By Adam D’Agostino
The Capital Region Axemen were able to overcome a slow start and a hot opposing goalie to squeeze
out an 11-7 win in their 2018 season-opener.
It could be forgiven if some Axemen fans might have thought that the season-opener versus the
Caughnawaga Indians would be a bit of a cake walk for Capital Region, considering the last time these
two teams met in 2017 the Axemen were able to beat them handily 17-3. However, that certainly wasn’t
the case this time around, as the Indians were able to jump out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first 10 minutes
of the game. Coupled with that, Indians goaltender #0 Ni Mccumber was turning everything aside,
including a barrage of shots within the first three minutes while Caughnawaga was forced to kill off an
early penalty. He made 24 saves in the first period alone, and 47 in the entire game, earning himself 2 nd
star of the game.
Luckily for the Axemen, 2017 QSLL leading scorer #92 Mark Vradenburg was able to get Capital Region
on the board midway through the period to get the ball rolling for the home team. The Indians found
themselves in some penalty trouble in the latter half of the period, and the Axemen were able to
capitalize on their chances by putting up six goals in the last seven minutes to go into the first
intermission up 6-5.
Starting in net for the Axemen was #33 Chris Collins, who made 18 saves on 24 shots, while #29 Chris
Chuback, played the second half of the game and turned aside 22 out of 23 shots against. The two are
splitting time while the Axemen wait to see the outcome of starting goaltender Brett Perras’ fate, as he
is currently off trying out for the Senior “A” Cobourg Kodiaks.
Both teams settled down on defense after the first, and both teams scored only two goals apiece in the
second period, although not one was even strength. The Axemen scored both a powerplay and a
shorthanded goal, while the Indians potted two shorthanded goals during the frame.
The Axemen were able to put the game away in the third period managing to put three more goals past
Mccumber, with Vradenburg being involved in all three, to put the game out of reach for Caughnawaga.
The Indians had one chance to make a comeback when Axemen defender #44 Dan Gawne took a 5-
minute major elbowing penalty, however it was negated quickly when Indians forward #11 Joe Hall took
a hitting-from- behind double-minor shortly after.
Vradenburg finished the game with 6 points (3,3), and was aided on offense by Axemen returnee and 3-
time QSLL leading scorer #43 Tim Bergin with another 6 points (2,4), as well as 3 points (1,2) from
Capital Region captain #7 Raj Wasson. Leading scorers for the Indians were #23 Robert York with 4
points (3,1) and Hall with 3 points (2,1).
The Capital Region Axemen play their next game versus the Snake Island Muskies on May 26 th , in
Massena, NY.