WOLFVILLE – The Axemen continue to build towards the 2024-25 season with the commitment of defenceman Conor Shortall of the Cape Breton Eagles.

From St. John’s, Nfld., the 5’9 blue-liner has spent the last three seasons with the Cape Breton Eagles in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) after being drafted by the Drummondville Voltigeurs where he played the 2020-21 season.

“Conor is a fierce competitor who plays the game with lots of drive and energy,” said Acadia head coach Darren Burns. “He plays the game hard and keeps it simple. At the end of the day, you always want to bring in motivated people who do the right things, not say the right things, and this is him. We are excited to add this type of player to our team.”

Shortall played in 231 regular season games in the QMJHL, scoring 11 goals with 48 assists. He is currently in the first round of the playoffs with Cape Breton, having previously played in seven QMJHL postseason games before this season.

Off the ice, this year he was awarded Cape Breton’s academic player of the year award, which nominates him for the QMJHL’s overall scholastic player award. The Eagles also named him the Greg Lynch memorial award recipient, which is something Shortall considers one of the greatest honours in his hockey career thus far. It is presented to a player that has a team-first approach, character and someone considered the heart and soul of the team.

“It’s a real honour and a huge accomplishment for me,” said Shortall about signing with the Axemen. “Acadia is a fantastic university and I’ve heard from friends and family that the Town of Wolfville is amazing. It is such a great opportunity for me to have the chance to live in a university town and everything that lifestyle has to offer. This is a great step for me in my path to both further develop my hockey career and at the same time pursue my university education. I know the hockey program is amazing and I am humbled that the coaches were interested in me becoming an Axemen. I couldn’t be more excited to get started.”

Before his junior career, Shortall played for Team Newfoundland on three separate occasions from 2016-19, including the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.

“Like many in my home province I am very much a proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian and having the chance to play for my home has been very special.”

The Axemen will continue to announce their 2024-25 recruitment class over the coming weeks, with the AUS schedule expected to be announced in late spring.