Going back to hockey roots

At a time when AUS hockey teams are clamping down for the stretch run and focusing on the final handful of games they have remaining in the season, it seemed like the perfect time for the StFX X-Men to go in a different direction, and have some fun. The X-Men hockey team took to the ice, this time outdoors, in Heatherton, N.S. just fifteen minutes outside the town of Antigonish for a friendly ‘shinny’ game, splitting the squad up into two sides - blue versus white. 

The team held a fantasy draft, just like in the recent NHL All-Star Game format, to pick the teams. Jason Bast and Murdock MacLellan were the captains of team blue and Bryce Swan and Kevin Undershute the captains of team white. The outdoor game marked the X-Men’s version of the ‘Winter Classic’. 

“It is great to get away from the X’s and O’s and video that the players are so accustomed to during the week,” commented X-Men head coach Brad Peddle, after taking a shift for team blue and showing no worse for wear when he was a dominant X-Men, skating for the team from 1995-1999. “These type of team bonding sessions keep the team loose and positive and it relieves some of the pressure that the players endure during the season.”

A crowd of about 50 spectators showed up to the beautiful outdoor rink in Heatherton, watching their hometown team have some fun and show the creativity that they learned at a very young age when they first started skating on outdoor rinks in their home towns. “It’s great,” beamed Kevin Undershute, a fourth year Business student from Medicine Hat, AB who is an assistant captain on the squad. “This is where it all began for most of us and it really brings you back to when we were little kids so we are having a blast out here.”

The two teams had very special names as well, as team blue was named ‘Team Mattie’, after Wayne Mattie and team white was named ‘Team Landry’ after John Landry. Both Mattie and Landry have devoted countless hours to not only the StFX X-Men hockey program, but also to the Antigonish community. Wayne Mattie currently serves as the team’s video coach while John Landry is the equipment manager. “Both of these gentlemen are great friends of mine and mean so much to our team, so why not name the teams after them,” Coach Peddle commented proudly. 

As for the fantasy draft, there was no shortage of drama as the four captains picked their respective squads. Spencer McAvoy, a third year Arts student from St. Albert, AB, had the distinction of being the first overall pick in the draft going to Team Mattie. X-Men assistant coaches Erin King and Dave Stewart were plucked by Team Landry and head coach Brad Peddle selected to Team Mattie to add some much needed experience and grittiness. 

The most intriguing pick in the draft however was first year Arts student Gabriel O’Connor from Beloeil, Que. O’Connor had the distinction of being the final pick of the draft, waltzing to the front of the room to the delight of his teammates, while putting on the Team Landry sweater. Although he wasn’t awarded a new car, O’Connor did receive a gift card to local Antigonish restaurant Mother Webb’s for being a good sport but don’t think for a minute there wasn’t extra motivation for him to go out and prove his doubters wrong. 

“Absolutely, the credibility of the captains is suspect as Bryce Swan didn’t even show up, but I’ll make the other captains regret not picking me earlier.” And regret they will as O’Connor had a beautiful goal, sniping one past teammate Joey Perricone during the match.

The X-Men version of the ‘Winter Classic’ was a best-of-three game series with games going to five points. Team Landry won the first game in decisive fashion, only for Team Mattie to rediscover their play in game two and even the series at 1-1. Coach Brad Peddle joked that assistant coach and Team Landry player Erin King lacked the grit needed in these type of playoff games and was starting to get scared. “I gave Kinger a whack on the legs and he’s staying away from me right now, he can’t compete in these games.” 

Intensity was high, as both teams were chirping at each other heading into the final game. Team Landry captain Kevin Undershute playfully stated “I would love to go to center ice with ‘Doc’ (Murdock MacLellan) and drop the gloves,” throwing a final jab at Team Mattie captain Murdock MacLellan.

In the end it was Team Mattie who had the last laugh, as first year Business student Brett Frazee from Avondale, N.S. buried the game winner as his teammates stormed toward him to celebrate. The two teams than proceeded to shake hands and take a team picture, with community members and young children invited onto the ice to skate and pose for pictures with their hometown hockey heroes.

In the end this game was not about wins or losses, it was about developing team camaraderie and taking the seriousness out of the game. These types of bonding sessions can help turn seasons around, and heading into the AUS playoff stretch drive with only four games remaining on the regular game schedule for the X-Men, the boys are hoping to get back to their roots and discover what has made them so successful in the past.

And what better way to do that than on the pond with your teammates.  


Contributed by Jamie Kelly, StFX Sports Information