Kontos scores shootout winner for X-Men

New Glasgow, NS - Second-year forward Kristoff Kontos (Penetanguishene, ON) scored three goals, including the shootout winner, as the StFX X-Men skated to a 4-3 exhibition victory over the Waterloo Warriors Friday night at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.

Four shooters from each team had opportunities to score, but Kontos was the only one to find the back of the net.

The visiting Warriors had the lone goal of the first period, with Brett Mackie (Whitby, ON) tallying at the 15:59 mark, on assists from Colin Behenna (Waterloo, ON) and Stephen Silas (Georgetown, ON).

Early in the second period, at 56 seconds, the Warriors double their advantage when Mackie and Cam Nicoll (Loretto, ON) set up Behenna.

At 5:09, Kontos sliced the X-Men deficit in half, on an assist from freshman forward Nathan Pancel (Ottawa, ON).

Just more than two minutes later, at 7:21, Kontos made it 2-2, on the power play. Sophomore defenseman Jagger Dirk (Penticton, BC) garnered the lone assist.

On their third consecutive goal of the second period, StFX took their first lead when Pancel scored from forward Michael Clarke (Peterborough, ON).

The X-Men outshot the Warriors 18-6 in the middle 20 minutes.

Behenna, with his second of the game, pulled the Warriors even at the 15:50 mark of the third period. Silas notched his second assist of the contest.

After regulation time expired, the teams skated to a scoreless five-minute overtime period, with the Warriors outshooting the X-Men 3-2.

Drew Owsley (Lethbridge, AB), who turned aside four players in the shootout, made 19 saves for the win, while Chris Hurry (Summerland, BC) stopped 33 shots from the X-Men.

The X-Men continue pre-season play next weekend when they travel to the United States, facing Merrimack College (Saturday, Oct. 3) and the University of New Hampshire (Sunday, Oct. 4).

StFX will open the regular season Saturday, Oct. 10, when they travel to Wolfville to face the rival Acadia Axemen. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

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