Four PPGs Pace VReds

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Varsity Reds scored four power-play goals in a 5-2 win over the visiting Acadia Axemen, in the 25^th edition of UNB's Mark Jeffrey Memorial Game.

Philippe Maillet(Terrebonne, QC) scored twice and assisted on two other goals to lead UNB.

In a pre-game ceremony, Maillet was named the recipient of the annual Mark Jeffrey Scholarship.

Jordan Murray(Riverview, NB) also had a four-point night for the Varsity Reds, recording four assists.

"They're a tough team to play against," said Murray, of the Axemen. "They have big "D", they play physical, they want to take our skill away, make us take stupid penalties, but we came out on top tonight."

Matt Murphy(Fredericton, NB), Rob Mignardi(Richmond Hill, ON), and Chris Clapperton(Cap Espoir, QC) also scored for the home team.

Geoff Schemitsch(Thornhill, ON) scored both goals for the Axemen.

Acadia opened the scoring at 2:09 of the first period, when Schemitsch beat Alex Dubeau(Mascouche, QC).

Murphy evened the score, with his first goal of the season and first as a Varsity Red, at 10:05.

Schemitsch struck again in the second, as Acadia took its second lead of the night, but it was short-lived.

Mignardi pulled UNB even a little more than a minute later, the first of UNB's four goals with the man advantage.

Maillet's first of the evening came three minutes later, and the Varsity Reds never looked back.

Maillet scored his second of the game just 48 seconds into the third period, and Clapperton's goal rounded out the scoring.

Dubeau stopped 17 of the 19 shots he faced, earning his second win in as many nights.

Devin Williams(Saginaw, MICH) gave up 5 goals on 33 UNB shots.

It was an intense game, with both team combining for 147 minutes in penalties.

"The intensity is high in this league and teams have to keep their penalties down, and that's up to us as coaches to do that," said Acadia head coach Darren Burns.

"I thought we had a lot of guys dig deep. I didn't think we had a lot in the tank. I thought we worked hard for two, and fatigue set in a little bit, and obviously, these guys can fire it around and they scored some nice goals," he said.

Maillet earned Subway Player of the Game honours for the second night in a row.

"This year he has a renewed focus," said Varsity Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "He's a tremendous leader for us, on and off the ice. Obviously, his performance speaks for itself. He's finding ways to be at a high level more consistently."

"He can put the puck wherever he wants," said Murray, of Maillet, his power-play linemate. "On his second goal, he put it short-side… the power-play makes this team go."

Playing rare back-to-back games, Dubeau picked up his fifth win of the season.

"I'm the kind of guy that likes challenges, so I was really ready," said Dubeau. "Big games, like this, I like to show up, I like to show everyone that I can be the guy. The guys played awesome this weekend, and it's good to win against a good rival."

The Axemen finish the first half of the season with an 11-6-1 record, good for second place in the Atlantic University Sport standings.

The Varsity Reds sit atop the league with a 14-2-2 record.

Both teams resume regular season play in January.