Reds win close game over X-Men

Antigonish, NS - The U SPORTS No. 2 ranked UNB Reds dropped the STFX X-Men 3-1 on Friday night at the Charles V Keating Centre in front of a crowd of over 1000 fans.

Subway player of the game UNB forward Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) had a big night with two goals, including the game winner.

Billed as a battle between the two highest scoring squads in the AUS, the teams went at each other from the opening puck drop. The stifling UNB forecheck provided chances for the visitors while also limiting shots early for the X Men.

Still, both STFX goalie Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) and his UNB counterpart Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC) had to come up big a handful of times, as X picked up the pace and put a few more pucks on net. The X Men penalty kill was also on their game, keeping the potent UNB powerplay off the scoreboard in the first 20 minutes.

Shots at the end of the period were 10-8 in favor of UNB as the teams were scoreless after 20 minutes.

The scoring started 39 seconds into the second period with STFX forward Connor Roberts (Owen Sound, ON) beating Richard short side with a low wrist shot off a pass from Jacob Hudson (Antigonish, NS) shortly after the X-Men killed off their third penalty.

After that, UNB kept pouring on the shots but couldn't find the back of the net until late in the period, with MacKay wiring one to the top shelf from the slot with Cody Morgan (Gilford, ON) and Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC) assisting.

Both teams showed their general dislike of one another with a bit of the rough stuff after a number of whistles and both teams had a player in the box at the end of the period, with UNB leading in shots 26-20 and the game knotted at 1-1.

The third period started with the teams playing 4-on-4, and the fast paced action continued with UNB buzzing early. Raaymakers stood on his head with a couple of big saves, including one on a breakaway but it was UNB who took the lead with 11:12 left to play.

MacKay made a great individual effort, taking the puck from the corner to the front of the net and stuffing in a backhand. Jason Willms (Kitchner, ON) had the assist. The Reds went on the powerplay shortly thereafter but X kept the door shut. Raaymakers kept up the strong play, with another couple of key saves, including another breakaway stop.

With just under three minutes left to play, STFX went on the powerplay. X Men coach Brad Peddle called a timeout at the 18 minute mark, and pulled Raaymakers for a 6-on-4 advantage, but Willms added the empty net dagger for the visitors with 37 seconds left. 

Richard had 23 saves in the win while Raaymakers made 40 saves while picking up the loss. MacKay's two-goal evening earned him the first star, while Raaymakers and STFX's Roberts picked up the second and third stars respectively.

The X-Men next hit the ice on Saturday night, when they host the Moncton Aigles Bleus. UNB is on the road Saturday to tangle with the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax. Puck drop for both games is 7:00 pm.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics

Prior to the game STFX Athletics recognized the accomplishment of UNB and STFX personnel on Team Canada who recently won the gold medal at the 2023 FISU World University Games - UNB athletes Adam McComick, Brady Gilmour, Austen Keating, UNB Head Coach Gardiner MacDougall, STFX athletes Liam Hawel, Matthew Struthers