The X-Men hockey team opened up their AUS quarterfinal series against the UPEI Panthers with a 3-2 win in Charlottetown Wednesday night.

X-Men captain Chris Hulit returned to the line-up after being sidelined with an injury since early January and scored the game winning goal with 1:42 left in the game to give the X-Men the Game 1 victory.

Hulit also assisted on the X-Men’s first goal which came off the stick off Rob Warner at 9:17 into the first period. Ryan Sparling put the X-Men up 2-0 in the game with a second period goal. Sparling scored on the power play with Spencer McAvoy in on the assist.

The Panthers got on the board in the final minute of the second period as Michael MacIsaac scored from Brandon Biggers. Cory Vitarelli (Chad Locke, Jared Gomes) scored the equalizer for UPEI at the 13:36 minute mark of the third period.

StFX Player of the Game Chris Hulit then tallied the game winner as Matthew Bragg, who also returned to the X lineup after a lengthy injury, assisted on the play.

Bryan Gillis earned the win in nets for the X-Men, who outshot the Panthers by a 36-30 margin. Wayne Savage took the loss for UPEI.

With the victory the X-Men earn a key win on the road and an 1-0 advantage in the quick best 2-of-3 AUS quarterfinal series. Game 2 is slated for Friday night at home at the Keating Centre at 7:00 pm.   

StFX Sports Information