Axemen come back to defeat Huskies 4-2

HALIFAX, NS – Acadia forward Zak Lavoie scord the game-winning goal 1:35 into the third period, as the Axemen defeated the Huskies 4-2 in Atlantic University Sport men's hockey action on Wednesday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax, N.S.

The Huskies took the lead just over two minutes into the action with a powerplay goal, as forward Liam Van Loon (London, ON) played a centring pass to linemate Will Chisholm (Lunenburg, NS). Chisholm's initial attempt was stopped by Axemen goaltender Thomas Couture (Levis, QC), but Chisholm pounced on the rebound for a goal, giving Saint Mary's a 1-0 lead, 2:28 into the first period.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Will Chisholm gets his own rebound and stuffs it in for a powerplay goal, giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead, 2:28 into the first!

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��L. Van Loon
��D. Andrews pic.twitter.com/YDLhyGIsuO

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) October 29, 2025

Acadia equalized several minutes later, as forward Bailey Peach (Falmouth, NS) received a pass, turned and beat a screened Marcus Vandenberg (Dorchester, ON) high, tying the game at 1-1, 6:19 into the first.

Later in the period, with both teams down a man, the Huskies won a faceoff in the Axemen territory and defenceman Jacob Holmes (Alliston, ON) played a pass over to Landon Cato (Ajax, ON) who walked into the slot and fired a high shot that beat Couture to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead, 14:46 into the second.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Landon Cato fires a wrist shot for his first goal as a Husky, giving Saint Mary's a 2-1 lead 14:46 into the first!

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��J. Holmes
��C. Da Fonseca pic.twitter.com/yaif2jc1p9

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) October 29, 2025

The Axemen outshot the Huskies 11-10 through the opening 20 minutes, but the Huskies took a 2-1 lead into first intermission.

Midway through the second period, the Axemen equalized, as defenceman Brayden Schmidt (Bible Hill, NS) fired a point shot past a heavily screened Vandenberg, tying the game at 2-2, 8:20 into the second.

The Huskies outshot the Axemen 15-8 in the second period, and the two teams went into intermission tied at 2-2.

Acadia took the lead 2:21 into the third period, as forward Liam Kidney (Enfield, NS) played a pass over to Zak Lavoie (Orleans, ON), who fired a quick release wrist shot past Vandenberg to put Acadia ahead 3-2.

The Huskies pushed for an equalizer, but the Axemen defence was solid, and Acadia defenceman Brendan Tomilson (Cameron, ON) added an empty net goal with 1:35 remaining, securing the 4-2 victory.

Zak Lavoie was named Player of the Game for the Axemen with the game-winning goal and two assists.

Axemen goaltender Thomas Couture turned away 35 shots for the win, while Marcus Vandenberg made 25 saves in defeat.

The Axemen win improves their record to 6-2-1-0 on the campaign. Acadia will be back on home ice on Saturday, Nov. 1, hosting Moncton at 7 p.m. in Wolfville, N.S.

The Huskies loss drops their record to 6-3-0-0 on the season. Saint Mary's will hit the road on Friday, Oct. 31, visiting the Moncton Aigles Bleus (6-2-0-0) at 7 p.m.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics