X-Men advance to U SPORTS semifinal with 4-1 win over McGill

QF3: 2017 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms University Cup:
X-Men defeat Redmen 4-1 in quarter-final win

FREDERICTON (U SPORTS) – The StFX X-Men used a balanced attack to defeat the McGill Redmen, 4-1, in the final quarter-final game of the 2017 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms University Cup men's hockey championship on Thursday evening.

Four different players found the net for the X-Men, who become the third Atlantic University Sport representative to qualify for the semifinal round.

The X-Men got on the board early, courtesy of Matt Needham's marker at 2:27 of the first. After Bryson Cianfrone brought the puck up ice, he dished to Jagger Dirk who had a shot on goal that was saved by  Jacob Gervais-Chouinard. The rebound came right back out to Needham who fireditinto the pne net.

StFX doubled their lead at 14:35 of the second on a goal by Michael Clarke. He was on the dorrstep to puck the puck away after a Cole MacDonald shot. Holden Cook also had a helper on the play.

The Redmen got back into the game at the 4:04 mark of the third period, on a power play goal by Christophe Lalonde. His point shot through traffic while on a 5-on-3 bested X-Men goalie Chase Marchand.

The X-Men put the game away with two goals coming 52 seconds apart midway through the period. Mark Tremaine scored at 12:09 and Holden Cook closed out the scoring at 13:01.

Tremaine scored on a 2-on-1 with Nathan Pancel, while X-Men player of the game Cook intercepted a McGill pass in the slot and made no mistake beating Gervais-Chouinard. StFX captain Eric Locke assisted.

The game was a physical affair, with Sam Studnicka of the X-Men being ejected for kneeing late in the second period, and McGill's Samuel Tremblay receiving an early shower for a check from behind at 4:49 of the third.

For McGill, veteran goalie Gervais-Chouinard made 31 saves on 35 shots to take the loss. AUS first team all-star Marchand picked up the win for the X-Men, making 21 saves. StFX outshot McGill 35-22.

The Redmen went 1-for-6 on the power play, while StFX was 0-for-4. 

With the win, the X-Men will take on the Saskatchewan Huskies, who won Friday's earlier quarter-final, in a national semifinal at 4 p.m. Atlantic Time Saturday. Acadia and the host UNB Varsity Reds will play in the other semi, set for a noon start.

Official Boxscore: 
http://en.usports.ca/championships/mice/2017/boxscores_champ/20170317_783a.xml

SCHEDULE & RESULTS (All Times AT) 

Thursday, March 16, 2017

1:00pm Quarter-final 1: No. 1 Alberta 1, No. 8 Acadia 4
8:00pm Quarter-final 2: No. 4 Queen's 1 vs. No. 5 UNB 5 

Friday, March 17, 2017

1:00pm Quarter-final 3: No. 3 York 0, No. 6 Saskatchewan 1 (OT)
7:00pm Quarter-final 4: No. 2 StFX vs. No. 7 McGill (USPORTS.LIVE) 

Saturday, March 18, 2017

12:00PM Semi-final 1:  Acadia vs. UNB (Sportsnet 360 / SN NOW)
4:00PM Semi-final 2:  Saskatchewan vs. Winner QF 4 (Sportsnet 360 / SN NOW)

Sunday, March 19, 2017

9:30AM Bronze (USPORTS.LIVE)
1:00PM Gold (Sportsnet 360 / SN NOW)