Fullerton ready for Jeffrey game
AUS hockey | UNB can end STU's slim playoff hopes
Heading into tonight's Mark Jeffrey Memorial game at the Aitken University Centre, not much has changed for Fredericton's Atlantic University Sport men's hockey teams.
The University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds are in familiar territory at the top of the AUS standings, while, across campus, the St. Thomas Tommies are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.
The Reds have defeated STU three times in three tries in the 2011-12 season, narrowly trumping the Tommies twice by a goal, and winning the last contest 5-1.
But the stakes in tonight's 7 p.m. matchup are much different.
A UNB win puts the V-Reds two points away from securing first place and home-ice advantage in the postseason.
A St. Thomas win keeps the lastplace Tommies' playoff dreams alive, as they chase St. FX and Dalhousie for the sixth spot in the AUS standings.
A loss for the Tommies means they're playing their final two regular season games for pride.
Despite the fact UNB is hosting nationals and will be there when the puck drops for the Cavendish Cup in March, the importance of tonight's game is not lost on goaltender Travis Fullerton.
'It's one of the biggest games we have all year,' the fourth-year netminder said. 'Since I've been here, there has been a lot of emphasis on the last game against STU, the Mark Jeffrey game, and we need to win two of three to clinch first place. If we can play well (tonight and get a win) it would be it a lot easier on the weekend.' Fullerton, who's backstopped the Reds to two national championships, remembers last season when UNB used home-ice advantage to down X in Game 5 of the league championship series to take the AUS banner.
'It's a really important title to win,' he said. 'It's one of my best memories I have from my time here.' The Tommies will have to find a way to get some rubber on Fullerton, who's won four straight since returning to the lineup after suffering a knee ligament injury Dec. 30.
The Tommies have mustered just 57 shots in three outings against the V-Reds, while allowing 157.
On one hand, Fullerton is grateful for a blueline that's able to keep opposing offences at bay, allowing V-Reds goaltenders to make a leaguelow 19.2 saves per game.
'It's tough some nights, but I'm almost used to it by now,' Fullerton, who feels 100 per cent since recovering from his knee ailment. 'I've been here four years, and we've had outstanding defence every year.' On the other hand, he tends to get a bit antsy when the play is going the other way the whole time, while the team in front of him fires a leaguehigh 35.4 shots per game at opposing goalies.
'Watching a guy like (STU's Charles) Lavigne or someone stand on their head, play outstanding, sometime it's frustrating because you feel you should be up to it too.' But on the whole, fewer shots for the opposition usually means more for UNB, said Fullerton, and that's a positive.
'Our D have played so good the last couple of games, it's leading to better offence because we're spending more time in the other team's zone.' On the other side of the puck is a team in desperation mode.
The Tommies pulled off a decisive 6-3 victory over the sixth-place X-Men Saturday, a night after taking an 8-2 beating at the hands of the Saint Mary's Huskies.
Against X, it was a must-win situation, as it remains the rest of the way.
If the Tommies hope to squeak into the playoffs, they'll need to win their last three games. They'll also need St. FX (18 points) and Dal (17 points) to split their two head-to-games and lose their other remaining game: St. FX hosts SMU on Friday and Dal plays at Acadia.
'Obviously, people have the mentality that we might not be able to do it,' said STU rookie forward Steven Sanza, who has 12 goals and five assists this season. 'But the way we've been playing lately, it's a possibility. I haven't seen a game that we've been totally out of it (against UNB). Two of three were by one goal.' Tickets for tonight's game are $5 across the board.
In the latest CIS top 10 rankings, the Western Mustangs traded places with the McGill Redmen. Western received six first-place votes and 152 points to move from third to first. UNB, with four first-place votes, accumulated 143 points to edge McGill by one. The third-ranked Redmen got six first-place votes while the fourth-ranked Manitoba Bisons received the other.
Rounding out the top 10 are Alberta in fifth, followed by Saint Mary's, Universite de Moncton, UPEI, Saskatchewan and UQTR.