Antigonish, NS - The Saint Mary's Huskies played the party spoilers, dropping the STFX X-Men 2-0 at the Charles V. Keating Centre on Friday night. Huskies netminder Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, ON) stopped all 36 shots he faced on the night, earning the shutout.

It was a special night for the X-Men and their supporters, who were helping STFX superfan Father Stan celebrate his 90th birthday. Father Stanley MacDonald performed the ceremonial puck drop prior to the game.

The first period was fast paced, with both teams looking to take an early lead. STFX wasn't able to capitalize on a pair of powerplays and it was the Huskies who found the back of the next first, with Keith Getson's (Bridgewater, NS) opening goal getting things going for Saint Mary's with just over 15 minutes gone in the opening stanza. Jacob Durham (Port Perry, ON) and Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON) had the assists.

Shots at the end of the first were 11-7 in favour of the X-Men thought they trailed 1-0 on the scoreboard.

Justin MacPherson (East Gwillimbury, ON) tallied the Huskies second goal of the game seven minutes into the second period, wiring home a one-timer off a drop pass from Liam Van Loon (London, ON). Jonathan Hampton (Richmond Hill, ON) had the other assist.

A short while later, X came close to cutting the lead in half off a scramble but Helvig kept the door closed. The score remained 2-0 heading into the second intermission, with X leading in shots, 21-17.

The two teams each had powerplays early in the third period but neither squad was able to add to the score. Saint Mary's kept up the pressure but X-Men goalie Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) kept the score close.

About halfway through the period, STFX generated a number of solid chances while up a man but weren't able to cut into the lead.

The X-Men pulled Raaymakers late in the game but still weren't able to knock one home and the game finished 2-0.

MacPherson earned first star and Subway player of the games honours, while Getson took home the second star, and STFX's Matthew Phillip (Ilderton, ON) was named third star.

It's a quick turnaround for the X-Men, as they will host the Acadia Axemen on Saturday night on home ice. The Huskies next take on their cross-town rivals, the Dalhousie Tigers, also on Saturday. Puck drop for both games is 7:00 pm.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics