(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Varsity Reds scored early and often… and late and often.
The VReds scored five times in the first period, on their way to an 11-2 win over the visiting St. Thomas University Tommies.
The newly assembled line of Matt Boudens, Phil Halley and Philippe Maillet needed little time to find their chemistry. All three players recorded a goal and two assists in the first period.
The Tommies ate into the UNB lead, scoring a pair of goals in the second period. Bryce Milson and Matt MacLeod brought the visitors to within three, before UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall called a time-out.
Less than a minute later, Cameron Brace scored UNB's sixth goal of the game and the Varsity Reds never looked back.
"They came out and scored two, so it just shows you, you can't let your foot off the pedal. You have to play 60 minutes," said Boudens.
Rob Mignardi scored a pair as ten different Reds beat Tommies' netminder Tyson Teichmann.
Cameron Brace had a goal and two assists. Cam Critchlow scored once and assisted on another, as did Chris Caissy and Francis Beauvillier. Matt Petgrave had three assists. Randy Gazzola had two.
Etienne Marcoux stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced.
Boudens says UNB's depth was a big factor in the win. "Lines one to four, we can all score and we do pride ourselves in that, every line can produce."
Outside the visitor's dressing room, STU coach Kyle McAllister addressed the obvious. "It's never fun to lose, especially when you lose by that amount."
McAllister says his team needs to let the loss sink in. "That's a good team and we give them a lot of respect, but they score goals and we just didn't do enough to be in that hockey game."
The Varsity Reds return to action on Friday. They host the Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleus. Game time is 7PM.
PHOTO CREDIT – BRIAN SMITH