Antigonish, NS – The defending AUS champion StFX X-Men started their pre-season strong, defeating the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus 5-2 in exhibition action Friday evening at the Keating Centre auxiliary arena.
In the first game of the 2017-18 season for both teams, the X-Men skated to a 2-0 first period lead as forwards Jagger Dirk (Penticton, BC) and Marcus Cuomo (St. John's, NF) scored in the opening four minutes of play.
The Aigles Bleus started the second period on a power play, but could not capitalize as the X-Men doubled their lead after 40 minutes of play. Defenseman Craig Duininck (St. Cloud, MN) and forward Holden Cook (Oshawa, ON) netted the X goals in the middle frame. Cook's came on the power play with only 10 seconds left in the period.
Mark-Anthony Therrien (Nicolet, QC) got the Aigles Bleus on the board midway through the third period, but StFX's Sam Studnicka (Windsor, ON) replied late in the frame, scoring the X-Men's fifth goal of the night. Samuel Roussy (Paspébiac, QC) tallied an unassisted marker for Moncton to round out the game scoring.
Cole MacDonald (Wetaskawin, AB) had two helpers on the evening for the X-Men.
Chase Marchand (Halifax, NS) picked up the win in the StFX net with 26 saves on the night as StFX outshot the Aigles Bleus 30-28. Brandon Thibeau (Riverview, NB) was tagged with the loss for Moncton.
The X-Men were missing top recruit Santino Centorame (Mississauga, ON) in the third period following an injury in the second as he left the ice and did not return.
StFX are back in exhibition action next weekend as they travel to New Glasgow, NS on Friday, September 22nd to host the UQTR Patriotes. The game is slated for 7:00 pm at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
The next game for the Aigles Bleus is also on September 22nd in Matane, QC where they will face off against Concordia.
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Courtesy Kiana Pace