SASKATOON — The Windsor Lancers say they don’t mind playing as underdogs. And so far, that title has been working for them.
Richard Cameron had a goal and an assist as the No. 3 Lancers upset No. 2 Acadia 4-2 in the CIS men’s hockey championship on Thursday.
Drew Palmer, Kenny Bradford, and Mike Christou also scored for Windsor (1-0), while Spencer Pommells and Saverio Posa contributed two assists apiece.
"Not a lot of people knew about the University of Windsor Lancers before this tournament," said Windsor’s head coach Kevin Hamlin. "To be honest, I don’t care if they know us by name at the end of it but they will know who the Lancers are.
"We’ve had some lean times through the course of this season but we have battled together and battled through."
Mike Cazzola and Liam Heelis each scored one and assisted on another for Acadia (0-1), and Evan Mosher shouldered the loss after stopping 24-of-28 shots on net.
Lancers goaltender Parker van Buskirk made 25 saves for the win.
Acadia led 1-0 after a goal from Cazzola at 1:19 of the first period. Cameron tied it up at 16:52.
Heelis’ goal at 1:43 of the second gave the Axemen a 2-1 lead, but Windsor replied with three unanswered goals — including two power-play goals — to seal the win.
The Lancers will face the tournament host University of Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday. Acadia will take on the Huskies Friday with its season on the line.
"We probably didn’t play our best tonight and we got beat by a good opponent," said Axemen head coach Darren Burns. "But we will stick together and we will be ready to go tomorrow."
Earlier, top-seeded Alberta used a three-goal first period en route to a 3-2 victory over No. 6 Carleton.
Travis Toomey, T.J. Foster and Rowley Jordan scored for the Golden Bears (1-0), who outshot the Ravens 41-17.
Joe Pleckaitis scored a power-play goal at 14:40 of the first period for Carleton (0-1), and Damian Cross rounded out the Ravens offence with another power-play goal at 17:21 of the third.
Kurtis Mucha picked up the win with 15 saves, while Carleton’s Francis Dupuis stopped 38 shots.