The Capital Region Axemen (10-0) have stretched their unbeaten streak to double digits, moving to 10 wins on the season after beating the Tyendinaga Thunderbirds (3-5) 18-1 on Saturday night. It would be the Axemen’s first crossover match against a TNLL (Three-Nations Lacrosse League) team.
In the wake of the absence of key players for the Axemen on Saturday; Brett Perras, Tim Bergin, and Spike Fawcett, among others, some extra firepower was brought in, both on the bench and on the floor. #9 Ryan Fournier, a Loyola standout and product of the Gloucester Griffins program, has joined the Axemen from the MSL’s (Major Series Lacrosse) Oakville Rock. #40 Brent Adams has also joined the team from the MLL’s (Major league Lacrosse) Boston Cannons & NLL’s (National Lacrosse League) New England Black Wolves. #77 Ian Crawford has also returned to the lineup after recovering from a potentially career-ending finger injury. As well, Head Coach Jason Tasse will be getting a hand behind the bench from former NLL & MSL coach Joe Sullivan.
The Thunderbirds have some heavy-hitters of their own though, with their roster boasting 2 NLL players in #66 Alex Kedoh Hill and #89 Haodias Maracle.
The game started out very fast-paced, with both teams getting some quality chances in in the first half of the 1st period. Started goaltender for the Axemen, #29 Chris Chuback, was forced to make some quality saves early on. Good ball movement to the inside would prove to be difference in the game, with the Axemen able to get in behind the Tyendinaga defense, while most of the shots that the Axemen defense allowed through were from the outside.
#98 Callum Crawford would be involved in all of the Axemen’s 5 first period goals; he was able to finish off the night with 14 points (3,11).
The game was blown wide open in the 2nd period by the Axemen, who scored 11 goals in the period, with 9 different players finding the back of the net. It would be 15-0 for Capital Region before Tyendinaga was able to put one in near the end of the 2nd.
With the game well in-hand by the third period, the game started to get a bit chippy. Save for one goal by Fournier, for a hat-trick, the only fireworks in the 3rd period was a spirited bout between #44 Dan Proulx of the Axemen and #13 Greg Rieley of the Thunderbirds. Capital Region was able to close out the game with an 18-1 win.
The Capital Region Axemen’s next game is Sunday, June 26th, at 4pm vs. Tyendinaga at the Desoronto Community Centre.