(MONCTON, N.B.) The UNB Reds will defend their Atlantic University Sport men's hockey title.
The Reds earned that right with a 4-1 win over the Moncton Aigles Bleus, on Monday, taking their AUS semi-final series three games to none.
Oliver Cooper's (Fredericton, N.B.) second period goal stood as the winner, and Samuel Harvey (Alma, Que.) made 19 saves in the Reds net.
Stephen Anderson had a goal and an assist, and was named the Subway Player of the Game.
"Coming out in the second and getting that first goal was big, and then in the third getting a grasp on the game, it wasn't our prettiest game, but those games are going to be good for us down the stretch," said Anderson.
Harvey and Moncton's Etienne Montpetit (Valleyfield, Que.) were brilliant in a scoreless first period.
Both teams had a handful of quality scoring chances, and both goaltenders made big saves in the opening period.
3:22 into the second, Anderson set up Tyler Boland (St. John's, N.L.) for the game's first goal.
Moncton responded about ten minutes later. Joey Richard (Dieppe, N.B.) beat Harvey with a hard shot from just inside the blue line.
Cooper's goal came less than two minutes after that, and the Reds took a 2-1 lead to the second intermission.
"I thought our penalty kill was outstanding, early on, tonight," said Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "Team defence was a key, and we found a way to grind and get some goals."
The Reds wasted little time on an early power-play in the third period.
Anderson wired a bullet of a shot past Montpetit just 1:24 in, and the Reds never relinquished control.
"I had a nice screen by one of their players, thankfully, and it found the back of the net," said Anderson.
Tristan Pomerleau, (Riviere-du-Loup, Que.) pinching from the point, re-directed a Matthew Boucher (Los Angeles, California) feed to give UNB a 4-1 lead, a lead they'd carry to the final buzzer.
"It gives us a sense of calm," said Boland, about the series victory. "There have been a few upsets around U SPORTS over the last few days, so a sense of calm, for now, and confidence, knowing we have a good team, everyone believes in each other."
The Reds will face either the Saint Mary's Huskies or the Acadia Axemen in the AUS final, a series that will begin next Monday night, at UNB's Aitken Centre.
Along with putting the Reds into the AUS final, the win also clinches a spot for UNB in the 2020 University Cup tournament, in Halifax, March 12-15.
But, for Coach MacDougall, the focus, for now, is on the conference final.
"We're getting ready for practice tomorrow," said MacDougall. "This time of year, I think your practice time is precious and the opportunity to play games sacred. So, we look forward to getting a good week of practice in and know we'll get a good opponent in the AUS final."
Source: Andy Campbell, UNB Athletics Communications