X-Men fall to top ranked Reds

(FREDERICTON, NB) Nicolas Guay (Chatauguay, QC) had two goals and an assist as the UNB REDS used a strong third period to beat the STFX X-Men 6-2 on Friday night.

Guay was named Subway Player of the Game after recording his second straight three-point game.

"We had chances in the other game, [against STFX] but we were holding our sticks too tight and now I think guys are looser around the net," said Guay about his team's improved performance against the X-Men. "Now we're starting to click and put up points. It's a good feeling and we are going to keep it going."

Tyler Boland (St. John's, NL), James Phelan (Laval, QC) and Mark Rassell (Calgary, AB) each added a goal and an assist in the win for the REDS.

The REDS would jump on the X-Men just 42 seconds into the first, when Boland delivered a great pass to Guay in front for the game's opening goal.

UNB controlled the majority of the play in the period, outshooting X 13-5.

However, the X-Men would convert on one of their few prime chances late as Liam Hawel (Arnprior, ON) gathered the puck in the slot off a REDS turnover and fired it past a screened Rylan Parenteau (Saskatoon, SK) to tie the game 1-1.

The REDS would re-take the lead early in the second, with Phelan firing home a short-handed goal to make it 2-1.

The period contained very physical play and minimal action at even strength with five power-plays between the two teams and neither side being able to convert as UNB took their slim lead into the third.

The REDS made some breathing room for themselves early in the third as Austen Keating (Guelph, ON) floated a beautiful backhand pass to Guay all alone in front for his second of the game and a 3-1 UNB lead. 

Rassell, in his first game since returning from injury, found the back of the net just 55 seconds later for his first of the year to make it 4-1.

"He brings so much energy and he is great in the room," said REDS head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "It was super to have him back tonight." 

UNB would continue to pour on the offence and extended their lead four minutes later, on the power-play, when Boland cleaned up a loose puck in the crease for the 5-1 goal. 

Brady Gilmour (Grafton, ON) added another late power-play marker to make it a 6-1.

"We played them pretty good the first two periods," said Hawel. "We hung around, we know they're a great team and they brought it to us. Unfortunately, tonight, there were four or five minutes that we let off the gas a little bit and they made us pay."

Zack Trott (Mulmur, ON) got another goal back for the X-Men, late, to make it a 6-2 final.

A handful of scuffles broke out in the game's final minutes which resulted in multiple penalties including fighting majors and 10-minute misconducts to UNB's Noah Carroll (Strathroy, ON) and STFX's William Bower (Saint John, NB).

The REDS outshot the X-Men 32-16. 

Parenteau made 14 saves for the REDS, while Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) had 26 in a losing effort for STFX.

The REDS improve to 12-1 while the X-Men drop to 9-4-1.

UNB is back in action on Saturday afternoon, hosting the Dalhousie Tigers. Game time is 4:00pm. STFX travels to Moncton for a 7:00pm start.

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Courtesy Jonathon James/UNB Athletics