WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Forward Ryan Penny, who grew up in Fall River, N.S., — less than an hour's drive away — scored two goals, including the overtime winner at 3:24 to give McGill a 5-4 victory over Acadia in men's preseason hockey, before 1,258 at Andrew H. McCain Arena, Saturday.
 
It was the first meeting in 16 years between these unlikely foes -- since a 9-8 decision for Acadia on Oct. 4, 2003 -- and improved McGill's lifetime record to 2-1 in three confrontations with the Axemen.

A Cristiano DiGiacinto goal for Acadia just 10 seconds after the opening faceoff set the tone for a relatively high-scoring affair.

Acadia, which fell to 2-1 in preseason play, took the lead three times but on each occasion, McGill clawed back. Penny notched his first of the game to give his troops their first lead at 1:37 of the second. It was the first time in their three games to date that Acadia had trailed.

Penny's two-goal performance marked a coming out party for the six-foot-2, 198-pound Arts sophomore who scored his first two collegiate goals since joining the team last year, when he was red-shirted after playing three years of pro hockey in Binghamton (AHL) and Reading (ECHL).

"We came out here with a purpose, this trip is about us growing as a group," said recently-appointed McGill head coach Liam Heelis, who was publicly recognized by the PA announcer during a first-period stoppage in play, for his four brilliant years at Acadia, where he captained the Axemen to a championship season before moving onto post-graduate studies at McGill.

"Our team has chosen our identity, with a centralization around togetherness. I thought their play tonight and this weekend reflected that. We really worked as a unit and demonstrated our resilience tonight. We are learning more everyday and hope to continue building on the foundation our guys have established day in and day out, prepared to work. We had some timely and key contributions today and our guys are investing their efforts into those little details that will make the difference for the team as a whole."

Four other McGillians contributed offensively, including veteran Antoine Dufort-Plante, along with rookies Phil Gilmour (first career goal) and Blake Hayward.
 
Rearguard Dominic Talbot-Tassi, a senior from Mascouche, Que., assisted on each of the last three McGill markers.

A Ryan Foss goal for Acadia forced overtime, a five-minute, sudden-death 3-on-3 session that featured end-to-end action.
 
McGill freshman goaltender Emanuel Vella made 32 saves for the victory, including a stunning stick save on Acadia sniper Rodney Southam in overtime to rob the 23-year-old of a hat-trick. It was Vella's first collegiate win and second preseason start following a 7-1 loss to UQTR last week.
 
Acadia netminder Dawson Carty was tested 31 times and made 26 saves in a losing cause.
 
Both teams were 1-for-4 on the power-play.
 
McGill's (2-2) win concluded a lengthy two-game road-trip through Nova Scotia, which began with a 3-2 loss to Saint Mary's in Halifax on Friday.
 
McGill returns to the friendly confines of McConnell Arena to host UQTR on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 5 p.m in their final preseason match.
 
Acadia (2-1) begins their AUS regular schedule against Moncton on Sept. 27.

McGILL MURMURS: Between their two games in Nova Scotia, the McGill team spent part of the day visiting Peggy's Cove, a small rural fishing community located on the eastern shore of St. Margarets Bay, near the site of the Swissair Flight 111, which perished in 1998...  Acadia University held a moment of silence prior to the opening faceoff, in memory of McGill head coach Kelly Nobes, who passed away unexpectedly, at the age of 45. on Sept. 4. A memorial service is being planned for later this fall.

SCORING SUMMARY