U Sports season underway for ex-Dogs

Acadia Axemen

The Atlantic University Sport men's hockey season gets into full swing this weekend.

The regular season kicked off on Wednesday with the Saint Mary's Huskies defeating the Acadia Axemen 4-3. There will be six games this weekend, including the AUS champion UNB Reds hosting the Dalhousie Tigers on Friday night in their season opener.

There will be plenty of Sea Dogs alumni in the AUS this season, highlighted by four former Dogs on the Axemen.

Acadia: Charlie DesRoches, Brady Burns, Thomas Couture and Cole Burbidge

Dalhousie: Brody Fournier, Zach Welsh and Jared Cosman

Moncton: Jeremie Jacob

Saint Mary's: Connor Trenholm

StFX: Brandon Casey, Nathan Casey and Patrick Leaver

UNB: Nick Blagden, Peter Reynolds and Leighton Carruthers 

UPEI: Simon Hughes and Yanic Crete

In a coaches poll, UNB was predicted to place first in the AUS once again this season, followed by Moncton and Saint Mary's. The Reds have won seven straight conference titles and defeated Moncton in last year's final.

There will also be a large amount of Sea Dogs alumni skating in Ontario University Athletics conference this year.

Brock: Alexis Cournoyer and Nathan Drapeau

Carleton: Tomasz Szczerba

Concordia: Nicholas Girouard, Nikolas Hurtubise and Christopher Inniss

Guelph: Julien Vander Voet

Laurier: Ventsislav Shingarov

McGill: Mathis Gauthier

Ontario Tech: Alex Drover and Ben Roode

Nipissing: Danny Akkouche and Nico Laforge

Ottawa: Nicolas Bilodeau

Royal Military College: Cole Foston and Jake Tracey

TMU: Joseph Ianniello

York: Aiden MacIntosh

The Ottawa Gee-Gees – who also include Alexis Daviault along with Nicolas Bilodeau – are the reigning national champions.

This year's University Cup will be hosted by Saint Mary's in Halifax. The tournament will take place March 19-22 at Scotiabank Centre.