If the St. Francis Xavier X-Men and the Acadia Axemen were looking to send a message ahead of their probable AUS hockey playoff matchup, it was heard loud and clear.
The message — a brawl between the teams — is expected to result in several suspensions from Atlantic University Sport.
The incident broke out during a face-off after an Acadia goal 9:05 into the third period that turned into a line brawl.
Videos on social media showed the line brawl ending up in front of the Acadia bench, resulting in further hostilities with several players from both teams leaving their benches to join in the melee.
When order was restored 20 minutes later, officials dished out 294 penalty minutes, including 161 to the X-Men. Thirteen players received game misconducts as did head coaches Darren Burns of Acadia and Brad Peddle of St. F.X.
Acadia won the game 6-3 and holds down sixth place in the standings. The X-Men are in third spot, three points ahead of the Moncton Aigles Bleus. Both teams have two games remaining in the regular season.
With New Brunswick and Saint Mary’s earning byes into the second round, there is a very good possibility the teams will meet in the first round of the playoffs.
NOTE: The following video contains profanity.
The fallout from the brawl could have serious repercussions for both teams with the playoffs not far away and the possibility of suspensions being handed out from the incident.
AUS executive director Phil Currie addressed the incident in an email statement.
“We are aware of the incident in question and it is being addressed. We take this matter very seriously. Our top concern is always the safety and well-being of our student-athletes. The incident is currently being reviewed by our AUS men’s hockey commissioner who will then hand down supplementary discipline, where appropriate, in accordance with our men’s hockey regulations.
“We will be able to comment further once the incident has been reviewed fully.”
Phone calls to coaches Peddle and Burns weren’t returned.
Acadia athletic director Kevin Dickie, when asked about the incident, said he “would defer to the AUS right now.”
Jordy Stallard had two goals and two assists for the Axemen in a game played before 1,549 fans in Wolfville..
Kyle Farrell, Owen MacDonald, Tate Olson and Liam Maaksant were the other Acadia (9-16-3) scorers, and Holden Cook, with two, and Cole MacDonald had the X (15-10-3) goals.
In other games Saturday:
Tigers 4, Huskies 1:
At the Halifax Forum, Andrew Shewfelt and Colton Heffley each had a goal and an assist in the upset for Dal.
Kelly Bent and Josh Worthen also scored for the Tigers and Dylan DiPerna had the lone SMU goal.
Reds 7, Panthers 2:
At Charlottetown, Mark Rassell and Kris Bennett notched a pair each for UNB and Stephen Anderson, James McEwan and Matthew Boucher had singles.
Cody Payne and Kameron Kielly replied for UPEI.
In AUS women’s hockey on Sunday:
Tommies 2, Mounties 1:
Emily Oleksuk had a goal and assist for St. Thomas.
In Saturday games:
Panthers 2, X-Women 0:
At Antigonish, Camille Scherger turned aside 43 shots to earn the shutout.
Taylor Gillis and Kaylee Dufresne took care of the offence for UPEI.
Huskies 5, Aigles Bleues 2:
At Moncton, Saint Mary’s gave up the game’s first two goals and then stormed back with five straight.
Siobhan Birch and Shae Demale led the attack with a pair each and Taylor Gravelle added a single.
Maelle Rioux and Janelle Graham were the Moncton scorers.
Reds 2, Mounties 1:
At Sackville, N.B., Ashley Stratton snapped a 1-1 deadlock with 6:28 left in the third period as UNB edged Mount Allison.
BASKETBALL
The first-place Saint Mary’s Huskies kept their perfect season intact with a 91-83 win over the Cape Breton Capers in AUS men’s basketball league action in Sydney on Saturday.
Kemar Alleyne scored 28 points and grabbed seven rebounds to give the Huskies their 15th straight win of the year. Osman Omar hit for 26 for CBU (7-8).
X-Men 88, Sea-Hawks 81:
Atik Gilao scored 23 points as St. Francis Xavier gained a weekend split with Memorial.
On Saturday, Nathan Barker hit for 31 points and Emanuel Ring added 25 in Memorial’s 82-79 win. Atik Gilao was the top scorer for St. F.X. with 19.
In Saturday action:
Tigers 79, Axemen 75:
At Dalplex, the home team survived a late Acadia push to secure its ninth win of the season.
Sascha Kappos was the top scorer for Dal with 15 and Jacques Lukusa had 16 for Acadia.
Reds 79, Panthers 65:
At Charlottetown, Tyrell Leotaud came off the bench to score 20 for UNB.
In AUS women’s basketball:
Sea-Hawks 70, X-Women 50:
In Antigonish, Sydney Stewart had 20 points as Memorial swept a pair of weekend games from St. F.X.
Brianna Gottschall had 15 for the X-Women.
On Saturday, Stewart and Sydney Ezekiel each netted 21 in the Sea-Hawks’ 80-72 win. Kimberley Kingsbury answered with 17 for X.
Axewomen 78, Tigers 52:
At Dalplex, Sarsha Cadle had 12 points and 11 rebounds in Acadia’s win.
Robertha Charles (13 points) was the only Tigers player to hit double digits.
Capers 79, Huskies 57:
At Sydney, the home team jumped out to a 34-13 first-quarter lead and never looked back.
Hannah Brown (25 points) and Monique Calliste (23 points) paced Cape Breton and Alaina McMillan scored 17 for Saint Mary’s.
Panthers 77, Reds 59:
At Charlottetown, Jenna Mae Ellsworth hit for 24 for UPEI.
VOLLEYBALL
Saint Mary’s defeated Memorial 25-13, 25-12, 23-25, 25-14 for a weekend sweep in St. John’s. Jamie Rourke led the Huskies with 12 kills.
On Saturday, Olivia Bell recorded 11 kills and five digs as the Huskies defeated the Memorial Sea-Hawks 25-11, 25-13, 25-17.
Axewomen 3, Aigles Bleues 0:
Lauryn Renzella had nine kills and Taylor Collombin and Lucy Glen-Carter eight each in Acadia’s 27-25, 25-15, 25-12 win.
Reds 3, Aigles Bleues 1:
At Moncton, Megan Kuciak collected 20 kills to lead UNB to a 25-11, 25-16, 25-27, 25-16 victory.
