MONCTON, NB – The StFX X-Men (15-1-2) wrapped up first term play with a 5-2 win over the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus (3-13-2) in AUS men's hockey action at the J.-Louis-Lévesque Arena Saturday evening.
The visiting X-Men scored twice on the power play and added an empty net goal at the end of the game for the win. Matt Needham, with two goals, and Adam Stevens, Cole MacDonald and Mark Tremaine with one each, were able to get the puck behind goaltender Alexi Thibaudeau, on 37 shots.
Marc-Anthony Therrien and Robbie Graham replied for the Aigles Bleus. Chase Marchand, the winning netminder, faced 25 pucks. Moncton was 0 for 2 on the power play and St. Francis Xavier, 2 for 4. Thibaudeau was busy with 13 shots in the second and 15 in the third.
The first period ended in a 1-1 tie as Tremaine for the X-Men and Therrien for the Aigles Bleues exchanged goals.
The second period saw the X-Men take a 3-2 lead with goals from Stevens and MacDonald, both on the power play. Graham replied for the Aigles Bleus as all three goals were scored within a two minute time frame.
Needham added to the X-Men lead with an early third period goal then followed up with the empty netter.
X-Men forward Adam Stevens earned Subway player of the game honours.
The U SPORTS No. 4 ranked X-Men close out first term play on a seven game winning streak and currently sit in second place in the AUS conference, one point back of UNB. They will resume AUS regular season play on Friday, January 5th when they travel to Charlottetown to face the UPEI Panthers.
Moncton returns to action on Wednesday, January 3rd when they host Saint Mary's University Huskies.
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