GIVING

2014 AUS hockey champions reunite to give back

By Rachel Cooper (’89)

Teamwork doesn’t always end when players have hung up their skates for the last time and gone their separate ways. The 2014 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) championship hockey Axemen have teamed up again to support the Acadia Athletics program. The new 2014 AUS Champions Men’s Hockey Award will go to a returning men’s varsity hockey athlete who demonstrates leadership qualities on and off the ice, competitive spirit and community engagement, and who is in good academic standing. The first disbursement of funds will be in the 2021–22 academic year, with the recipient chosen by the Director of Athletics in consultation with the head coach of the men’s varsity hockey program. “It doesn’t surprise me that a young group of alumni of that ilk would step up to support our present Axemen,” says Kevin Dickie, Executive Director, Athletics and Community Events. “I think it was their character that made that team great. They were good people who appreciated Acadia, and they’re giving back to the group of student-athletes playing for the team now. It was a big year. We won a championship, and they were a special group of guys.”

Determined and Resilient

The 2013-14 Acadia Axemen came from diverse communities that spanned the country: from Victoria, British Columbia to Bonavista, Newfoundland. They were also determined and resilient. Thirteen of them earned Academic All-Canadian honours that season, marking them as exceptional student-athletes who achieved an academic standing of 80 per cent or better while playing on one of their university's varsity teams. The careers they have moved into are equally impressive: three medical doctors, a university professor, a rancher, a lawyer, three educators, three coaches, several businessmen, and three professional hockey players. More importantly, they are contributing leaders in society. “It was a team-organized award, and we’re excited as a young group of alumni to contribute to the hockey program that provided a foundation for us,” says team captain Liam Heelis, who is currently head coach for the McGill University hockey program in Montreal. “Rather than each of us giving individually, we thought it would be meaningful to contribute more holistically and commemorate our championship season in the process. We worked with Len Hawley, Development Officer (Athletics), and he contacted every team member. The feedback and excitement to give back together were very strong.” Colin Archer, who played defense, is finishing his third year of a five-year anaesthesiology residency in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia. “The team that year was a pretty special mix of guys. We had so much fun playing hockey together and going to school together,” he says. “It was special because of hockey, but it was also special because of a lot of good people on the team who are still doing special things in life.”

Passionate about giving back

Joe Gaynor, who played centre, is an Associate with Siskinds Law Firm in London, Ontario. “We built such a relationship between those team members that we feel passionate about giving back and coming together as a team,” he says. “We’re giving back to the community, because they gave us so much – not just Acadia, but Wolfville too – and we want to provide opportunities for other student athletes to have the opportunities we had.” “Acadia had a special impact on my life, in getting me to where I am in regard to doing my residency in anaesthesia,” Archer adds. “It helped me find a nice balance between having a lot of fun and enjoying the people I was around, and working really hard to achieve goals. I wanted to support it because I hope it will do the same for others.” Heelis agrees. “I think the reason we all want to give back is because of the positive experiences and memories we encountered,” he says. “University sport in Canada is a tremendous opportunity for young people to develop not only as athletes, but as people and individuals. We want to create opportunities and experiences for the generations to come. Being able to do that with a named award is something we’re really proud of.” Darren Burns (’95), head coach of the Acadia’s men’s hockey team, is not surprised that this exceptional team would come together again to give back. “It is very exciting to see this young group of alumni create this award,” he says. “This team was a very special one that not only performed on the ice, but their commitment to academics and community was exceptional. We are so appreciative of their efforts and will do our best to make sure they will be proud of our daily efforts moving forward.”

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