Axemen top Panthers in lone weekend game

CHARLOTTETOWN — The Acadia Axemen secured a 4-2 victory over the UPEI Panthers in AUS men's hockey action Saturday night at MacLauchlan Arena.

Peyton Hoyt led the way for Acadia with a goal and an assist, finishing with a plus-minus of +3. Liam Kidney scored the game-winning goal and added an assist, also at +3, while Cole Nagy netted a power-play goal and won eight faceoffs. Brady Burns opened the scoring early in the first period and finished at +1. Goaltender Thomas Couture stopped 24 shots, allowing two goals.

Acadia jumped ahead at 1:03 of the first period when Burns scored off a feed from Kidney. The Axemen held the Panthers off the scoresheet in the opening frame, thanks in part to Couture's strong play and penalty kills against infractions by Brendan Mairs and Orlando Mainolfi. Acadia led 1-0 heading into the second.

Patrick LeBlanc tied the game for UPEI at 5:45 of the second period, assisted by Cole Larkin. The Axemen regained the lead with a power-play marker from Nagy at 17:07, set up by Charlie Desroches and Hoyt. The period ended with the teams tied 1-1 for the frame, and Acadia holding a 2-1 overall edge.

In the third, Kidney restored a two-goal lead at 9:11 with a tally assisted by Adam McMaster. UPEI closed the gap on a power-play goal from Ben McFarlane at 12:50, assisted by Kaleb Pearson and Kurtis Henry. However, Hoyt sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:59.

For UPEI, McFarlane and LeBlanc each found the back of the net, while Pearson chipped in with an assist. Goaltender Joe Ranger made 14 saves on 17 shots.

With the win, Acadia improved their record to 3-1 on the season. The Axemen hit the road again next weekend, facing STFX on Friday night and Dalhousie on Saturday.