Men’s Hockey News

Men’s Hockey

Reds to play for national title after 6-3 win over UQTR

U SPORTS Staff

CHARLOTTETOWN (U SPORTS)—The UNB Reds will play for a national title Sunday night.

The UQTR Patriotes were no match for the Reds, who took down the defending champions 6-3.

Isaac Nurse led the charge with two goals and an assist, while Ross MacDougall had three assists. Jason Willms, Benjamin Corbeil, Cole MacKay and Emmett Sproule also found the back of the net in the win.

UNB wasted little time, scoring just 16 seconds into the game. A couple players battled for the puck along the side of the net before it slid in front to Willms, who beat Alexis Gravel with a soft shot.

The Reds added another one at 18:25, as Corbeil capped off a beautiful tic-tac-toe play. MacDougall passed it beside the net to Brady Gilmour, who sent it through the crease to Corbeil for a power play goal and the 2-0 advantage.

UQTR responded with a power play goal of their own 5:22 into the second period when Julien Tessier delivered a cross-ice pass to Simon Lafrance, who fired the one-timer by Samuel Richard to cut the deficit in half.

However, the Reds restored their two-goal advantage two minutes later on a score from MacKay. The rookie forward took a pass from Camaryn Baber and slung a low shot through the legs of a Patriote defender and past Gravel, who was screened on the play.

UNB added another at 13:47 when MacDougall found Sproule racing up the left side where he roofed the wrist shot to make it 4-1.

The Reds ended any thought of a comeback after scoring again 12 minutes into the third period. MacKay found Nurse streaking up the right side before turning toward the net and tucking a backhand over the outstretched leg of Gravel.

The Patriotes added goals from Justin Bergeron and Felix Lafrance late in the frame, but it wasn’t nearly enough, as Nurse added an empty-netter to close out the 6-3 win.

Richard was credited with 16 saves, while Gravel turned aside 28 shots.

Boxscore

Nike Top Performers

  • UNB: Ross MacDougall
  • UQTR: Simon Lafrance