(MONCTON, N.B.) - Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus were 6-5 overtime winners against the Acadia University Axemen in an Atlantic University Sport men's hockey game played Saturday evening at the J.-Louis-Lévesque Arena, in front of 950 spectators.
Moncton took a 4- 1 lead in the first period that was then transformed to a 5-4 deficit in the third. It set the tone for a tying goal late in the third, enabling Alex Saulnier (from Allain Saulnier and Simon Jodoin) to become a hero with the winner at 1:55 of the overtime.
This was the Aigles' second win in as many evenings and their fifth game in eight days. The Axemen lost both weekend games and fell from first to second in the standings.
"They showed why they are one of the best teams in the league. They sure made it hard for us tonight," said head coach Serge Bourgeois. "They had a number of power-plays that tired us. I am really proud of our players. We could have given them the game, but we came back."
"It is really unbelievable, all the players on the ice gave a push to the net and Simon Jodoin just passed the puck to my brother," added Aigles' hero Alex Saulnier following the game. "I went to the net and my brother gave me an excellent pass right on my stick and I was able to get the puck between the post and the goaltender's pads."
Steve Lebel (Christopher Guay, Rémi Blanchard), Pier-Antoine Dion (Rémi Blanchard, Simon Lacroix), Pierre Durepos (Alex and Alain Saulnier) and Alex Emond (Alex Saulnier, Simon Jodoin), the last three on the power-play, offered a 4-1 lead to the Aigles in the first period, rejoicing the many fans in attendance. Leo Jenner scored a shorthanded goal for the visitors.
Micheal Clarke, on the power-play, and Liam Heelis, brought the Axemen to within one goal in the second. Travis Gibbons and Micheal Clarke, four minutes apart in the first half of the third period, gave the Axemen a 5-4 lead for the first time in the game. The persistence of the Aigles was successful when Rémi Blanchard (Danny Chiasson, Alex Saulnier) took a slap shot from in front of the net to tie the game at 12:07 on the power-play to bring the fans to their feet.
Adrien Lemay had 36 shots in net for Moncton while the duo of Brandon Glover, replaced by Evan Mosher in the first after four goals, had 20 shots, including 13 in the third.
The Aigles Bleus next take to the ice Friday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. when they visit the UPEI Panthers in Charlottetown.
The Axemen will visit the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax that same night for a 7 p.m. game.
Source: Moncton Sports Information