with the STU administration over both funding for the hockey program and its losing record, especially since AD Eagles was the previous hockey coach. Whenever Ryan was asked about the issue by media, he'd say there were no real money problems and point to their impressive new hockey facilities as example of the fact, and express confidence that the rebuild would work over time. If you read between the lines of some of his quotes to the Gleaner, he hints that everything wasn't as rosy as he pretended. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"The ideal thing in the AUS is you build a strong foundation. You try to build the hockey schools and the culture around your team, build the community involvement and build the alumni relations. One of the big mistakes that we made, or that I made, is you need to bring people in from the outside into your program.\"\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"It's OK to disagree, and ultimately I'm an employee of the university...you're never going to agree on everything. That's just the nature of the beast and that's part of coaching hockey,\" Ryan said. \"Some things were obviously too difficult to overcome. There was no one thing; it was assessing the situation.\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"It's trying to decide whether I could have enough of an impact on everything to make this successful. When you decide yourself that you're not going to have enough of an impact to accomplish what you want to accomplish, why are you doing it?\"\u003C\/blockquote\u003ERyan was a proven builder in Junior 'A' hockey, which is probably why he won the competition for the STU job. He's also a former AUS player, a scrappy forward with both UNB and his hometown Saint Mary's Huskies. At the time I, like many, didn't think STU could have picked a better man for the job.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Gleaner's \u003Ca href=\"mailto:hunt.bill@dailygleaner.com\"\u003EBill Hunt\u003C\/a\u003E devotes his weekly column today to reactions from the Tommies players.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"It's not like I was totally blindsided by it, but it was definitely a bit of a surprise,\" said goaltender Jon Groenheyde, who made the AUS all-rookie team with the Tommies last season. \"It's obviously a decision he had to make,\" he said. \"He has to do what he has to do. It's none of my business. My business is still the same ... it's still to come into camp ready to go and to win games next season and stop the puck.\" Groenheyde said Ryan was \"a great guy. He was always good to me. It doesn't really effect my mindset. I'm interested to see what's going to happen.\"\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\"The thing is, he's a real passionate guy,\" said [Stephen] Sanza. \"It's tough for him. It's a weird league to coach. It's not like the OHL. You can't make trades. It's hard to make decisions. I hope he does well wherever he's going to coach. Hopefully we get someone soon, someone who has a good background in coaching and can hopefully start recruiting some guys for next year.\"\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003ETeam captain Felix Poulin said he \"didn't see that one coming. I'm sure Troy was heading us in the right direction. Even if we had tough years, we had the good mentality. I can't really explain why. Sorry, I'm just really surprised. I don't have any words yet. I just hope he's comfortable with his decision.\"\u003C\/blockquote\u003ESt. Thomas has posted a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/w3.stu.ca\/stu\/athletics\/news\/news_view.aspx?id=151294\"\u003Erelease on their website\u003C\/a\u003E stating that they are beginning their search for a new coach, and indicate that they'll be taking another look at previous candidates (which I believe could include a current Halifax Mooseheads assistant coach who is a former star AUS player?).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESelfishly, I'm going to miss Coach Ryan if for no other reason than he always gave long, frank, insightful answers to our sometimes dumb questions.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUPDATE:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Tommies most public long-suffering superfan\/promoter has had enough:\u0026nbsp; \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/stutommies.com\/2013\/06\/when-enough-is-finally-enough.html\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/stutommies.com\/2013\/06\/when-enough-is-finally-enough.html\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe voice of TommiesTV is calling it quits: \"\u003Ca class=\"account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav\" data-user-id=\"22102415\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RandyCorey\"\u003E\u003Cb class=\"fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id\"\u003ERandy Corey\u003C\/b\u003E ‏\u003Cspan class=\"username js-action-profile-name\"\u003E\u003Cs\u003E@\u003C\/s\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERandyCorey\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Csmall class=\"time\"\u003E\u003Ca class=\"tweet-timestamp js-permalink js-nav\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RandyCorey\/status\/342398874452897792\" title=\"6:53 PM - 5 Jun 13\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"_timestamp js-short-timestamp js-relative-timestamp\" data-long-form=\"true\" data-time=\"1370469227\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/small\u003E I have decided not to return as play-by-play announcer for Tommies TV next season. I want to thank coaches and players for their support. Especially thanks to fans who faithfully watched\/listened the past 6 seasons, and mostly to Harold DeCourcey, great friend and sidekick.\"\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIn today's \u003Ci\u003EGleaner\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"mailto:hallihan.bruce@dailygleaner.com\"\u003EBruce Hallihan\u003C\/a\u003E devotes his weekly column to a Q\u0026amp;A with Troy Ryan. In part:\u003Cb\u003E Q: Why now, in the heart of recruiting season?\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ci\u003EA: I wish I was staying, to be honest, but it didn't make sense any longer. I hope the right people understand. I don't think it's for the reasons a lot of people think either. Some people think it's because they weren't giving (the program) financial support. I would never use that as an excuse, because I came in knowing that situation. It would be like me complaining it's a liberal arts school.\u003C\/i\u003E \u003Cb\u003EQ: I repeatedly hear 'It's all Troy Ryan vs. Mike Eagles or Mike Eagles vs. Troy Ryan. Is that a fair statement?\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ci\u003EA: No. It's not that simple. I don't think it's any big secret that we didn't get along great, but that's life. I don't necessarily think it's all Mike. I know my own personality, I know that I can be trouble. I can be too blunt. I wish I would have learned earlier how to work within an institution. When I disagree with Mike, I disagree with him. After reading some of the online things that were being said about Mike, I went on Facebook and said, 'I don't think he deserves some of the stuff that's being thrown at him.' I don't think the same way he does and I don't see the direction of the program the same way he does, but ultimately it was my job probably to bend more towards them because they're in charge, they're my bosses. I couldn't do it.\u003C\/i\u003E \u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/2814126290053413312\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/05\/mens-hockey-stu-head-coach-troy-ryan.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/2814126290053413312"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/2814126290053413312"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/05\/mens-hockey-stu-head-coach-troy-ryan.html","title":"Men's Hockey: STU head coach Troy Ryan resigns"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"David Kilfoil"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16821812362923440575"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"22","height":"32","src":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/_ZSfv79uXrWQ\/SmbzQBQU15I\/AAAAAAAAAAM\/-NRmEHNVB7o\/S220\/David.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-2400794988377929451"},"published":{"$t":"2013-02-25T00:03:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-02-25T09:50:53.116-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"2013 AUS women's hockey championship"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Women"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hockey: X-Women cap off dominant year while the SMU renaissance continues"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"SACKVILLE, N.B. \u0026mdash; The Huskies didn't win, but their coach \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/chrislarade\/status\/305833728968626180\"\u003Estill had the line of the night\u003C\/a\u003E: \"I've never lost and seen so many smiles.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis loss was in the AUS championship \u0026mdash; to the first-place and favoured St. Francis Xavier X-Women. X and league MVP \u003Cb\u003EAlex Normore\u003C\/b\u003E had trampled their AUS opponents all season, and their opponents in Sunday's final were these Saint Mary's Huskies, the Huskies who \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2011\/03\/hockey-smu-womens-hockey-saved.html\"\u003Etwo years ago nearly lost their program\u003C\/a\u003E and did lose their coach to Ryerson, the Huskies who are one year removed from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/english.cis-sic.ca\/sports\/wice\/2011-12\/standings-conf\"\u003Ea one-win season\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere wasn't much reason to smile in the south end of Halifax until things turned around this year. A talented crop of rookies, including goaltender \u003Cb\u003ESienna Cooke \u003C\/b\u003Eand forward \u003Cb\u003EBrianna Soper\u003C\/b\u003E, took hold of the program and ran with it. They even \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/wice\/2012-13\/boxscores\/20121102_7lqv.xml\"\u003Eracked up an early win over these same X-Women\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026mdash; as it turns out, the only time X would lose in conference play.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnd yet, it was still an uphill battle for SMU. They tried to match up against the X-Women but faced several obstacles, running into penalty trouble and struggling to build on their game-opening goal, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/wice\/2012-13\/releases\/20130224quo9va\"\u003Eultimately losing by a score of 4-1\u003C\/a\u003E. After giving up that early goal, the X-Women reeled off four straight unanswered, from four different players, en route to their ninth AUS championship and berth in nationals two weeks from now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003EThe game was marred by both teams' inability to stay out of the penalty box. The two sides combined for fifteen infractions throughout the game; however, only three of them led to powerplay goals. The game started with \u003Cb\u003EKira Dube\u003C\/b\u003E being forced to watch from the box while Soper fed \u003Cb\u003ECaitlyn Schell\u003C\/b\u003E. 1-0 SMU.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBrittany Perkins\u003C\/b\u003E knotted the score up just over three minutes later, and then with the Saint Mary's power play clicking, the X-Women proved they were equal to the task. The Huskies had forward \u003Cb\u003EMaggie Poliseno \u003C\/b\u003Ein the box, and \u003Cb\u003EErin Brophy\u003C\/b\u003E took a feed from captain \u003Cb\u003EJenna Downey\u003C\/b\u003E and put the X-Women up by one heading into the second frame.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\"We asked them [the Huskies] one thing, and it's the same thing I've been asking them from my first days here, demand for nothing but their very best, and today I really think we got it,\" said SMU head coach \u003Cb\u003EChris Larade\u003C\/b\u003E after the game.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELarade also noted that the chances could have gone either way. The Huskies came close to evening up the score several times in the early stage of the second period. At one point, captain \u003Cb\u003ERebecca Mosher\u003C\/b\u003E beat X goaltender \u003Cb\u003EKatie Greenway\u003C\/b\u003E but the puck ricocheted off of both posts and stayed out. After the Huskies got their chances, the X-Women set to work again: \u003Cb\u003EMolly MacDonald \u003C\/b\u003Efound the back of the net just past the halfway mark of the second period.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe third period was met with a sense of urgency and undisciplined play from Saint Mary's. The Huskies took four penalties over the course of the period, and also squandered a 1:34 five-on-three power play. Towards the end of the game, with \u003Cb\u003ESarah Maynard\u003C\/b\u003E in the box for Saint Mary's and Cooke pulled, Normore was sprung with a great pass and fired home the empty netter that clinched the victory for the X-Women.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EChris Larade had a lot of encouraging words for his players. \"I think they gained two or three years of experience from this weekend alone.\" \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E**\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe AUS also announced the tournament All Stars after the game. As a part of the committee that selected the All Stars and tournament MVP I can say there was a large amount of agreement between myself and the other members. The all-stars were as follows (with some assorted observations from the weekend):\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETournament MVP: Jenna Pitts\u003C\/b\u003E (defence, St. FX) \u0026mdash; an incredible offensive presence on the blue line for the X-Women, she also led a defence that stifled opponents and made the job of Katie Greenway very easy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAlex Normore\u003C\/b\u003E (forward, St. FX) \u0026mdash; Didn't have to put the team on her back this weekend but took charge and was (pardon the pun) an X-factor when her team needed her to be.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBrianna Soper\u003C\/b\u003E (forward, Saint Mary's) \u0026mdash; Confident and composed out on the ice; did a great job setting up her teammates and finding the lanes for them.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJordan Miller\u003C\/b\u003E (forward, St. Thomas) \u0026mdash; A reliable presence on offence throughout the tournament and worked well at getting in tight on her opponents and getting the puck to the net.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERebecca Mosher\u003C\/b\u003E (defence, Saint Mary's) \u0026mdash; A leader for a very young team this weekend. Scored twenty seconds in against St. Thomas, and while she wasn't on the scoresheet aside from that, she led all players in shots and did well to create momentum for the Huskies.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESienna Cooke \u003C\/b\u003E (goaltender, Saint Mary's) \u0026mdash; The goals she allowed were in close but she saw a lot of shots well throughout the tournament. Great positioning.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/2400794988377929451\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/02\/hockey-x-women-cap-off-dominant-year.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/2400794988377929451"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/2400794988377929451"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/02\/hockey-x-women-cap-off-dominant-year.html","title":"Hockey: X-Women cap off dominant year while the SMU renaissance continues"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Robert Murray"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/110011940316269854794"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-QxYDs5UgePg\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAAAvA\/-mtmX56njRg\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-2895018331606857275"},"published":{"$t":"2013-02-24T12:00:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-02-24T12:00:16.103-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"2013 AUS women's hockey championship"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Women"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2013 AUS Women's Hockey Championship: Day 3 "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"SACKVILLE, N.B. — Saturday's results saw Saint Mary's and St. Francis Xavier punch their tickets to Sunday's championship final.