REDS Unleash Third Period Thunder

(FREDERICTON, NB) In a renewal of one of Atlantic University Sports' intensifying rivalries, the UNB REDS scored three times in a five-minute span of the third period as they beat the Acadia Axemen 4-1, Wednesday night.

"It feels awesome," said veteran REDS forward James McEwan (Chatham, ON), named Subway Player of the Game. "We haven't really been down before, in this early part of the season, so it was good. A little bit of adversity for us to learn from and have a little bit of a fire under our butts. I thought we did a really good job answering the bell during the third."

The game was played before 1710 fully-vaccinated and masked fans at Fredericton's Aitken Centre.

The visitors were first to get on the scoreboard when Peyton Hoyt (Fredericton, NB) converted a one-timer on a pass from Mason McCarty (Blackie, AB) at 13:35 of the opening period.

The teams played through a scoreless second period, but it wasn't without scoring opportunities.

Just before the eight-minute mark, UNB's Rylan Parenteau (Saskatoon, SK) made a sprawling save on a Jack Flaman (Vibank, SK) shot from point-blank range to hold the Acadia lead to just a goal.

Logan Flodell (Regina, SK) made an equally impressive save at 13:57, with UNB working a power-play. Moments later, he got some help from defenceman Reilly Webb (Stoney Creek, ON), who got a piece of Brady Gilmour's (Grafton, ON) shot that was destined for the back of the net.

The two teams went to the second intermission with Acadia in front 1-0.

Cue the REDS scoring explosion.

UNB finally got to Flodell at 7:08 of the third, when James Phelan (Laval, QC) swept across the front of the net and slid the puck past the Axemen netminder.

Four minutes later, McEwan broke down the left wing, crossed in front of the Acadia net and lifted a back-hand shot over Flodell to give UNB the lead.

Less than a minute after McEwan's goal, Jason Willms (Kitchener, ON) scored his first AUS goal to put UNB up 3-1.

The REDS were then forced to kill a double-minor penalty assessed to McEwan. A deflated Axemen squad could not muster a shot during the power-play.

Nicolas Guay (Chateauguay, QC) added an empty net goal to make the final score 4-1.

"The third period, we pride ourselves in it and we know it's our best period and the guys had the urgency of getting pucks to the net, everybody was going to the net and I think it was about time that somebody would bang one in and James Phelan got us going," said McEwan. "Lucky enough, we had three more to pot and we were so solid in the back end, everybody really contributed."

The REDS outshot the Axemen 44-14, but Acadia controlled the game for the first 40 minutes.

"I thought we played really well in the first and the second," said Hoyt, in his first season with the Axemen. "Then, you know how hockey is, you can get a couple of bounces and it can change just like that, but I thought the team played really well and I think we'll just get better for the next game coming up on Friday."

"It felt great," said REDS defenceman Ross MacDougall (St. Stephen, NB). He spent three seasons with the Axemen, but is now pursuing a Masters degree at UNB. "I thought we played well all game, it was just a matter of time before we beat 'em. Flodell, obviously, had a great game. It was nice to finally break through and get a couple on him."

With the win, the REDS are now 3-and-0. The Axemen fall to 1-and-2.

UNB now awaits a Friday night visit by the Saint Mary's Huskies. Game time is 7:00pm.

The Axemen return home and will host Moncton that same night.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics