Third period goals propel Huskies past X-Men

Halifax, NS – After an evenly battled first two periods, the Saint Mary's Huskies scored four times in the third period to defeat the StFX X-Men 5-1 Saturday evening at the Dauphinee Centre. .

In the first period, the Huskies generated good chances by driving to the net and muscling their way into the crease. The X-Men, on the other hand, played a dump and chase game and worked the forecheck.

StFX nearly scored with eight minutes to go, as captain Mark Tremaine (Dartmouth, NS) got the puck in the high slot and sent a shot labelled for the top shelf, but goalie Eric Brassard (St Hubert, QC) made a nice glove save.

After trading power play opportunities, the Huskies had their best chance of the period with a minute left. From the face off dot, a shot from Logan DeNoble (Peterborough, ON) rang off the post.

Neither team scored by the end of the first period, and they were tied in shots as well, 6-6.

The Huskies almost opened the scoring in the first few minutes of the second period. Keith Getson (Bridgewater, NS) batted in a rebound off of a shot from Sam King (Hampton, NB), but Getson's stick was too high and the goal was called off.

Midway through the period, the X-Men caught on their heels and created several breakaway chances. On the last, Matt Needham (Kamloops, BC) was coming off the bench and caught a pass from Daniel Robertson (Windsor, ON) at the Huskies' blue line. Needham came into the zone with speed and wired a shot high glove side to make it 1-0 for the X-Men.

Four minutes later, the Huskies tied it up. A shot from the point from Austyn Hardie (Halifax, NS) was redirected by Getson past goalie Blade Mann-Dixon (Antigonish, NS). Nicholas Welsh (Halifax, NS) also assisted.

The second period ended 1-1, with the Huskies taking a slight edge in shots 24-21.

The Huskies pulled ahead with 15 minutes left in the third period. On the power play, Mitchell Balmas (Sydney, NS) passed across the blue line to Welsh, who fired a shot through traffic over the shoulder of Mann-Dixon.

Almost immediately after, the Huskies went on the man advantage again. It took them only three seconds to score; Getson tapped in a rebound after a shot from the point to put the Huskies up 3-1.

With just a couple minutes to go, the Huskies scored again. Anthony Repaci (Toronto, ON) was set up for a one timer by Stephen Johnson (Moncton, NB) and he made no mistake. Balmas also assisted on the Huskies' fourth goal.

On the power play with 1:40 left in the game, the X-Men pulled their goalie to go on a 6 on 4-man advantage. Johnson scored on the empty net to secure the 5-1 win for the Huskies.

The Subway Player of the Game, with two goals, was the Huskies' Keith Getson.

The X-Men hit the ice next on Jan. 18 when they host the Dalhousie Tigers, while the Huskies play next on Jan. 17 against the Aigles-Bleus in Moncton.

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Courtesy Sarah Moore, SMU Communications