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECooke-ing up a win\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThere are moments in a championship tournament when one player rises to the occasion. Saturday night, that player was \u003Cb\u003ESienna Cooke\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDescribed by her head coach \u003Cb\u003EChris Larade\u003C\/b\u003E as a \"diamond in the rough that landed in our laps,\" Cooke stopped 36 shots in a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/wice\/2012-13\/aus-championship\/boxscores\/20130223_z5yb.xml\"\u003E3-1 victory\u003C\/a\u003E over the St. Thomas Tommies.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe game started off with a bang as \u003Cb\u003ERebecca Mosher\u003C\/b\u003E and the Huskies crashed the net 20 seconds into the game. With the ice still fresh, Mosher fired a shot past a stunned \u003Cb\u003EJulia Sharun\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile there was to be no scoring until the start of the third period, the Huskies and Tommies traded chances. An issue for the Huskies was staying out of the penalty box \u0026mdash; they accumulated 22 penalty minutes throughout the game. After first-year forward \u003Cb\u003EBrianna Soper\u003C\/b\u003E put the Huskies up by two, the Huskies took four minors including two five-on-threes as Mosher was called for a double minor for contact to the head. \u003Cb\u003EMaggie Poliseno\u003C\/b\u003E and\u003Cb\u003E Chelsea Osbaldeston\u003C\/b\u003E took the other penalties for Saint Mary's. Somehow, the Tommies failed to score throughout this stretch.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJordan Miller\u003C\/b\u003E was the first and last Tommie to solve Cooke as she scored with just over two minutes left in the game. The Tommies made a last stand pulling Sharun in an attempt to tie the game up but \u003Cb\u003ECarly Gray \u003C\/b\u003Escored into the empty net.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAfter the game, Soper spoke about the team's focus while shorthanded. \"We do have an excellent penalty kill so we're just trying to stay focused and maintain our own end.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EX-Women silence Panthers\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThroughout the weekend, the UPEI Panthers' presence was established in the Tantramar Civic Centre thanks to the presence of several cowbells.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUnfortunately for them, the bells were silenced Saturday evening as the St. Francis Xavier X-Women pulled out a last second \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/wice\/2012-13\/aus-championship\/boxscores\/20130223_7rhu.xml\"\u003E3-2 win\u003C\/a\u003E. The win also served as a means of revenge for the X-Women who fell victim to the same Panthers team in last year's semi-final.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Panthers came into the game with one requirement: win by two or more goals. The task wouldn't be easy as they had to face X-Women goaltender \u003Cb\u003EKristy Garrow\u003C\/b\u003E. Garrow led the league this year with a 0.80 goals against average and .950 save percentage. After losing to Mt. A Friday, \u003Cb\u003EMarie Soleil Deschenes \u003C\/b\u003Ewas replaced with \u003Cb\u003EKristy Dobson \u003C\/b\u003Ein net for UPEI.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Panthers came out flying just like the Huskies, desperate to throw Garrow off her game. Just two minutes into the game, they succeeded. With X-Women captain \u003Cb\u003EJenna Downey\u003C\/b\u003E in the box serving an interference penalty, \u003Cb\u003EKiana Strand\u003C\/b\u003E fired the puck past Garrow to put the Panthers up by one.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThirteen minutes later, \u003Cb\u003ESamantha Sweet\u003C\/b\u003E got the Panthers to the threshold for goal differential as she slipped the puck past Garrow. After that goal, Garrow settled down and the always-dangerous X-Women offence got to work. With \u003Cb\u003ELindsay Oakes\u003C\/b\u003E in the box on a hooking call, \u003Cb\u003EJenna Pitts\u003C\/b\u003E continued her fantastic tournament, scoring with just over a minute and a half left in the first frame.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe second period featured a single goal but it was a highlight for the entire season. 2013 AUS MVP \u003Cb\u003EAlex Normore\u003C\/b\u003E broke down the wing on a partial breakaway, wound up and fired a shot through the five hole of Dobson.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Panthers and X-Women played to a stalemate until the final moments of the third period. Needing to win by two goals with the game tied, UPEI pulled Dobson in favour of an extra attacker, but they wouldn't score. And with two seconds left, \u003Cb\u003EDaniela Falconio\u003C\/b\u003E tallied the empty-netter, giving the X-Women the victory on top of their ticket to Sunday's final.