(FREDERICTON, N.B.) The UNB Varsity Reds took the first game of the best-of-five Subway AUS semifinal series against the StFX X-Men, topping the X-Men 5-2 on home ice.
Fourth-ranked StFX came into this series after defeating UPEI in two straight games in the best two-of-three quarter-final. First-ranked UNB entered the series with a first round bye and a 4-0 record over the X-Men in regular season play.
Everyone was expecting a typical tight playoff game, and the first period started off just that way. It appeared the period would end scoreless, until X-Men forward Zack MacQueen (Woodstock, ON) flipped a shot toward the net that caught UNB goalie David Shantz a bit flat-footed and the X-Men were up 1-0 with three minutes to go. Assists went to Steven Kuhn (Oyen, AB) and Kristoff Kontos (Penetanguishene, ON).
It didn't take UNB long to find the back of the net, however. Just 39 seconds later, with the V-Reds racing down the ice, Tyler Carroll (Strathroy, ON) found the mesh on a quick shot from the slot. It was Carroll's first game back after injury. Randy Gazzola (Thorold, ON) and Cameron Brace (Toronto, ON) had the assists.
The second period opened up as a tight game again. It would take just over sixteen minutes for the scoreboard to light up again. UNB gained the lead after Cam Braes (Shawinigan Lake, BC) took advantage of a nice setup in front of the net to get one past X-Men goalie Drew Owsley (Lethbridge, AB). Assists on the power play goal went to Jordan Murray (Moncton, NB) and Carroll, and the V-Reds were up 2-1 as the period came to a close.
The third period started fast and furious, with StFX on the power play and ready to answer back. They did just that 16 seconds after the puck dropped, when Eric Locke (Toronto, ON) got behind a tap-in off a set-up from Robert Slaney (Portugal Cove, NL) and Ted Stephens (Calgary, AB), tying the game at two goals apiece.
UNB regained the lead when Braes scored his second goal of the night 2:01 into the third. Assists went to Carroll, who created the turnover that lead to the scoring opportunity, and Alex Wall (St. John's, NL).
That's when the Varsity Reds started to show a bit more life and picked up the pace to break free from the X-Men's solid defence. Less than two minutes later they widened their lead to two goals. Francis Beauvillier (Montreal, QC) picked up his own rebound to make it 4-2 with an assist from Taylor MacDougall (Fredericton, NB).
UNB sealed the deal when Cam Critchlow (Fredericton, NB) snapped in the puck off a wrap-around pass from Mignardi and Wall with just two and a half minutes remaining, as the Varsity Reds went on to take the first game of the series 5-2.
The Subway Player of the Game went to UNB's Cam Braes as the home team outshot the X-Men 48-28.
The Varsity Reds and the X-Men will meet at the Aitken Centre Friday evening for Game 2 of the Subway AUS semifinal series. Puck drops at 7pm.
Game 3 is slated for Sunday, February 22nd at StFX, with Game 4 (if necessary) being played Monday.
Courtesy UNB Athletics Communications