(HALIFAX, NS) The UNB REDS and Saint Mary's Huskies will need a third game to decide the Subway Atlantic University Sport men's hockey championship.
The Huskies scored 20 seconds into double-overtime on Tuesday to beat the REDS 6-5 in game two.
Dawson Theede (Brooklin, ON) scored the winning goal and was named Subway Player of the Game.
"This time of year, nothing is going to be easy," said REDS captain Jason Willms (Kitchener, ON). "We're excited for the challenge ahead to respond at home on Thursday."
It was Theede who started the scoring too, with his team on the power-play, at 9:23 of the first period.
At 17:45, with UNB on the man advantage, the REDS drew even when Willms shovelled the puck underneath Huskies' netminder Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, ON). Officials didn't immediately signal a goal on the play but did after a short consultation.
In the second period, the teams combined for six goals, including four in a span of 71 seconds.
Bradey Johnson (Lindsay, ON) gave Saint Mary's a 2-1 lead before Austen Keating (Guelph, ON) tied it 2-2.
At 15:39, Michael Petizian (Mississauga, ON) one-timed a wrist shot past Helvig to give UNB its first lead of the game.
Twelve seconds later, Dennis Busby (Oro Medonte, ON) tied it 3-3.
Willms scored his second of the game 31 seconds after Busby's goal, and Cedric Ralph (Peterborough, ON) countered for Saint Mary's 28 seconds after Willms' goal.
"Tremendous entertainment for the hockey fans and a valiant effort by our group and several outstanding performances," said REDS' head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "All season, we've had outstanding team defence and a superb ability to protect and extend leads, but tonight we didn't manage that part of our game as we've done all season."
The REDS carried more than three minutes of a five-minute power-play into the final period but couldn't convert.
A short time after the Huskies' major expired, Petizian fed Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, ON), who fired a wrist shot past Helvig to give UNB a 5-4 lead.
That lead, like others, was short-lived, as SMU's Jaxon Bellamy (Hampton, NB) tied it about five minutes later.
Regulation time ended with the teams tied 5-5 and the first overtime period solved nothing, setting the table for Theede's winner early in the second overtime period.
"It's a big win for our team," said Theede. "But it means nothing if we don't take care of business on Thursday."
The REDS will host the Huskies for the deciding game of the series on Thursday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00pm.
"We have a tremendous opportunity to continue this series and get a second chance on home ice," said Coach MacDougall. "You work hard all year to get this benefit and we'll be excited for the tremendous fan support that we've received all season."
Willms says the winning formula for the REDS on Thursday is simple.
"Win our battles, win our races, and compete for a full 60 minutes."
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Mona Ghiz/for SMU Athletics