Roy scores twice as Aigles Bleus defeat Huskies 5-2

HALIFAX, NS – Moncton forward Nathael Roy scored two goals and an assist, helping lead the Aigles Bleus to a 5-2 win over the U SPORTS #7 ranked Saint Mary's Huskies on Friday night in Halifax.

The action was fast and furious from the opening puck-drop, with chances back-and-forth for both teams. Seven minutes into the first period, the Aigles Bleus had a glorious chance at goal, but Huskies netminder Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, ON) made an outstanding recovery to rob Aigles Bleus forward Nathael Roy (Levis, QC).

The Huskies struck first, as forward Charlie Dafonseca (Thornhill, ON), cycled the puck to linemate Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON) behind the Moncton goal, where he delivered a pass to the stick of Bradey Johnson (Lindsay, ON), who one-timed it off the pad of Aigles Bleus goaltender Olivier Adam (Drummondville, QC) into the back of the net to put the Huskies up 1-0, 8:44 into the first.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Bradey Johnson makes no mistake from the slot and gives the Huskies an early 1-0 lead!

�� B. Johnson (1)
�� N. Dunkley
�� C. Dafonseca pic.twitter.com/iF8mhaMCNS

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) October 20, 2023

Just 43 seconds later, the Huskies would double their lead, as forward Thomas Casey (Charlottetown, PEI) continued his strong start to the season, as he banged home the rebound off of the initial shot by Andrew Coxhead (Bedford, NS). Casey's third goal of the season extended the home team's lead to 2-0, 9:27 into the opening period.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Two goals in less than one minute as the Huskies double their lead off a goal from Thomas Casey!

�� T. Casey (3)
�� A. Coxhead
�� J. MacPherson pic.twitter.com/zj8jffqdJk

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) October 20, 2023

The goals kept coming, with Moncton able to cut the Huskies lead in half less than a minute later, as a shot from defenceman Yann-Felix Lapointe (Granby, QC) beat a heavily screened Helvig, to make the score 2-1, 10:14 into the first period.

The second half of the opening period saw the scoring slow down, but not for lack of opportunities, as the Huskies kept pressuring on their way to outshooting the Aigles Bleus 13-8, and taking their 2-1 lead into intermission.

In the second period, it was more of the same – great action and scoring opportunities for both teams. Bradey Johnson nearly scored his second of the night, but his wrap-around attempt was stopped by the flexibility of Olivier Adam.

Midway through the period, the Huskies looked to have restored their two-goal lead, as defenceman Dennis Busby (Oro-Medonte, ON) rang a shot off the post that appeared to have ricocheted across the goal line, but the net was knocked off its pegs and the officials ruled no goal.

Helvig continued his stellar play in goal for the Huskies, turning away a partial-breakaway attempt by Aigles Bleus forward Jeremy Lapointe (Drummondville, QC) to keep Saint Mary's in front.

But with just under a minute remaining in the second period, Moncton found their equalizer as Nathael Roy banged home a rolling rebound past Helvig to tie it at 2-2 with 57 seconds remaining in the period.

The Huskies once again outshot the Aigles Bleus 11-5 in the second period, but were unable to get the puck past Adam, and the two teams went into the second intermission tied at two.

Midway through the third period, the Aigles Bleus went on the powerplay and were able to take their first lead of the night, as forward Edouard St-Laurent fired a shot from a tough angle that beat Helvig low, to put the visitors up 3-2, 10:50 into the third.

The Aigles Bleus would add a pair of insurance markers, before the night was over. With 3:39 remaining and Moncton on the powerplay, forwards Jeremy Michel (Levis, QC) and Nathael Roy broke out on a two-on-one break, with Michel finishing the play for his fourth goal of the season.

Roy would add an empty net marker with just over 20 seconds remaining - his second goal and third point of the evening, earning him Player of the Game honours.

Saint Mary's outshot Moncton 34-22 on the night, with Olivier Adam stopping 32 shots for the win, while Jeremy Helvig made 17 saves in defeat.

The Aigles Bleus win improves their record 3-2-0 on the season. Moncton will continue their Nova Scotia road trip on Saturday, as they visit the Acadia Axemen at 7 p.m. in Wolfville.

The Huskies loss drops their record to 3-2-0 on the year. Saint Mary's will be back in action on Saturday night, as they host the U SPORTS #1 ranked UNB REDS at 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre. GET TICKETS

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics