StFX X-Men to face top notch opponents in pre-season exhibition

ANTIGONISH, NS - X-Men hockey head coach Brad Peddle is pleased to announce a stellar out-of-conference, pre-season exhibition schedule for the upcoming fall. The X-Men will play host to a Florida Panthers rookie squad at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, along with games on the road against NCAA Division I Hockey East Schools, Boston University and Boston College.

"We are extremely excited with the first class, out-of-conference competition we have secured for the upcoming 2009 pre-season exhibition schedule," comments Coach Peddle. "The overall experience, exposure and top quality competition our student-athletes will receive playing opponents like the Florida Panthers rookies, defending NCAA champs Boston University and 2008 NCAA champs Boston College is outstanding, and something we are very excited about."

"We have made it a priority in our X-Men hockey program to focus on the professional development of our players and to provide the best out-of-conference schedule and professional exposure possible. Securing three top quality opponents like this is a great step for our program and something we are very much looking forward to this fall."

The X-Men will travel to Port Hawkesbury, NS for the game against the Florida Panthers rookies on Monday, September 14th at 7:30 pm. The Panthers are holding a portion of their pre-season training camp at the Port Hawkesbury facility. Tickets for the exhibition match-up will be available through the Civic Centre box office.

The X-Men will travel to Boston, MA for two pre-season games on October 3rd and 4th. They will face the defending NCAA champions from Boston University on Friday, October 3 followed by a game on Saturday, October 4 against the 2008 NCAA champions Boston College. The Boston trip will also include a tour of Fenway Park.

Also on their pre-season exhibition schedule are single games against AUS opponents Acadia and Saint Mary's on September 18 and October 10, respectively. The X-Men will host Acadia in Port Hood, Cape Breton while the Saint Mary's exhibition game will be played at the StFX Keating Centre. The X-Men will also travel to Acadia for the Don Wells Invitational on the September 26-27 weekend which will feature Nova Scotia schools StFX, Acadia, Saint Mary's and Dalhousie.

The X-Men will host the 4th annual Keating Cup Challenge on January 2-3, 2010 at the StFX Keating Centre. The Keating Cup Challenge will feature two games against the Carleton Ravens of the Ontario University Athletics East conference.

The X-Men begin regular season AUS competition on October 16 with a game at Acadia University, followed by their home opener on October 17 against Dalhousie.

X-Men Hockey 2009 Exhibition Schedule:

September 14: StFX vs Florida Panther Rookies, Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, 7:30 pm
September 18: StFX vs Acadia, Port Hood
September 26-27: StFX @ Don Wells Invitational, Acadia University
October 3: StFX @ Boston University, Boston
October 4: StFX @ Boston College, Boston
October 10: StFX vs Saint Mary's, StFX Keating Centre, 7:00 pm
January 2: StFX vs Carleton, StFX Keating Centre, 7:00 pm, Keating Cup Game 1
January 3: StFX vs Carleton, StFX Keating Centre, 3:00 pm, Keating Cup Game 2

Source:

Krista McKenna, Sports Information Director
StFX