The CIS men's basketball nationals celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2013, with the national tournament played in Ottawa. As had been the case at the first nationals in 1963 - and at 23 other tournaments since - the Acadia Axemen were part of the field.
The CIS men's basketball nationals turned 50 in 2012. It was appropriate both that the tournament would be played in Halifax, for a 30th time, and that the Acadia Axemen, for a 23rd time, would be part of the tournament field.
oseph is the current President of Colour, a digital marketing agency holding offices in New York, Toronto and Halifax. He played for the Axemen from 1997 to 2002; in 2003 he was selected in the Acadia University Connections Magazine as one of 20 Extraordinary Acadia Alumni in the past 20 years.
Before arriving on campus in 1968, Pound lead the country in scoring as a High School All-American from Stearns High School in Millinocket, Maine. Pound’s accolades speak for them self; Two-time CIAU National Player of the Year, over 2000 career points, averaged 40 points in his final year of high school and holds the most assists in a game at Acadia with 19.
When the forty-ninth edition of the CIS men's basketball nationals kicked off in March of 2011, the Acadia Axemen, for the 22nd time, were part of the field. The young Axemen weren't as good as they were going to be, but they had won the games they needed to win to secure a berth at nationals.
TORONTO (U SPORTS) – The Carleton Ravens look to break one of the most prestigious Canadian university basketball records this week as the U SPORTS Men's Basketball Final 8 tournament tips off on Thursday.
After some twists and turns along the way, including being sanctioned for the use of an ineligible player during the 2006-2007 season, Acadia did end up part of the field for the 46th men's basketball nationals in Ottawa – though not necessarily in the way they had expected.
In the fall of 2006, it had been eight years since Acadia had been part of the field for the men's basketball nationals. Moreover, the 2005-2006 Axemen had gone 2-17.
In contrast to their disappointment in the 1996 conference playoffs, the Acadia Axemen advanced to the 1998 nationals in Halifax as AUBC champions for the first time since 1991 and the 14th time since 1963.
Acadia next competed for a national championship at the 34th edition of the national tournament in March of 1996 in Halifax. It had been five seasons since their last nationals appearance.
When the 29th edition of the CIAU men's basketball nationals convened in Halifax in March of 1991, to the surprise of many, the Acadia Axemen were once again part of the field, for the 17th time since the national tournament was first held in 1963.
Even with the return of Kevin Veinot, the 1989-1990 Acadia Axemen were a relatively young team that would nonetheless enjoy one of Acadia men's basketball's more remarkable seasons.
When the twenty-seventh edition of the CIAU men's basketball Final Eight kicked off in Halifax in March of 1989, that the Acadia Axemen were part of the field was no doubt a surprise to many.
Acadia's main competition for the AUBC championship in the mid to late 1980s was a talented UPEI Panthers squad. Ironically, the architect of the Panthers' success during this period was Dave Nutbrown who had left UPEI after three seasons to become Acadia's head coach in the fall of 1982.
The 1978 men's basketball nationals were once again in Halifax. This time, the venue was the brand-new Metro Centre, hosting its first major sporting event.
The Halifax Forum was again the venue for the Canadian university men's basketball nationals in 1977, and for the first time since 1974, Acadia entered the tournament as conference champions.
The CIAU men's basketball nationals returned to Halifax in 1976 for the first time in 11 years, with the Saint Mary's Huskies hosting the tournament at the venerable Halifax Forum
One of the biggest rivalries in Canadian university sport during the 1970s was that between the Acadia and Saint Mary's men's basketball teams. In fact, of the 12 Atlantic conference titles won between 1968 and 1979, the Axemen and Huskies captured six championships each.
Don ‘Donnie’ Ehler is widely known as one of the greatest players to put on the Axemen jersey. Sitting fourth all-time in career points; the Windsor, Nova Scotia native is also second in career free throws made. His 1981-1982 campaign was tough to beat, averaging 29 points a game and a total of 522 points - fifth all-time in the AUS for points in a season.
There had been some significant changes to the format as the teams gathered at the University of Waterloo for the 1974 men's basketball nationals. The tournament was now an eight-team affair, including, for the first time, the addition of 'wildcard' teams.
Though there might have been, there was no letdown for the Acadia Axemen after winning the 1971 national title. When the tenth edition of the men's basketball nationals convened in Vancouver in March of 1972, the Axemen, for the seventh time in 10 years, were once again part of the field.
The 1971 national men's basketball championship had the potential to be a perfect storm for the Acadia Axemen. Not only were the Axemen the number-one team in the country, the tournament was being played at Acadia's three-year-old, state-of-the-art War Memorial Gymnasium.
Following an undefeated (12-0) season in league play, the Acadia Axemen made their first appearance at the men's basketball nationals in three seasons at the 1969 tournament held in Waterloo, Ontario.
Following their first undefeated regular season in three years, the Acadia Axemen advanced to the fourth university men's basketball nationals in March 1966 in Calgary.
The third edition of the Canadian university men's basketball nationals was held at St. Patrick's High School in Halifax in March of 1965. For a third straight year, the Stu Aberdeen-coached Acadia Axemen were part of the field, along with Windsor, Carleton and Alberta.
Klassen is currently playing for s.Oliver Wurzburg in Germany’s first division professional league. He began his professional career in 2014, following his final season with the Axemen.
Windsor, Ontario was once again the site of the second Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union men's basketball championship, played March 15-16, 1964.
Starting Monday, February 12, Acadia Athletics will countdown to the start of the 2018 U SPORTS Men's Basketball Final 8 championship on March 8. Each day will feature one of 24 Acadia Axemen visits to the National Championships.
Axemen settle for bronze medal game vs Ottawa
March 07, 2018The CIS men's basketball nationals celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2013, with the national tournament played in Ottawa. As had been the case at the first nationals in 1963 - and at 23 other tournaments since - the Acadia Axemen were part of the field.