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAfter the game Normore noted that the team didn't change their approach in the final minutes as the Panthers looked for the extra goals. \"We weren't trying to play overly defensive or anything, we just wanted to win that game.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EShe also commented, \"All we had in our mind was to win that game.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe stage is now set. The St. Francis Xavier X-Women will face the Saint Mary's Huskies Sunday afternoon in Sackville. The game will see the depth of the X-Women pitted against first-year standout goaltender Cooke. Puck drop is at 4:00pm AT.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/2895018331606857275\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/02\/2013-aus-womens-hockey-championship-day_24.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/2895018331606857275"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/2895018331606857275"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/02\/2013-aus-womens-hockey-championship-day_24.html","title":"2013 AUS Women's Hockey Championship: Day 3 "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Robert Murray"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/110011940316269854794"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-QxYDs5UgePg\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAAAvA\/-mtmX56njRg\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-6919568269937811616"},"published":{"$t":"2013-02-22T00:53:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-02-22T00:54:41.378-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"2013 AUS women's hockey championship"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleues"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mounties"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Women"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2013 AUS Women's Hockey Championship: Day 1"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"SACKVILLE, N.B. \u0026mdash; The AUS women's hockey championship began Thursday without any upsets, but it would be difficult to ask for a pair of closer games to open the tournament. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETommies survive close one\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt couldn't have been drawn up better. In the first game of her final AUS championships, St. Thomas Tommies captain \u003Cb\u003EKayla Blackmore\u003C\/b\u003E scored the game winning goal with just under two minutes left in the second period. The Tommies then shut down Moncton the rest of the way to take \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/wice\/2012-13\/releases\/20130221s17ud3\"\u003Ethe 3-2 victory\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAfter the Tommies built a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes, Moncton came roaring back in the second. \u003Cb\u003EElisa Savoie\u003C\/b\u003E banged the puck home past a scrambling \u003Cb\u003EJulia Sharun \u003C\/b\u003Earound seven minutes into the second period. Despite the raucous Moncton players and bench following the game-tying goal, St. Thomas took over from there. The Tommies capitalized just over ten minutes later with Blackmore firing a shot from the slot that beat \u003Cb\u003EJenna Van Belois\u003C\/b\u003E. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor their part, the Tommies' defence took over after Blackmore's goal. They forced action to the outside and gave their veteran goaltender the clear lanes she needed to easily stop the shots from the point. While the game was tied, Moncton was applying pressure attempting to seize momentum but came up flat, unable to penetrate the St. Thomas zone, managing only six shots on goal in the third (and only 14 all game). \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDuring the third period, Moncton had an opportunity to tie the game up on a 64-second five-on-three power play with \u003Cb\u003ECaley Steinert\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003ECassidy McTaggart\u003C\/b\u003E both in the box. The Tommies were the more dangerous team during that time, however, as Blackmore and Kelty Apperson each got quality chances to force pressure back on Moncton. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMoncton will now face Saint Mary's on Friday at 3:00pm AT while St. Thomas will have a day off. The Tommies then play the Huskies Saturday, in what figures to be a de facto conference semifinal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EX marks the shots, but not that many goals\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt wasn't pretty but it still counts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJenna Pitts\u003C\/b\u003E scored two goals, the game-winner and an empty-netter, as the St. Francis Xavier X-Women escaped an opening night scare with \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticuniversitysport.com\/sports\/wice\/2012-13\/aus-championship\/boxscores\/20130221_30em.xml\"\u003Ea 3-1 win\u003C\/a\u003E over Mount Allison. X won only by two despite outshooting the host Mounties 37 to 12 and scoring at least five goals against them in every regular-season game. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe first period saw the X-Women flexing their muscles as the early favourites in the tournament. The X-Women came out flying applying pressure to goaltender \u003Cb\u003EMegan Corley-Byrne\u003C\/b\u003E and the Mounties. \u003Cb\u003ESchyler Campbell\u003C\/b\u003E broke through for the X-Women just past the half-way make of the first period, firing the puck home off a face-off in the Mount Allison zone.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAt the end of the first, Mt. A rookie \u003Cb\u003ESarah Hubble\u003C\/b\u003E was tossed into the boards, hard. Although it was initially thought that she might have a concussion from the hit, she returned for the start of the second period and managed a +1 in the game.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Mounties turned the tide in the second period. Not to be denied, the X-Women still maintained a strong presence on the ice, however Mt. A did not allow the X-Women to enter their zone easily. The momentum reached a climax at the start of the third when \u003Cb\u003ELindsay James\u003C\/b\u003E found herself in the slot and fired the puck home to tie the game. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Mounties and X-Women continued to battle all over the ice but an incident in the neutral zone ended up costing the Mounties. On what looked like a normal play, Mount Allison's \u003Cb\u003ELauren Oickle\u003C\/b\u003E was called for interference after fighting for the puck along the benches. The play appeared to be harmless with one of the linesmen falling down as well but at the end of the scrum, Oickle was the only one in the box.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFourteen seconds into the power play, \u003Cb\u003EJenna Pitts\u003C\/b\u003E fired home a shot from the point past Corley-Byrne to put the X-Women up 2-1. The Mounties continued to work tirelessly on defence, blocking shots (in addition to the 37 SOG they allowed) and forechecking well to keep the X-Women out of their zone. However, time was not on the Mounties' side. Corley-Byrne was pulled late in the third period; then, with a clear shot at her second goal of the night, Pitts fired the puck into the empty net to end it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Mounties fight for their playoff lives Friday against UPEI. Anything less than a regulation win would officially eliminate Mount A, who finished second-last in the conference in the regular season. The X-Women will have a day off before returning to the ice on Saturday to face the Panthers, also at 6:00pm.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/6919568269937811616\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/02\/2013-aus-womens-hockey-championship-day.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/6919568269937811616"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/6919568269937811616"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/02\/2013-aus-womens-hockey-championship-day.html","title":"2013 AUS Women's Hockey Championship: Day 1"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Robert Murray"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/110011940316269854794"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-QxYDs5UgePg\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAAAvA\/-mtmX56njRg\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220121611828242531.post-5939443845125696861"},"published":{"$t":"2013-02-19T17:00:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-02-19T17:00:37.087-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"2013 AUS women's hockey championship"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Aigles Bleues"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"AUS women's hockey update"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hockey"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mounties"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Panthers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SMU Huskies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tigers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tommies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"X-Women"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Women's Hockey: AUS Update for Feb. 19"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ci\u003EAnother in our regular series, checking in with AUS women's hockey.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"fullpost\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPlayoff Upsets\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESport would be nothing without the classic playoff upset. Mount Allison will be in tough against the X-Women on Thursday but defeated them in the playoffs last year so anything is possible. Hosting the tournament on home ice, the Mounties could get a boost from the expected crowds, and it might be what the team needs to succeed. Moncton was in a heated battle with mediocrity all season that featured both high and low points. While they have yet to prove it, they should never be taken lightly and could provide a shock to the Tommies or Huskies. UPEI is hungry to atone for last year's showing at nationals but will need to get their scoring going and consistent goaltending to make it happen.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMounties edge Huskies in home finale\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt wasn't pretty but the Mounties put the finishing touches on a regular season that most would like to forget. \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=686S-gJ40d4\u0026amp;list=UUIDONwCPR6gaCmzf1QRHpTg\u0026amp;index=1\"\u003EThe Mounties held their ceremony for graduating players\u003C\/a\u003E, featuring standout players such as team captain \u003Cb\u003ELauren Oickle\u003C\/b\u003E and goaltender \u003Cb\u003EMegan Corley-Byrne\u003C\/b\u003E. The impact of losing these players next year has yet to be seen but they will still face a number of questions in the off-season. \u003Cb\u003EKate O'Brien\u003C\/b\u003E looked confident in net against a potent Tommies offence last Wednesday while the Mounties will look to veterans such as \u003Cb\u003ELindsay James\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003EMegan Cameron\u003C\/b\u003E to pick up the slack on offence.