StFX X-Men forward Holden Cook, a fourth year business student from Whitby, Ont. wrapped up a three-game stint with the U SPORTS all-star team in their series against the Canadian world junior prospects in Victoria, B.C. It marked the third consecutive year that Cook competed with the all-star squad. This year the U SPORTS all-stars won the series 2-1. X-Men alumnus Patrick Grandmaitre, the current head coach of the Ottawa Gee Gees was also a part of the all-star team as an assistant coach.
GAME 1
2018 U SPORTS All-Star Series: Philp scores late to set up shootout finish
VICTORIA (U SPORTS) – For the second consecutive year, an Alberta Golden Bear created suspense late between the U SPORTS All-Stars and Hockey Canada's World Junior Prospects.
Third-year forward Luke Philp scored with 8.1 seconds left in regulation, forcing overtime and eventually a shootout where Team Canada came away with a 3-2 win after nine rounds on Wednesday night at the Q Centre in Colwood, BC.
"We got better as the game went on. In the first period, you are never sure of what to expect, even though we had some returning guys," said U SPORTS head coach Mark Howell of the Calgary Dinos. "I wouldn't say we were nervous, but maybe unsure of the level of play and how hard you have to play. We had really good chances in the second and third periods."
Boston University forward Shane Bowers tallied the seventh and final goal of an epic shootout. Oshawa Generals forward Jack Studnicka scored both goals for Team Canada in regulation, while rearguard Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds assisted on both scoring plays.
In addition to the goal from Philp, Christopher Clapperton of the UNB Reds also found the back of the net for U SPORTS.
"It is great that everyone is getting a chance to see how good our players are," added Howell. "There are great players in our country who play university hockey. All our guys here could play a high level of pro but are choosing to get their education first."
The Canadian hopefuls opened the scoring six minutes into the game, putting their speed on full display. Frost dished the puck to the far blueline for Studnicka, who split two defenders, broke in alone, and beat Los Angeles Kings draft pick Matthew Villalta through the legs.
Team Canada nearly made it 2-0 on a late first-period power play as 17-year-old Alexis Lafrenière fired off a one-timed shot from the left side, but Villalta got across to deny him.
U SPORTS responded with a strong second period, dictating tempo while outshooting Team Canada 18-11.
Clapperton tied the game less than two minutes into the middle frame as he tapped in the rebound off a shot by McGill Redmen defenceman Nikolas Brouillard.
A little over four minutes later, Team Canada restored their one-goal lead. Studnicka collected his second goal of the night, this time on the power play, finishing off a second-chance opportunity from a shot by Frost.
Subbed in halfway through the period, Prince Albert Raiders goaltender Ian Scott was thrown into the fire in the Team Canada net, facing the heaviest U SPORTS pressure of the night in the late stages of the second period.
Scott held the All-Star squad off the scoresheet until the waning moments of regulation when Philp scooped up a rebound in front of the goal to force overtime.
After a scoreless overtime period, the game went to a marathon shootout. Riley Sheen, Slater Doggett, and Hunter Garlent scored for U SPORTS, while Joe Veleno, Frost, Lafrenière, and Bowers countered for Team Canada.
Villalta, vying for a spot on the Canadian World Junior roster, went the distance in goal for U SPORTS and made 28 saves.
Vancouver Canucks prospect Michael DiPietro started the game for Team Canada and turned away 18 shots in 30 minutes of action. Scott also made 18 saves in relief.
The 2018 U SPORTS All-Star Series continues Thursday night, 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT at the Q Centre. Livestreaming is available on TSN.ca.
GAME TWO
2018 U SPORTS All-Star Series: Tenacious penalty kill leads U SPORTS to win over Team Canada
VICTORIA (U SPORTS) – Fueled by three unanswered goals, the U SPORTS All-Stars picked up a 5-3 victory over Hockey Canada's World Junior Prospects on Thursday night at the Q Centre in Colwood, B.C.
U SPORTS evens the series, rebounding from a 3-2 shootout setback in Wednesday's opener. The All-Stars will look to secure their second straight series win on Friday afternoon, following up on their two-game sweep in 2017 over Team Canada.
"It was a complete effort, we had a lot of guys step up and make plays," said U SPORTS captain Dylan Busenius of the Calgary Dinos. "We came in with a mindset knowing what they are like and needing to go after it right off the bat. We wanted to put the pressure on them."
McGill Redmen defenceman Nikolas Brouillard (1G, 1A), StFX X-Men forward Holden Cook (1G 1A), Saint Mary's Huskies forward Hunter Garlent (2A) and Christopher Clapperton (2A) from the UNB Reds led the game in scoring with two points each as eight different players netted goals.
"We are trying to display our brand of hockey out there," added Busenius. "Our team has a lot of speed and competes really hard."
