(FREDERICTON, NB) Freshman forward Kris Bennett(Brampton, ON) scored three goals to lead the UNB Varsity Reds over the Dalhousie Tigers 6-0, in Atlantic University Sport pre-season play on Friday night.
"Luckily for me, I had a couple of nice passes on my stick, so it went really well," said Bennett, of his Aitken Centre debut.
Peter Trainor(Fredericton, NB) scored the game's first goal and eventual winner at 11:42 of the first period.
Bennett's first came just 1:16 later, a quick wrist shot as he cruised down the left wing.
The former Saginaw Spirit scored again, just 1:02 into the second, redirecting a nifty pass from fellow newcomer Tyler Boland(St. John's, NL) past Tigers netminder Joe Gladnick(Philadelphia, PA).
He completed the hat-trick at 16:32 of the third period, securing Subway Player of the Game honours.
Happy with his night, Bennett admits he's doing what he can to make the Varsity Reds coaching staff take notice.
"It's just going out and working as hard as you can to show them how much you want to be out there. I think just working is the number one goal, and the goals and the assists will come with that."
"He's been impressive since he got here," says Varsity Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "He's hungry and gets on pucks and follows directions, he's got great work ethic."
Cam Brace(Etobicoke, ON) had a goal and two assists.
Tristan Pomerleau(Riviere-du-Loup, QC) also scored for UNB, and Oliver Cooper(Fredericton, NB) had two assists.
"It was a good education for our guys, to realize the pace that these guys are capable of playing, especially in the first period," said Tigers head coach Chris Donnelly. "We're up here three more times this year, so hopefully it takes a bit of the unknown out of coming up here."
Like the Varsity Reds, Donnelly says Dal is assessing its recruiting class.
"We feel we've brought in some talent through the recruiting process and now we're just trying to evaluate what they can actually bring to the table."
Both teams conclude their pre-season schedule next week.
The Tigers visit Acadia on Tuesday.
The Varsity Reds travel to Boston to face the NCAA's Boston College Eagles, next Saturday.
RECAP AND PHOTOS BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics