X-Men handle Tommies 7-1

Antigonish, N.S. - The CIS #9-ranked StFX X-Men (17-6-3) made it back-to-back weekend home victories when they skated to a convincing 7-1 win over the visiting St. Thomas Tommies (2-23-1) in AUS hockey action Saturday night at the Keating Centre.

On the opening shift of the game, the X-Men had a golden opportunity to get on the board, when Nathan Pancel (Ottawa, ON) took a cross-ice pass, but St. Thomas goaltender Luke Lee-Knight (Calgary, AB) slid post to post and made a big save on the wrist shot attempt.

At 1:22, with their first shot of the game, the Tommies took a 1-0 lead. From the side boards, Jason Cameron (Cornwall) took a backhander that fooled Drew Owsley (Lethbridge, AB) and beat the X-Men goalie five-hole. Matt MacLeod (Niagara Falls, ON) and Colin Martin (London, ON) collected the assists.

Tommies' captain Brendan Childerley (Stratford, ON) had an opportunity to double the edge, but Owsley made a blocker save on a snap shot. 

Moments later, X-Men forward Brent Turnbull (Stellarton, NS) made a move around the St. Thomas defense, but Lee-Knight was able to turn aside a close-in shot.

Steven Kuhn (Oyen, AB) had a chance on the backhand from the lip of the crease, but he could not lift the shot over a sprawling Lee-Knight.

On a strong shift by the line of Pancel, Michael Clarke (London, ON) and Holden Cook (Oshawa, ON), a tic-tac-toe passing play ended with Clarke ringing a shot off the goal post.

The X-Men thought they deadlocked the game when a Pancel point shot beat Lee-Knight, but the referee waved it off instantly, determining Cook made contact with a high stick from the side of the net.

With eight seconds remaining in the first period, Brad Cuzner (Glace Bay, NS) corralled a bouncing puck at the side of the net and scored on a backhander. His line-mates - Turnbull and Adam Stevens (Bedford, NS) - chipped in the assists.

In the second period, the X-Men exploded for five unanswered goals to take a 6-1 lead.

At 1:09, Eric Locke (Toronto, ON), who was at the end of a shift, found Adam Stevens (Bedford, NS) fresh off the bench for a chance in the slot. Stevens made no mistake with his top-shelf shot. Kristoff Kontos (Penetanguishene, ON) also assisted on the marker.

Kontos doubled the X-Men advantage, at 9:47, when he broke free from a St. Thomas defender, skated in front and beat Lee-Knight with a shot from close quarters. 

Off a point blast from Nathan Chiarlitti (Maple, ON), Cook gathered the rebound and scored at the 13:28 mark. Kontos assisted on the third goal of the period for the home team.

At 17:11, Mark Tremaine (Dartmouth, NS) laced a shot under the cross bar, with assists from Cook and Kontos, to give the X-Men a 5-1 lead.

Kuhn wrapped up the lopsided period for the X-Men, when he tallied with 25 seconds left in the middle frame. Stevens and Zack MacQueen (Woodstock, ON) assisted on the sixth StFX goal.

The X-Men out-shot the Tommies 15-5 in the second period, with Kontos collecting four points.

In the third period, St. Thomas had an early chance to carve into the StFX cushion, but Owsley made a shoulder save on a hard wrist from JC Campagna (Dublin, OH).

On the power play, a short time later, the Tommies had a couple opportunities, but Owsley kept the visitors off the score sheet.

With nine minutes remaining, Cook tallied the only goal of the third period, when he beat Lee-Knight with a low screen short from the slot, off a pass from Tremaine.

The Subway player of the game and first star was Cook, while Kontos and Stevens collected second and third star selections, respectively. 

Owsley made 25 saves for the win, while Lee-Knight turned aside 28 shots in the loss.

Both teams will return to home ice Wednesday, Feb. 10, when the Tommies host the UNB Varsity Reds and the X-Men welcome the Acadia Axemen.

Puck drop for both match-ups is 7 p.m.