The AUS top-ranked and CIS number two UNB Varsity Reds men's hockey team bested the StFX X-Men 3-0 in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at the Aitken University Centre.
The game got off to a sluggish start as both the Varsity Reds and the X-Men seemed to be testing the ice. But after the first five or so minutes, play took off and from that point on the action was fast and furious.
The first period ended scoreless, but it didn't take long for that to change as the second period got underway. UNB's Dana Fraser managed to get one past StFX goalie Drew Osley just under three minutes into the second. It's Fraser fourth game and fourth goal since donning the V-Reds' jersey earlier this month. The assists went to Philippe Halley and Philippe Maillet.
UNB would keep the momentum on their side and score again just over six minutes into the second. Halley had the goal that time, snapping it in from the right side off a neat little pass from Maillet and Adrian Robertson.
StFX called a timeout not long after and managed a reset that would keep the game at 2-0 until the end of that period.
The Varsity Reds would increase their lead yet again in the third. Cam Braes took the puck from back behind the net and popped it in with a backhand. The assists went to Maillet and Alex Wall.
The X-Men spent the rest of the third determined to get one back, and they nearly did with an excellent scoring opportunity with around three minutes left in the period. A flurry of shots had UNB goalie David Schantz down without his stick and diving onto his back, but he would remain perfect and get the shutout as UNB took the game with a score of 3-0.
The Varsity Reds, who recently secured a berth in the AUS championship, now move to a record of 16-2-2 on the season. The X-Men move to a record of 12-7-1.
UNB plays next on Saturday, January 17, when they host Saint Mary's at 7pm.
StFX will travel to Moncton where they will play les Aigles Bleus at the same time.