Varsity Reds End Regular Season With Win

UNB's Kris Bennett(Brampton, ON) works in proximity to the Dal net during Saturday's regular season finale. Bennett scored twice in the Varsity Reds' 4-1 win. (Kyle Lamkin/for UNB Athletics)
UNB's Kris Bennett(Brampton, ON) works in proximity to the Dal net during Saturday's regular season finale. Bennett scored twice in the Varsity Reds' 4-1 win. (Kyle Lamkin/for UNB Athletics)

(FREDERICTON, NB) Kris Bennett(Brampton, ON) had three points and Cam Brace(Etobicoke, ON) had a goal and an assist as the UNB Varsity Reds beat the Dalhousie Tigers 4-1 in the final game of the regular season.

Varsity Reds captain Dylan Willick(Prince George, BC) played his 138th regular season game, tying him for first all-time, among skaters, in team history.

Chris Caissy(Campbellton, NB) opened the scoring for the Varsity Reds at the mid-way point of the first period. The Varsity Reds out-shot Dalhousie 11-4 in the first 20 minutes.

"We have to remember the type of goals we are capable of scoring. If we are going to start looking for seam passes and pretty, highlight-reel goals then we won't be playing very much longer" said Dalhousie head coach Chris Donnelly.

Brace scored at 9:13 of the second to make it 2-0 for the Varsity Reds. Bennett followed with his second point of night, to increase the lead to three.

Andrew Shewfelt(Dartmouth, NS) responded for Dalhousie 2:08 later.

Bennett sealed the game with an empty net goal late in the third period. The rookie forward finished as the regular season leader in both goals and points for the Varsity Reds, with 18 goals and 38 points in 30 games.

Bennett was also named Subway Player of the Game.

"Obviously I'm a little surprised, but I think I worked for everything I earned," said Bennett when asked to reflect on his first season.

Rylan Parenteau(Saskatoon, SK) made 19 saves for the Varsity Reds while Jacob Fancy(Lower Sackville, NS) stopped 25 shots in a losing effort for Dalhousie.

Alexandre Goulet(Disraeli, QC) had two assists.

Both teams combined to go 0-for-15 on the power-play.

UNB finishes the regular season in first place with a 24-2-4 record and a first round playoff bye. Dalhousie finishes 9-20-1, and will be the 6th seed in the Atlantic University Sport playoffs.

Dalhousie faces the Acadia Axemen in round one.

The Varsity Reds next opponent will be determined in round one.

RECAP BY: Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: Kyle Lamkin/for UNB Athletics