Eight Straight Wins For REDS

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS scored twice in the first period and twice in the second in a 5-1 win over the Acadia Axemen, at UNB's Aitken Centre, on Friday night.

Adam McCormick (Waterville, NB) scored twice and assisted on another goal to lead the REDS. He was named Subway Player of the Game.

"It feels good," said McCormick. "We wanted to establish a good start and that's something we definitely did and we're happy with the outcome, for sure."

Midway through the first period, the Axemen had a golden opportunity to open the scoring.

Cole Nagy (Saskatoon, SK) took a pass alone in front of the UNB net, but couldn't beat Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC).

Moments later, the Axemen took a penalty and the REDS capitalized immediately.

Just three seconds into the powerplay, Austen Keating (Guelph, ON) won a faceoff in the Acadia zone, drew the puck back, moved to the front of the net and tipped McCormick's point shot to give the REDS a 1-0 lead.

20 seconds later, it was McCormick finishing a nice passing play to give UNB a 2-0 lead.

Less than a minute into the second period, Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC) pushed UNB's lead to 3-0.

Isaac Nurse made it 4-0 UNB late in the second, and McCormick scored his second of the game just before the six-minute mark of the third.

"The D-unit was moving the puck well, but also defending," said REDS head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "They had a number of good opportunities and we're getting spread out offence up front, all four lines to contribute. We're in a good stretch here, a lot of games in a short period of time and the guys are finding ways to stay a little bit better each night.

With Acadia working a late 5-on-3 powerplay, Brendan Sellan (Hanover, ON) scored the visitor's only goal, ending Richard's shutout bid with less than a minute to play.

"It was a good night on my part," said McCormick. "The boys, obviously, played really well too. It's tough we couldn't get the shutout for Sammy, but we played well."

"He's a puck-moving defenceman that has developed as a terrific penalty killer and good shot blocker, really good in his own end, and he's getting a chance on the powerplay," said MacDougall, of McCormick. "Like our team, he's getting better incrementally, on a daily basis really."

Friday's 5-1 UNB win on home ice follow's Tuesday's 5-0 win at Acadia.

"That's a tough one," said Axemen forward Peyton Hoyt (Fredericton, NB). "Every time we come here, we try and work our hardest, but we just didn't have it tonight."

The win, UNB's eighth straight, improves their record to 9-2-0-0, while Acadia is now 3-7-1-0.

The Axemen will visit Moncton on Saturday for a 7:00pm start.

Up next for the REDS, a Saturday date with the Saint Mary's Huskies, at the Aitken Centre. Game time is 7:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics