(CHARLOTTETOWN, PE) Mark Rassell (Calgary, AB) scored three times and added an assist as the UNB Reds beat the UPEI Panthers 9-4, in Charlottetown, on Friday.
Rassell scored once in each period, including the game-winning goal, and was named the Subway Player of the Game.
The Panthers opened the scoring at 7:13 of the first period when Gabe Guertler (Plantation, FLA.) beat Reds netminder Alex Dubeau (Mascouche, QC).
The Reds, coming off Wednesday's 10-0 win over Moncton, then scored the next five goals.
Tyler Boland (St. John's, NL) tied the game 1-1 before Rassell's first, with less than a minute to play in the opening period, gave UNB a 2-1 lead.
The Reds added four more in the second period, with Chris Clapperton (Cap d'Espoir, QC), Alex Goulet (Disraeli, QC), Rassell and Boland beating Panthers goalie Matt Mancina (Windsor, ON).
Brent Andrews (Hunter River, PE) and Luke Kirwan (DeWitt, NY) scored for the home team.
Stephen Anderson (Morell, PE) and James McEwan (Chatham, ON) scored for UNB in the third period, and Rassell completed his hat-trick.
Kirwan scored his second of the game for UPEI, the goal coming with less than two minutes to play.
Randy Gazzola (Thorold, ON) recorded three assists in the Reds win.
His assist on Boland's first period goal was the 100th regular season point of his Atlantic University Sport career.
Matt Boudens (Pembroke, ON) had two assists.
Dubeau earned the win in the Reds net, stopping 35 of 39 shots.
UNB peppered Mancina with 41 shots.
UNB continues to hold first place in the AUS standings, with a record of 20-1-3.
The Reds are off until Friday, when visit Dalhousie.
The Panthers, fifth in the AUS, are 11-9-2. They visit Moncton on Saturday for a scheduled 7:00pm start.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: UPEI Athletics