FREDERICTON The most anticipated game of the season was worth
waiting for, as the UNB Varsity Reds men's hockey team defeated the
StFX X-Men 6-2 in a game that all had the intensity of a playoff
match, and perhaps more. Led by a natural hat trick from Chris
Culligan, and encouraged on by 2813 fans at the Aitken University
Centre, the V-Reds overcame an early deficit to take the first step in
redemption for last season's playoff elimination by the X-Men.
StFX of course was the only team to defeat UNB last season, halting
the V-Reds winning streak at 26 games. A few weeks later they then
went on to upset UNB in the second round of the AUS playoffs, in three
straight 3-2 victories. The X-Men started this season with four wins,
which only heightened the anticipation for their first visit to
Fredericton. That anticipation probably turned to worry soon after the
drop of the puck, as the X-Men took it to UNB early on, helped by the
fact that Hunter Tremblay (Timmins, ON) was called for elbowing just
23 seconds into the game. The X-Men were first on the scoreboard, at
4:01, when Matthew Bragg (Newmans Cove, NL) scored off a rebound on
the rush as he beat Travis Fullerton (Riverview, NB). X was
outshooting UNB 7-4 at that time.
The momentum didn't shift the V-Reds' way until they started killing
off a slashing penalty to Spencer Corcoran (Summerside, PEI) at 10:37,
after Corcorcan responded to being checked into the X-Men bench. Less
than a minute later UNB captain Kyle Bailey (Ponoka, AB) and rookie
Nick MacNeil (Creignish, NS) roared up ice on a shorthanded two-on-one
rush. In the X zone the desperate X-Man defender slid full body across
the ice to take Bailey down, but not before he got the puck across to
MacNeil who tipped the puck past Joey Perricone (San Juan Capistrano,
CA) to tie the game and bring the relieved fans to their feet. UNB
still had to kill off the penalty, and almost got another shorthanded
goal just before the penalty expired, when Perricone made a right pad
save on Tremblay off a breakaway. Seconds later Chris Culligan (Howie
Center, NS) and defenceman Bretton Stamler (Edmonton, AB) collaborated
on a goal to put UNB in the lead, with the puck apparently going off
the goalie's stick or skate just before it got to Stamler at the open
side of the net. The physical intensity escalated at the game played
on, and at the end of the period there was all sorts of chirping and a
bit of a scrum as the teams left their benches, highlighted by X's
Bryce Swan (Alder Point, NS) coming back across the ice to "chat" with
some of the UNB players heading off. Referee Thayer Doyle then
assessed StFX a bench minor for leaving the bench early. Shots in the
first period were 14-13 in favour of UNB.
So the second period started with a fresh sheet of ice and UNB on the
power play. It only took the V-Reds 34 seconds to take advantage of
the opportunity of the man advantage, when defenceman Ben Wright
(Foremost, AB) hammered a point shot off the rear boards so that it
would rebound into the dog pile in front of the StFX net, and Culligan
got a couple of whacks at the puck before getting it past Perricone.
For X-Men coach Brad Peddle, this was the turning point in the game,
as it put UNB up 3-1 "and we found it tough to respond after that
goal. We had to start taking risks, and got burned." It was 13:01 when
Culligan completed his natural hat trick, as he tipped in Jonathan
Harty (Oromocto, NB)'s point shot. Soon after UNB was on the power
play, and Bailey in front of the X-Men net sustained a tremendous
battering from behind by defenceman Nick Pageau (Stoney Creek, ON)
before Pageau was finally called for roughing. Although the V-Reds
didn't score on their 38 second five-on-three advantage, it was Bailey
who turned on a loose puck in front of the net for the power play goal
at 15:27. Just over a minute later, and after the whistle and blown
play dead, UNB's Josh Hepditch (Fredericton, NB) was knocked down at
centre ice by Derek Claffey (Red Deer, AB) and that precipitated
another scrum. X's Stephen Simms (Reidville, NF) and UNB's Harty got
roughing minors, and both Claffey and Harty were given addition
10-minute misconducts. Since it was Harty's second misconduct of the
game, he was automatically given a game misconduct. The V-Reds had
already lost defenceman Luke Gallant (Bedford, NS) on his first shift
of the game when he went down blocking a shot, so UNB would finish the
remainder of the game with four d-men. While there were no more
penalties called in the period, both teams came close as the tension
built. UNB outshot X 15-6 in the middle period.
During the intermission both coaches must have told their respective
teams to dial back the animosity, as play that looked to be getting
out of hand was certainly calmer in the third period. UNB dominated
the start of the period, and StFX never got out of their zone before
Luke Lynes (Rochester Hills, MI) on the cycle snapped in a rebound at
2:20 to make it 6-1 for the home team. StFX had two power play
opportunities midway through the period, but didn't score again until
their man advantage for the final two minutes of the game, when rookie
Scott Brannon (Stellarton, NS) scored at 18:49. Despite their power
plays, StFX was still outshot by UNB 15-11 in the period, and 44-30 in
the game.
For captain Kyle Bailey, "while we didn't get off to out expected
start," he thought UNB's work ethic came through, and the turning
point was MacNeil's shorthanded goal. Bailey stated that he loves
these emotional games against tough opponents, and wished "every
weekend could be like this". Well he's going to get his wish, as
Friday UNB will be in Antigonish to play StFX again, and then Saturday
night they will be in Halifax to renew acquaintances with Saint Mary's.
Game Notes: UNB was 2-for-4 on the power play while StFX was 1-for-7
with the man advantage. The three stars of the game were: 1. Chris
Culligan 2. Kyle Bailey 3. Ben Wright. Bailey led all centres going
15-5 on the face-off dot while X's Phil Mangan was next best at 12-6.
While UNB defenceman Ben Wright returned to the lineup, fellow d-man
Ben Shutron (Orleans, ON) is still out long-term, along with forwards
Daine Todd (Stettler, AB) and Taylor Procyshen (Emerald Park, SK).
Dion Campbell (Melville, SK), off to a terrific start this season,
missed both weekend games with an illness, and will see a doctor
Monday. StFX centre Brett Robertson has not played this season, and is
not expected back with a long term injury. The Varsity Reds sported a
new patch on the right sleeve of their jerseys this weekend - it says
simply "Ted" in honour of the late Ted Bedard, a WWII veteran, star
player for UNB from 1946-51, and longtime active supporter of the
hockey program who recently passed away. Saturday's 6-2 win is UNB's
seventh in a row, and keeps them in first place in the standings, four
points ahead of UPEI.