(FREDERICTON, NB) Stephen Anderson wasn't about to let opportunity pass. Neither was Alex Dubeau.
Having missed 14 games, recovering from injury, a healthy Anderson stepped into a starring role, Wednesday night.
He scored once and added an assist, earning first star honours in the Varsity Reds 4-0 win over the St. Thomas Tommies.
"It was nice to get a few points out there," said Anderson. But the first year forward was quick to add, he was just doing his job. "It doesn't really matter who is getting the points, as long as the main goal is to keep winning and keep this streak alive."
The win was the 13th in a row for UNB.
The Varsity Reds haven't lost an AUS game since November 25th.
Anderson was sidelined through much of the early part of the season.
Since his return, in mid-November, he's seen an increase in playing time.
"He's playing some key minutes for us," says Varsity Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "He earns each shift with his effort and tenacity."
Dubeau stopped all 26 shots he faced, for his third shut-out of the season.
"It's just circumstances. The team's playing well. I think I'm playing well, too," said Dubeau, who was only tested a few times.
The Tommies came close on a couple of occasions, hitting the post on at least two scoring chances.
"I said thank you to my posts a couple of times," admits Dubeau. "Goalies, sometimes we're a little crazy, in our own way… just enough to play."
The Varsity Reds opened the scoring, on just their second shot on goal.
Philippe Halley took a feed in the slot from Francis Beauvillier and beat STU netminder Tyson Teichmann on his blocker side.
Halley's goal was the only one of the first period.
In the second, Anderson and Tyler Carroll extended UNB's lead to 3-0.
Beauvillier made it 4-0, at 8:08 of the third period.
He danced out of the corner and moved through the slot untouched, sliding the puck easily behind Teichmann.
Taylor MacDougall had a multi-point game for the VReds, recording two assists.
With five regulars out, for various reasons, Coach MacDougall had holes to fill.
Defenceman Marcus McIvor made his return to the UNB line-up, after a three-and-a-half month absence.
"It felt good, long overdue. It was nice to get back out there with the guys," said McIvor.
He suffered an ankle injury on October 21st, in UNB's last visit to St. Thomas, and hadn't played since.
"A couple of guys said that before the game, but I tried to pay no attention to that. I just tried to be focused on my game and going in and being ready."
Happy with his return, McIvor was also happy with the shut-out.
"I think, definitely, going into the playoffs, even though we've clinched, you want to go in doing all the right things and to get a shut-out here tonight, it's definitely a positive thing heading into the playoffs."
The Varsity Reds wrap up the AUS regular season on Friday. They'll be in Charlottetown, to face the UPEI Panthers. Game time is 7:00PM.
Having clinched a first round playoff bye, UNB won't know its next opponent for a week or more.
The earliest the Varsity Reds' second round playoff series could start is February 25th.