(FREDERICTON, N.B.) – The UNB Varsity Reds have advanced to the Subway AUS final series and secured a place at the CIS national championship after winning Game 5 of the semifinal 6-3 against the StFX X-Men Thursday night.
UNB will now face the Acadia Axemen for the Subway AUS championship, while the X-Men will prepare for the nationals themselves, being guaranteed a spot as tournament hosts.
UNB was the first team to get on the board in a chippy first period. Dana Fraser (Tatamagouche, N.S.) scored the goal at 6:41 on a one timer slap-shot that slid just under the pad of Drew Owsley (Lethbridge, Alta.) Philippe Halley (Quebec, QC) and Alex Wall (St. John's, NL) assisted.
It was looking like UNB would run away with game after Brad Cuzner (Glace Bay, N.S.) was ejected from the game for an illegal hit, putting the Varsity Reds on a five minute power play. It was StFX, however, who capitalized on the opportunity, with freshman forward Adam Stevens (Bedford, N.S.) scoring a beautiful goal on a shorthanded breakaway, from Zack MacQueen (Woodstock, ON) and Gabe O'Connor (Beloeil, QC). That goal came at 12:51.
Philippe Maillet (Lachenaie, Que.) added another goal for UNB less than two minutes later and the period ended 2-1. Cam Braes (Shawinigan Lake, BC) and Colin Suellentrop (Plantation, FL) had the helpers on the second Varsity Reds goal.
The first goal of the second period came at 4:21 when Cam Critchlow (Fredericton, N.B.) joined an odd-man rush out of the penalty box and sniped a one-time pass that beat Owsley. Randy Gazzola (Ottawa, ON) and Matt Boudens (Pembroke, ON) assisted. This marked the first of four goals in a ten minute span as UNB and StFX traded chances ferociously.
"It's our biggest asset," said defensemen Alex Wall about UNB's speed. "We like to jump up in the rush and create space for our forwards. That's what we got to keep doing, just keep skating."
Michael Kirkpatrick (North Sydney, NS) drew the X-Men back to within one goal as he scored at 5:51 from Kristoff Kontos (Penetanguishene, ON).
Halley then responded for the Varsity Reds at 9:27 from Gazzola and Maillet.
O'Connor rounded out the second period scoring with a goal for the X-Men at 15:11 as Rob Slaney (Portugal Cove, NF) and Ted Stephens (Whitehorse, YT) were in on the play as UNB took a 4-3 lead into second intermission.
The third period slowed down with both teams playing more conservatively as neither wanted to give up the next goal. UNB managed to extend their lead at 10:02 after a great defensive play from Jordan Murray (Moncton, N.B.) that led to a goal from Matt Boudens. Chris Caissy (Campbellton, NB) picked up the helper.
The Varsity Reds added an empty netter from Dylan Willick(Prince George, BC) with 1:29 left to play to finish the game 6-3.
Subway Player of the Game was V-Red Alex Wall, who set up the first goal for UNB and had an outstanding defensive game, ending with a plus-minus of +4.
UNB shotshot StFX by a 40-21 margin.
Despite giving up five goals, StFX Goalie Drew Owsley had a great game consisting of 34 saves. Owsley has been consistently solid for the X-Men throughout entire series.
"Drew has been outstanding for us," said StFX head coach Brad Peddle. "I'm really proud of how this guy has played in the series. He showed lots of fight, and that's what you need in the playoffs."
StFX will get some time off as they automatically qualify for the CIS national championship as hosts of the tournament.
UNB will take on the Acadia Axemen in a best-of-three Subway AUS final series. Both teams automatically qualify for the CIS championship as the AUS conference has the extra rotating wild-card berth this year. Game 1 is scheduled for Monday, March 2nd in Fredericton.
The CIS University Cup national championship is slated for March 12-15 at the Halifax Scotiabank Centre. Joining the X-Men, Varsity Reds and Axemen will be two teams from the Canada West conference and three from the OUA conference, including one RSEQ school that plays within the OUA.
Contributions from Rob Trites, UNB Sport Communications