(FREDERICTON, N.B.) The UNB Varsity Reds men's hockey team bested the McGill Redmen 6-3 on home ice tonight in pre-season action.
It was a heated match up for two top-level teams in the CIS. UNB and McGill finished the 2014-15 regular season ranked second and seventh in the country, respectively.
The Varsity Reds opened up the scoring early with a short-handed goal at 3:13. Rob Mignardi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) found the net on a sweet feed off the rush from Dylan Willick (Kamloops, B.C).
The Varsity Reds would score again around ten minutes later, this time on the power play. Peter Trainor (Fredericton, N.B.) had the goal with the assist from Jordan Murray (Riverview, N.B.) and Philippe Maillet (Terrebonne, Que.).
McGill took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play at around the fifteen minute mark to bring the score within one. Samuel Labrecque (Granby, Que.) bested UNB's Etienne Marcoux (Terrebonne, Que.). Assists went to Jonathan Bonneau (Sherbrooke, Que.) and Dominic Talbot-Tassi (Mascouche, Que.).
The second period started off slow but would end in a flurry of goals. The first two came in quick succession for UNB, with Philippe Halley (Quebec City, Que.) making it three for the V-Reds off an assist from Maillet and Colin Suellentrop (Plantation, Fla.) at around 11:30.
Just over a minute later, Chris Caissy (Campbellton, N.B.) bested Karel St. Laurent (Ste. Catherine, Que.) to make it 4-1 UNB. Assists went to Mignardi and Suellentrop.
Daniel Milne (Unionville, Ont.) brought it back to within two around fifteen minutes in with an assist from Frederic Gamelin (St. Polycarpe, Que.).UNB's Alex Wall (Mt. Pearl, Nfld.) would round out the flurry of scoring, making it 5-2 UNB. Randy Gazzola (Thorold, Ont.) and Taylor MacDougall (New Maryland, N.B.) had the assist as the second period drew to a close.
McGill's Mathieu Pompei (Laval, Que.) put one over the shoulder of UNB goalie Alex Dubeau (Mascouche, Que.) early in the third to bring the score to 5-3. Assists went to Alex Chevenert (Montreal, Que.) and Milne.
But UNB would seal the deal with just over ten seconds in the third. MacDougall had the goal from Gazzola and Stephen Anderson (Morell, PEI), and the game would end with UNB ahead 6-3.The Varsity Reds play next when they host hometown rivals St. Thomas on Monday, September 21.
The Redmen head to Halifax to play Saint Mary's on Saturday, September 19.
Photo courtesy of Brian Smith