Written by Thomas Scott
(Halifax, NS) - The University of New Brunswick Reds defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 8-3 Friday night at the Halifax Forum.
About nine minutes in, there was a scramble for the puck on the Tigers goalline. Alexander MacDonald (Truro, NS) was able to keep it out of his net to keep it a 0-0 game.
9:29 into the first period, UNB's Sean McGurn (Ottawa, ON) snuck the puck behind MacDonald to make it 1-0. UNB would tuck another puck in the back of the net 12:14 into the frame, thanks to a goal from Brady Gilmour (Grafton, ON).
Dal would quickly respond despite the slow start. Alec Belanger (Quebec, PQ) got the Tigers on the board, shooting the puck off the post and in. The Reds led 3-1 after the first period.
2:22 into the second period, Justin Nolet (Mississauga, ON) gave UNB a two-goal advantage. Dal would change its goalie after this goal, bringing Robbie Forbes (Oakville, ON) into the game. MacDonald finished with 12 saves. Forbes would make 13 saves in the second period.
UNB scored soon after. Isaac Nurse (Hamilton, ON) scored a beautiful forehand-backhand goal off a partial breakaway. Cody Morgan (Maple, ON) would score another for UNB just over a minute later to make it 5-1.
Jackson van de Leest (Kelowna, BC) scored a shorthanded goal for the Tigers 6:08 into the second period.
UNB would respond later in the period, making it 6-2 with a goal from Austen Keating (Puslinch, ON) off a tic-tac-toe play with Jason Willms (Kitchener, ON) and Colton Kammerer (Brooklin, ON). The Reds led 6-2 heading into the third period.
2:39 into the third period, the Reds scored on the powerplay. The Reds moved the puck around well as Kale McCallum (Rothesay, NB) scored.
Shortly after, on a breakaway, Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) scored on the forehand, lifting it over Forbes to make it 8-2 on the powerplay. UNB scored three powerplay goals on the night.
Tigers captain Derek Gentille (Sydney, NS) scored on a breakaway to cut the lead to 8-3 in the third period.
UNB had seven skaters score two points in the 8-3 victory. UNB heads to StFX to play the X-Men tomorrow at 7pm. Goaltender Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC) made 13 saves on the night for UNB.
Shaun Miller (Enfield, NS) led the Tigers in scoring with two points. The Tigers host Moncton tomorrow night at the Forum at 7pm.