Coolen, a native of Halifax, N.S., played for the Dalhousie Tigers and Saint Mary’s Huskies during his undergraduate degree. Coolen began his university coaching career as an assistant coach with the UNB Varsity Reds, capturing an AAAU title in 1983-84. Prior to his appointment at Acadia in 1986, Tom completed his MA in physical education […]
1995-1996 Acadia Hockey Axemen
December 16, 2014
The 1995-1996 Acadia hockey Axemen captured Acadia’s second CIS hockey title in four years, with the ability to both steamroll the opposition and, when necessary, win the close games as well. Despite a formidable lineup recruited by head coach Tom Coolen, the Axemen program was thrown into disarray when Coolen left shortly before training camp […]
1991-92 Acadia Hockey Axemen
December 6, 2014
The 1991-92 Acadia hockey Axemen were a unique combination of goalscorers and grinders, a group of guys who could put the puck in the net and still play a ‘lunch bucket’ brand of hockey that earned an AUAA championship and took the team all the way to the national final. Heading into the ’91-’92 season, […]
Duane Dennis
December 6, 2014
Duane Dennis was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and first put on a pair of skates when he was two years old. Lucky for Acadia his love of the game grew exponentially after that. Duane later moved to the Okanagan Valley in B.C. and had a successful junior career with the Vernon Lakers, winning the Centennial […]
George Dupont
December 6, 2014
George Dupont came to Acadia University in 1989 after growing up and playing his minor and junior hockey in Eastern Ontario. He graduated from Acadia University in 1993 and returned in 1994, was captain of Acadia’s first CIS hockey National Championship team in ’93 and earned the Major W.J. ‘Danny’ McLeod award as tournament MVP. […]
Jeff Macleod
December 6, 2014
Many student-athletes have a specific memory of a particular goal, big game or defining moment in their university career, but Jeff Macleod’s time as an Acadia Axemen afforded him more than a few highlights. A 1995 graduate, Jeff recalls fondly the hockey team’s 1993 National Championship win; Conference Championship in ’92 and ’94; and being […]
Norman Batherson
December 6, 2014
Norm Batherson is a native of North Sydney, N.S. and member of the Class of 1994. He played Major Junior Hockey with the Bellville Bulls of the OHL and then moved to the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. Norm arrived at Acadia in the fall of 1990, responding to the recruiting efforts of Coach […]
1992-93 Men’s Hockey Team
August 25, 2012
The Tom Coolen – coached hockey Axemen of 1992-93 recorded an impressive 22-2-2 record during the regular season, thus tying the forty-six point Atlantic Conference record set by Moncton in 1988-89. Individually team captain, George Dupont won the league’s scoring title with fifty-seven points and Derek Kletzel was named the Conference’s top rookie. Dupont was […]
Bryson E. Crowell ’49
August 25, 2012
Amherst native Bryson Crowell starred in hockey, rugby, basketball, baseball and field events in high school before entering Acadia in the fall of 1945. The fifteen-year-old was recruited to became a member of the English rugby team that was destined to win several Halifax City League and Nova Scotia intercollegiate titles during his four year […]
John Leggitt- 1948
August 25, 2012
Glace Bay native John Leggitt starred in both varsity rugby and hockey, being considered by his peers as probably the rugby team’s best inside three-quarter and hockey’s top defensive defenseman of their time. For three seasons as well he played creditably in interclass basketball and interclass track, but it was on the rugby field and […]
Carl Bruce- 1941
August 25, 2012
Carl Bruce, born in Wilmot, Nova Scotia, excelled as a junior in both hockey and baseball, being a smooth-skating centre on the ice lanes and a slick-fielding shortstop on the baseball diamond. Following graduation from Middleton’s Macdonald School, Carl performed as a hockey and baseball Axeman during the academic years 1938-1941 and 1940-1941, starring with […]
John Saunders- 1980
August 24, 2012
John Saunders, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, entered Acadia during the fall of 1974. Having already enjoyed considerable success in his budding hockey career, he was a natural candidate for a possible berth on the Acadia blueline. During his rookie season with the Don Wells-directed icemen, defence stalwart Saunders and his teammates enjoyed one of […]
William Parker- 1956
August 24, 2012
William “Bill” Parker, a graduate of Drummondville High School in Quebec, came to Acadia during the fall of ’52. For four academic years as he pursued his studies leading towards a major in economics, he devoted much time to the extracurricular activities of Acadia. Being a Students’ Council representative, chairman of the Athletic Awards Committee, […]
Frank Theakston- 1941
August 24, 2012
A graduate of Acadia in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics and subsequently a Nova Scotia Tech graduate with Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Engineering, Frank Theakston was an outstanding athlete, starring in both rugby and hockey. On the grid iron this former Colchester Academy performer saw action with the ’38 […]
Dr. Reagh Wetmore- 1945
August 24, 2012
Dr. Reagh Wetmore, a graduate of Acadia with B.Sc. and B.Ed. degrees in ’45 and ’46 res~ctively, subsequently received a Master of Physical Education degree from Springfield College in 1950, a Master of Science degree in ’62 from the University of Colorado and University of Florida and ultimately a Doctorate in Education from Boston University […]
Rev. Neil G. Price- 1940
August 24, 2012
One of the hockey Axemen’s best-ever netminders was undoubtedly Neil Price who was an integral part of Acadia’s winning of Provincial Intercollegiate titles in ’37-’38 and ’38-’39 and Nova Scotia and Maritime crowns during the ’39-’40 season. Prior to his coming to Acadia during the fall of ’37, he had starred in goal for a […]
1968-69 Men’s Hockey Team
August 22, 2012
…serious challengers of the Atlantic Conference title. The Don Wells -coached hockey Axemen of ’68-’69 were serious contenders for the Atlantic Conference Intercollegiate title. In fact, the Axemen, who had not won a tri-province championship in two decades, missed a trip to the Nationals by the narrowest of margins, ultimately dropping an overtime decision to […]
Robert “Bob” Ring- 1970
August 22, 2012
…an all-star hockey netminder whose sterling performances made the Axemen serious Conference contenders. Robert A. “Bob” Ring, a 1970 graduate of Acadia, is often ranked as one of the Axemen’s all-time great hockey netminders. A native of Wakefield, Mass., he made his initial appearance on campus during the fall of ’66, following three seasons of […]
Robert A. “Gint” MacKenzie- 1950
August 22, 2012
…outstanding performances and leadership ability inspired the Axemen to Maritime Intercollegiate championships in English rugby and hockey. Robert “Gint” MacKenzie was a star in several competitive sports, but is best remembered as a rugby and hockey Axeman of the late forties-an era in which Acadia won several tri-province titles. As a member of the ’46 […]
James M.R. Beveridge- 1937
August 22, 2012
…a distinguished scholar and athlete whose example has fostered the true Acadia “spirit.” James Beveridge, an outstanding scholar and multi-talented athlete, has long been a major contributor to the sports life of Acadia. First, as an athlete, and later as a builder during his tenure as President of the University from 1964 to 1978, he […]