X-Men drop home game to Huskies

Antigonish, NS - The Saint Mary's Huskies snapped a two-game losing skid with a 4-1 victory over the STFX X-Men at the Keating Centre Wednesday evening.

The Huskies came out quick off the opening face-off, and even rang one off the post in the first minute. They were first on the scoreboard with Sam King, (Hampton, NB) opening the scoring at 6:26 with assists coming from Bradey Johnson (Lindsay, ON) and Keith Getson (Bridgewater, NS).

The Huskies continued to push hard with a number of strong scoring chances, a few of which hit the post. Huskies captain Getson doubled the lead just over six minutes later off a scramble in front of the X net. Assists went to Walter Flower (Lunenburg, NS) and Caelan McPhee (Ancaster, ON).

Shots at the end of the first were 14-7 in favour of X, despite the home squad trailing 2-0.

The Huskies again pushed hard in the second period, again sending a couple of shots off the post in the first half of the period, but it was STFX who lit the lamp with 11 minutes gone. Josh Nelson (Lockport, IL) scored on a four-minute powerplay, with Matthew Struthers (Milton, ON) and Jacob Hudson (Antigonish, NS) adding the helpers.

Saint Mary's replied with a powerplay marker of their own with just under four minute left to play, as Jaxon Bellamy (Hampton, NB) stepping into a one-timer that found the back of the net, giving the Huskies a two-goal lead once again. King and Cedric Ralph (Peterborough, ON) assisted.

Shots at the end of the second were 26-18 in favour of the Huskies.  

It was the X Men who came out of the dressing room with some jump in the third period and put more pucks on the net but the Husky defence had their number.

Charlie Dafonseca (Thornhill, ON) added an empty netter after STFX pulled their goalie with three minutes left in the game, but failed to win a face-off in the SMU end to maintain possession, and the Huskies skated away with the win. 

Final shots in the game were 34-33 in favour of the visitors.

Saint Mary's goalie Matt Welsh (Halifax, NS) made 32 saves in the win, while X-Men goaltender Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) had 30 in the loss.

STFX's lone goal scorer Nelson was named the third star of the game. Huskies forward King was second star and Getson took home first star and Subway player of the game honours.

Saint Mary's is on the road on Friday to face off with the UPEI Panthers, while STFX heads to Fredericton to take on UNB the same night.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics