(FREDERICTON, NB) A four-goal second period helped lift the UNB REDS past the Acadia Axemen, 6-3 on Friday night at UNB's Aitken Centre.
Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) had two goals and an assist and was named Tim Horton's Player of the Game as UNB moved to 7-and-0 to start the season.
Friday night's win didn't come without some adversity for the REDS, who fell behind 3-1 in the first period.
"It was a new challenge for us coming out of that first period," said MacKay. "It was definitely not our best or even close to it."
The Axemen burst out of the gates, notching their first goal just 4:39 into the game.
Reilly Webb (Stoney Creek, ON) fired a shot that took an unusual bounce off the post and deflected off UNB's Patrick Kyte's (Pembroke, ON) stick, he was attempting to clear the puck from the crease, giving Acadia a 1-0 lead.
Five minutes later, Acadia extended their lead on a power-play opportunity, thanks to Bailey Peach (Falmouth, NS). He took an excellent pass from Brady Burns (Port Williams, NS) and fired it over Samuel Richard's (Ste. Catherine, QC) glove.
UNB managed to respond at 15:24 of the first, when Kade Landry's (Gowanstown, ON) shot found its way through a screened Thomas Couture (Lévis, QC), closing the gap to 2-1.
However, Acadia quickly re-established their two-goal lead when Peyton Hoyt (Fredericton, NB) snapped a shot past Richard from the slot, making it 3-1, capping off a first period filled with scoring opportunities.
The REDS launched an impressive offensive surge in the second period, finding the back of the net four times to seize a 5-3 lead.
"We just wanted to get back to our game," said MacKay "I think as a group knew we had to take a big step forward going into the second."
It started when Michael Petizian (Mississauga, ON) pounced on a loose puck right in front of the net, igniting the UNB offense 5:55 into the period.
Five minutes later, Adam McCormick (Waterville, NB) leveled the game, firing a point shot past Couture, knotting the score at 3-3.
Isaac Nurse (Hamilton, ON) then propelled the REDS ahead at 13:34, going top shelf to secure UNB's first lead of the game.
MacKay added an insurance goal for the REDS in the closing moments, tipping home a blistering shot from the point by Kale McCallum (Rothesay, NB) on the power-play, extending the score to 5-3 with 15 seconds remaining in the period.
"Kale [McCallum] made a great play," said MacKay. "I just went to my spot right in front of the net where I like to play and was lucky enough to get a stick on it to beat the goalie."
MacKay added an empty net goal at 18:14 of the third period to cement the victory for UNB.
Looking ahead, both teams are back in action on Saturday night. The REDS will host the Saint Mary's Huskies at 7:00 pm. The Axemen travel to Moncton to face the Aigles Bleus at 7:00 pm.
Recap by: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics
Photos by: Kunal Mahajan/for UNB Athletics