Canning nets 4 goals in lopsided win over Tigers

ANTIGONISH, NS - A four goal night from Gabriel Pizza Player of the Game and STFX X-Men freshman forward Lucas Canning helped his squad to a big 9-2 win over the visiting Dalhousie Tigers on Friday night at the Charles V Keating Centre.

Second star and fellow freshman Cameron Mercer had a four-point night with two goals and two assists, while third star Antonio Pugliese added two goals and a helper.   

The X-Men led 2-1 after the opening 20 minutes of play. Mercer lit the lamp first, sliding one in for a tight angle after a pass from Pugliese nine minutes in.  

The Tigers replied on the powerplay three minutes later with Ben Bujold roofing one, with Zak Smith and Jack Harper assisting.

Canning put STFX ahead three minutes before intermission, breaking in from the blueline after a pass from captain Logan Chisholm while on the powerplay.  

And then Canning went off.  

Mercer, firing home a pass from Charlie Callaghan, then Canning, off a rebound by Dominik Godin, scored 9 seconds apart early in the second period.  

Canning picked up the hattrick two minutes later, potting a faceoff win by Godin.  

He added his fourth of the night late in the period, with a nifty move after helpers from Drew Maddigan and Mercer.  

Pugliese, snapping in a breakaway chance while shorthanded, rookie Logan O'Neil, one-timing a pass from Callaghan, and Pugliese again, with a backhand through traffic, rounded out the scoring for X in the third.  

Grady Logue added a late one for the Tigers, to make it 9-3. 

The X-Men outshot the Tigers by a lopsided 57-25 as Dalhousie was playing with a depleted bench.

STFX are on the road Saturday, October 25, when they visit Moncton at 7 p.m.   

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper