Varsity Reds blank X-Men 3-0

(FREDERICTON, N.B.) The AUS top-ranked and CIS number two UNB Varsity Reds bested the StFX X-Men 3-0 Friday night at the Aitken University Centre.

The game got off to a sluggish start as both the Varsity Reds and the X-Men seemed to be testing the ice. But after the first five or so minutes, play took off and from that point on the action was fast and furious.

The first period ended scoreless, but it didn't take long for that to change as the second period got underway. UNB's Dana Fraser managed to get one past StFX goalie Drew Osley just under three minutes into the second. The assists went to Philippe Halley and Subway player of the game Philippe Maillet.

UNB kept the momentum on their side and scored again at the 6:14 mark of the second. Halley had the goal that time, snapping it in from the right side off a neat pass from Maillet and Adrian Robertson.

StFX called a timeout not long after and managed a reset that would keep the game at 2-0 until the end of the period.

The Varsity Reds increased their lead 8:57 into the third period as Cam Braes took the puck from back behind the net and popped it in with a backhand shot. The assists went to Maillet and Alex Wall.

The X-Men spent the rest of the third determined to get one back, and they nearly did with an excellent scoring opportunity around three minutes left in the period. A flurry of shots had UNB goalie David Schantz down without his stick and diving onto his back, but he would remain perfect and get the shutout as UNB took the game 3-0.

Shots favored the Varsity Reds at 38-20.

The Varsity Reds, who recently secured an AUS playoff berth, now move to a record of 16-2-2 on the season. The X-Men have a record of 12-7-1.

UNB plays next on Saturday, January 17, when they host Saint Mary's at 7pm.

StFX will travel to Moncton where they will face-off against les Aigles Bleus at the same time.