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESeason reflection\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2012\/10\/2012-13-aus-womens-hockey-preview.html\"\u003EAt the beginning of the year\u003C\/a\u003E I predicted where each team would finish in the AUS standings. Let's see how I did.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESt. Francis Xavier (predicted finish: 1) \u0026mdash; The X-Women were an easy pick after taking first place in the standings the past two years.\u003C\/li\u003E \u003Cli\u003ESt. Thomas (5) \u0026mdash; Powered by their veterans, the Tommies made me eat my words week after week ever since the beginning of the season.\u003C\/li\u003E \u003Cli\u003ESaint Mary's (7) \u0026mdash; Two words to explain my error of putting the Huskies seventh: \u003Cb\u003ESienna Cooke.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E \u003Cli\u003EUPEI (3) \u0026mdash; This pick was hit or miss. I assumed that the Panthers would experience some sort of championship hangover but they finished in the same spot as they did last year.\u003C\/li\u003E \u003Cli\u003EMoncton (4) \u0026mdash; Moncton was hard to read and ended up slipping a position from my predicted finish. They can still compete with the best of the teams in the AUS but need to find consistency against the lower tier teams.\u003C\/li\u003E \u003Cli\u003EMount Allison (2) \u0026mdash; A shoulder injury to returning captain \u003Cb\u003ELauren Oickle\u003C\/b\u003E was hard to predict. A 46 goal drop in offensive production was even harder to imagine.\u003C\/li\u003E \u003Cli\u003EDalhousie (6) \u0026mdash; It's hard to predict a program getting suspended but I still wasn't that far off as the Tigers were 2-8-2 before having their season cut short.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPower Rankings\u003C\/b\u003E (Our rankings \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/02\/womens-hockey-aus-update-for-feb-14.html\"\u003Eas of Feb. 14\u003C\/a\u003E in parentheses)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESt. Francis Xavier\u003C\/b\u003E (1) — Sunday's game was close but Kristy Garrow stopped everything she saw for the X-Women's third shutout of this season.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESaint Mary's\u003C\/b\u003E (2) — Two goals in three games isn't the best way to end the season but the Huskies will be a threat against St. Thomas and Moncton in Pool B play.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESt. Thomas\u003C\/b\u003E (3) — The Tommies closed out their season at home with a strong win over Moncton. Graduating players \u003Cb\u003EKayla Blackmore\u003C\/b\u003E, \u003Cb\u003ECourtney Fox\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003EJulia Sharun \u003C\/b\u003Ewill be looking to earn the Tommies' first ever AUS Womens' Hockey Championship.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMoncton\u003C\/b\u003E(4) — A horrendous January (1-4-2) was followed by a so-so February in which they lost to the lowly Mounties on home ice. It gets worse: 2 of their 3 wins in February came as a result of forfeits to the suspended Dalhousie Tigers.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUPEI\u003C\/b\u003E(5) — The Panthers were on the losing end of two shutouts but on the winning end of another. \u003Cb\u003EKristy Dobson \u003C\/b\u003Ewas in net for the win and the 1-0 loss to the X-Women. She'll be looking to regain her form in the AUS Championships.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMount Allison\u003C\/b\u003E (6) — The Mounties ended their season on a winning note in the shootout thanks to \u003Cb\u003EMegan Cameron\u003C\/b\u003E but will need much more if they are to get past the X-Women in the championship. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDalhousie\u003C\/b\u003E (7) — Technically they tied Moncton for goals against. That's one positive to take away from this season.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ol\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003EPlease visit \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\"\u003Ecisblog.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/feeds\/5939443845125696861\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/02\/womens-hockey-aus-update-for-feb-19.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/5939443845125696861"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/8220121611828242531\/posts\/default\/5939443845125696861"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.cisblog.ca\/2013\/02\/womens-hockey-aus-update-for-feb-19.html","title":"Women's Hockey: AUS Update for Feb. 19"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Robert Murray"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/110011940316269854794"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-QxYDs5UgePg\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAAAvA\/-mtmX56njRg\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}}]}});