Like Wednesday night's game, Team Canada skated out to an early 1-0 lead. MacKenzie Entwistle of the Hamilton Bulldogs squeezed a shot through Prince Albert Raiders goaltender Ian Scott to give his team the lead less than five minutes in.
U SPORTS responded midway through the opening period as Queen's Gaels forward Slater Doggett's hard shot was tipped in by Brouillard.
Calgary Dinos sniper Riley Sheen put U SPORTS in front for the first time with goal at the 4:47 mark of the second period. It was the beginning of a flurry of action in the middle frame, including five consecutive second-period penalties to U SPORTS players.
"We really stuck together," mentioned UNB forward Mark Simpson. "They are highly skilled and find seams. We tightened it up after the first period, defence blocked a lot of shots and our goaltender played well."
After four successful penalty kills by U SPORTS in quick succession, the World Junior hopefuls connected on their sixth man advantage of the night with a well-placed shot by Philadelphia Flyers prospect Morgan Frost.
Less than a minute later, Mississauga Steelheads forward Owen Tippett finished off a 2-on-0 opportunity to give Team Canada the lead.
U SPORTS evened the score again with a power play marker of their own in the final two minutes when UNB forward Kris Bennett redirected a shot from the blue line by Brouillard.
Simpson lit the lamp 57 seconds later as his attempt barely crossed the line, eluding Vancouver Canucks draft pick Michael DiPietro.
Halfway through the final period, Cook – playing in his third consecutive All-Star Series – added an insurance marker as he corralled an errant shot and deposited it past DiPietro.
Playing all 60 minutes for U SPORTS, Scott stopped 27 of 30 shots on goal.
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds goaltender Matthew Villalta started for Team Canada and made 13 saves on 15 attempts. DiPietro denied 14 of the 17 shots he faced.
The 2018 U SPORTS All-Star Series wraps up on Friday afternoon, 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT at the Q Centre. The game can also be seen on TSN.ca.
Game THREE
2018 U SPORTS All-Star Series: U SPORTS earns series win over Team Canada
VICTORIA (U SPORTS) – UNB Reds forward Kris Bennett scored a pair of goals to propel the U SPORTS All-Stars to a 5-1 win over Hockey Canada's World Junior Prospects, clinching the series win on Friday afternoon at the Q Centre in Colwood, B.C.
It is the second consecutive year that U SPORTS has won the All-Star Series, having now won four of the past five head-to-head meetings with Team Canada.
"I am proud of our guys. They played three games in less than three days and it was gritty, you could tell our guys were grinding it out today," said U SPORTS head coach Mark Howell of the Calgary Dinos. "This was a really fun group. They were professional, respectful, and humble. There were no egos and they were all here for the team."
Bennett became the first player to register a multi-goal performance in the 2018 series. Calgary defenceman Dylan Busenius (2A), Alberta Golden Bears blue liner Jason Fram (2A) and UNB forwards Mark Simpson (2A) and Christopher Clapperton (1G, 1A) also collected two points each in the win.
"Every year we learn how to put this team together," explained Howell. "I think we selected the players that needed to be here. They all bought in and committed to what we wanted to do."
It was a quiet first period at the Q Centre until the final three minutes when U SPORTS opened the scoring with a pair of late period goals.
First it was Carson Stadnyk from the Saskatchewan Huskies, who found himself in the right place at the right time as the puck deflected off him and into the net.
Just over two minutes later, Bennett doubled the lead with a deflection off a point shot by team captain Busenius.
"We really came together over the last five days, we had a great group of guys and it showed over the last couple of games," said Alexandar Peters of the Saint Mary's Huskies. "Obviously there is a lot of skilled players on Team Canada, they are going to do great in their tournament. We were just able to connect quickly with team chemistry, whereas they are in a different position competing for a spot."
After Mississauga Steelheads goal-getter Owen Tippett put Team Canada on the board, the All-Stars took control of the game with three tallies in the middle frame.
Saskatchewan forward Colin Shirley wired a shot past Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds goaltender Matthew Villalta and was followed up minutes later by Bennett's second goal of the game. With time winding down Clapperton got behind the defence and scored a highlight-reel goal, cleaning up his own rebound with his back turned to the net.
Clapperton's goal rounded out the scoring as Vancouver Canucks draft pick Michael DiPietro, dressing for U SPORTS, and Villalta closed the door in the third period.
DiPietro played the entire game for U SPORTS and stopped 32 shots.
Newly-signed Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ian Scott made 15 saves for Team Canada before Villalta came in and turned aside eight attempts.
Team Canada will finalize its roster before turning its attention to a trio of pre-tournament games next week against Switzerland (Dec. 19), Slovakia (Dec. 21) and Finland (Dec. 23).
The 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship begins on Dec. 26 in Vancouver and Victoria, while the U SPORTS regular season resumes on Jan. 2.
The 2019 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms University Cup will be held Mar. 14-17 at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge, Alta.