How does that old chestnut go? "What a difference a week makes!" That could be the new motto for the streaky UNB Varsity Reds who saw their five-game winning streak stopped last weekend, and are now the not-so-proud owners of a three-game losing steak. Things didn't go much better for their cross-campus rivals, the STU Tommies, who dropped both of their home games this weekend in Fredericton.
To start off on Friday, STU was hosting the Dalhousie Tigers at the LBR. After chasing starting Dal goalie Pat Berrigan with two goals on nine shots before the seven minute mark, things were looking up for the Tommies. Except that Francois Perras came in and shut the door, stopping all 42 shots STU fired at him for the rest of the game. This gave the Tigers some breathing room, and they replied with one goal later in the first period and another early in the second period for the tie. Then at the three minute mark of the final frame, Ross McCain was sprung on a breakaway and notched the go ahead goal and eventual winner. McCain always seems to play his best hockey in Fredericton where he played his midget hockey. Many friends and family made the almost two hour trip from his home village of Florenceville to watch him score his first of the season.
On Saturday the St.F.X X-Men visited the LBR. X scored two goals in the first period, and unlike the week before, held onto the lead for the win. The STU attack was relentless with 44 shots on net, but Mike Mole stood his ground and earned his first shut-out of the season in the 2-0 win. Interestingly enough, the Moncton native played a lot of his minor hockey in Fredericton. I guess hometown luck was only working for the visitors on the weekend.
Things weren't going any better for the V-Reds on the road. Friday in Wolfville, UNB and Acadia traded goals in the first period, but then the wheels fell off for UNB in the next period. The Axemen exploded for four goals in just over six minutes of the second period, eventually chasing to the bench the up-to-then league's best goalie Reg Bourcier. Gene Chiarello then came in to try to salvage the night for the V-Reds. In the third period Kevin Baker scored his third goal for the first hat-trick in the Atlantic conference this season. His linemates Robbie Sutherland and Brandon Benedict each had three assists on the night. UNB scored a late goal to make it a 6-2 final win for Acadia.
On Saturday UNB was in Halifax to play the SMU Huskies, who were coming off a 3-2 win the night before against the visiting UPEI Panthers. The bad news was that goalie Reg Bourcier had another rough night as SMU scored two goals on nine shots in the first period, and one goal on six shots in the second. SMU scored a power play goal early in the third to go up four-zip before UNB finally responded with their own power play goal at the 5:30 mark. Seconds later SMU scored again, then UNB got two, and then SMU finished the night with two more. A big 7-3 win for SMU, and more importantly, they moved ahead of UNB for first place by a slim one point margin. What has happened to UNB's team defence, who used to have the best goals against in the conference but have now given up 16 goals in their last three games?
In other games on the weekend, it was a good home stand for the U de M Aigles Bleus. On Friday they took an early lead against the visiting X-Men and held on for the 5-3 win. The next night U de M was cruising to a 4-0 win over the Dal Tigers before New Brunswicker Dominic Noel foiled Jonathan Pelletier's shutout bid with a goal on the power play with just over a minute to go in the game. Moncton still got the 4-1 win and four points for the weekend. In the last game of the weekend the visiting UPEI Panthers scored two goals in the third period to break their tie against Acadia and earn the 6-4 win.
So after all of the ice chips had settled, Saint Mary's is now the AUHC leader with 13 points in 10 game