REDS Blank Huskies

(HALIFAX, NS) The U SPORTS #1 ranked UNB REDS defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies 5-0 in Atlantic University Sport Men's Hockey action on Friday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax.

The REDS high powered offence got it going early, peppering Huskies goaltender Matt Welsh (Halifax, NS) with several early shots, but Welsh was able to turn them away. But the REDS would get a powerplay opportunity midway through the period when Huskies defenceman Jaxon Bellamy (Hampton, NB) was sent to the box for hooking.

The Huskies killed off the REDS powerplay thanks in part to some stellar goaltending from Welsh, but just as Bellamy returned to the ice, REDS forward Isaac Nurse (Hamilton, ON) was able to redirect a pass from Kade Landry (Gowanstown, ON) into the goal, putting the REDS up 1-0 at the 12:21 mark of the first period.

The REDS outshot the Huskies 12-4 through the first 20 minutes and took a 1-0 lead into intermission.

Early in the second period, the Huskies would get a chance on the powerplay, but the REDS were able to take a 2-0 lead off a shorthanded breakaway goal from forward Michael Petizian (Mississauga, ON).

UNB's explosive offence kept coming, racking up 22 shots on goal in the second period alone, and they would score once again just after the 12-minute mark, with forward Sean McGurn (Ottawa, ON) cleaning up a rebound off a Welsh save to put the visitors ahead 3-0 with 7:52 remaining in the second period.

The REDS took a commanding 34-13 shots advantage and a 3-0 lead into the second intermission.

The third period saw some more rough stuff from both teams, as the two teams combined for 134 penalty minutes on the night, including several game misconducts. The REDS scored two more goals before the night was over, with forwards Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC) and Austen Keating (Guelph, ON) scoring to secure the 5-0 victory for the visitors.

REDS goaltender Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC) was named Player of the Game, turning away 20 shots for the shutout, while Matt Welsh turned away 47 shots in an impressive performance despite the loss.

The REDS win improves their record to a remarkable 21-0-0-0 on the campaign. They'll continue their Nova Scotia road trip on Saturday, as they visit the Acadia Axemen (6-11-1-3) at 7 p.m. in Wolfville, N.S.

The Huskies loss drops their record to 11-10-0-0 on the campaign. They'll be back on home ice on Saturday night as they host the Moncton Aigles Bleus (12-7-2-0) at 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre.

RECAP BY: Allan April / for Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Mona Ghiz / for Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics