UNB edges X in AUS hockey
by Gail MacDougall gailmacdougall@thecasket.ca
St. F.X. forward Brett Morrison is hooked in front by his UPEI adversary in AUS hockey action Saturday night. The X-Men dropped a 4-2 decision to the Charlottetown-based team. (Gail MacDougall photo)
The St. F.X. men’s hockey team dropped to fifth place in the Atlantic University Sport standings after losses last weekend to the league-leading University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds and the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers. The 26-0 Reds skated to a 5-3 win over the X-Men Friday night in Antigonish. Bryce Swan, on a set-up by Phil Mangan, gave the X-Men a 1-0 lead after the opening period. Brett Morrison scored a shorthanded goal at 5:37 of the middle frame to extend the St. F.X. lead. “We got off to a great start against them and that certainly hasn’t happen to UNB much this year,” X coach Brad Peddle said. “We got a lead on them both times we played them this year. That’s great for our confidence but at the same time we knew they weren’t going to lie down and pack it in.” UNB hit the scoreboard less than three minutes later when former Cape Breton Screaming Eagle Chris Culligan scored a powerplay goal from Hunter Tremblay and John Scott Dickson. With 15 seconds left in the period the Varsity Reds struck again this time Tremblay the marksman with an even-strength goal. Dion Campbell gave UNB a 3-2 lead in the early minutes of the third period and Tremblay fired a shorthanded goal at 10:02 which proved to be the game-winner. Brett Robertson replied for X at 13:10, the goal a shorthanded effort, and Kyle Bailey, UNB, concluded the scoring in the game with his empty-net marker at the 18:34 mark. “They capitalized on a couple of special teams situations,” Peddle commented. “They scored on a powerplay and built off that. They also scored a short-handed goal that seemed to set us back. UNB wins a lot of games in the third period because with their depth they wear teams down.” The X-Men cut the deficit to 4-3 and had a golden opportunity to tie the game when a Bryce Swan shot went off the cross bar with four minutes remaining. “An inch lower and we’re in a 4-4 game with the number one team in the country,” Peddle said. “We pressed for the equalizer but they scored an empty-netter.” Peddle said overall he was pleased with the performance of his team. “The effort was certainly there and it was an entertaining game,” he said. “I think it was one of the better games in Antigonish this year. We’re certainly disappointed to come out on the short end of the stick, especially after leading 2-0.” The Varsity Reds out-shot the X-Men 37-20 in the game. Bryan Gillis handled the goaltending chores for X. “Bryan did another outstanding job for us in nets,” the X coach commented. Tremblay, Bailey and Swan were the three stars of the contest. Saturday night the X-Men hosted the Panthers and came out on the short end of a 4-2 score. “The loss dropped the X-Men to fifth place in the conference. “After playing a team like UNB the night before it’s tough getting right back up and playing again the next day,” Peddle said. “Give UPEI credit. They’re hot and are playing with some confidence. The came with some jump and generated some momentum.” Cory Vitarelli gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead at the 4:05 mark of the first period, while Chad Locke beat Gillis with a screened shot from the high slot at 11:42. Robertson put the X-Men on the scoreboard at the 7:26 mark of the second period and Ryan Desrosiers deadlocked the game at two with an even-strength goal at 11:26. “I think after the first period we showed the desire and urgency that was needed and I felt we carried the play for the better part of the game,” the X coach said. “It was a case of too little too late.” The tie was short-lived however, with Vitarelli netting the game-winner 55 seconds later. The P.E.I. player earned a hat-trick with a powerplay goal midway through the final frame. Peddle said the X-Men had quality chances to gain the lead but he noted the inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities has been a storyline for X this year. “We kept pressing in the third period but UPEI capitalized on that one opportunity they had,” Peddle said. “We missed some point blank chances.” Kevin Undershute assisted on both St. F.X. goals, with the X-Men out-shooting their opponents 35-30 in the game. The X-Men are on the road Friday night journeying to Fredericton to take on the Varsity Reds and Saturday will be in Charlottetown for a rematch with the Panthers. “It’s going to take a lot of the same effort to reverse the outcomes,” Peddle said. “The effort has been there – the guys are going hard but we need our offense to kick in. For the first half of the year we were one of the highest scoring offenses in the league but now it’s drying up a bit. When that happens, you really have to take pride in your defense and that’s something that we’ve been stressing. Offense is like the weather, it comes and goes, but you defensive game has to be your foundation.” Peddle said the X-Men still have a chance for home ice in the first round of the playoffs but his club is concentrating more on putting forth a solid effort each night out. “We want to have some consistency and momentum heading into the playoffs,” he commented. “Everyone knows in this league it’s a matter of getting to the playoffs. Basically you have to win a game in the other team’s rink anyway. We would love to start at home but if we have to start on the road we’ll deal with it”
>> Return to articles main
Read comments
Leave comment
Share on Facebook
Printable Version
Larger text
