…Maritime Intercollegiate Champions
The ’48-’49 Axemen were equally effective as the 1947-48 Team as they defeated St. F .X. and U.N.B. to win successive provincial and Maritime intercollegiate titles and swept past Kentville and Windsor to win the Valley League’s Senior Crown. In the subsequent senior playoff round, they bowed to Amherst Ran1blers by a single goal.
Overall, during the season, the Kellymen won nineteen games, lost four and tied one. Offensively, they scored 199 goals, while defensively they posted 3.7 goals per game average.
In the intercollegiate scoring race that season, Alfie “T.D.” Chaisson of St. F .X. was the winner, followed by teammate Ken Ferron and the Axemen’s “Rocky” MacFarlane. Acadia’s Roy MacLean with a 3.25 average, was the circuit’s best netminder.
In senior playoff action against the Kentville Wildcats, “Kid” Crowell, “Moe” Smith, “Rocky” MacFarlane and Reg Crosby were key figures in 9-6 and 7-3 triumphs. Against the powerful Windsor team and their outstanding trio of At Fagan, Munrae MacDonald and “Chook” Smith, the Axemen received sterling netminding from Roy MacLean and that spelled the difference. Against the Amherst Ramblers and their legendary Carl Ripley and Willie Agnew of “Big Four” fame, the Axemen received fine performances from goalie MacLean, Crosby and rookie John MacAskill.
In intercollegiate playoff action against St. F.X., the versatile Doug Roach scored the title-winning marker. In tri- province play against the U.N.B. “Hillmen”, the Axemen followed up an initial 7-6 victory with a 4-3 triumph. Robert “Gint” MacKenzie, with his second goal of the game, shot the winner, while MacFarlane and MacAskill had the other tallies.
It is indeed an honour to welcome for induction to Acadia’s Sports Hall of Fame, members of the 1948-49 Hockey Team -the Maritime Intercollegiate Champs.
