Valade scores OT winner as Huskies defeat Panthers 2-1, advance to semi-final

Saint Mary's forward Reid Valade scored the overtime winning goal, as the Huskies defeated the UPEI Panthers 2-1 to sweep the Atlantic University Sport men's hockey quarterfinal on Saturday night at MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown, PEI.

Huskies captain Andrew Coxhead (Bedford, NS) opened the scoring in the first period at 7:20, tipping a pass from Reid Valade (Caledon, ON) past Panthers goaltender Jonah Capriotti (Charlottetown, PE).

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

HUSKIES SCORE! Andrew Coxhead opens the scoring by tipping in a Reid Valade shot to put the Huskies up 1-0, 7:20 into the first period!

�� A. Coxhead (1)
�� R. Valade
�� B. Johnson pic.twitter.com/rz7gZu0m0O

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 17, 2024

The Panthers pushed for an equalizer but Huskies netminder Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, ON) made several big saves including back-to-back stops on Panthers leading scorers Kaleb Pearson (St. Marys, ON) and Noah Sedore (Sharon, ON) late in the first, and the Huskies took a 1-0 lead into intermission.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jeremy Helvig with a couple big saves! Huskies take a 1-0 lead into first intermission, out chancing the Panthers 11-8 through the first 20 minutes. pic.twitter.com/xtm7f8tLf4

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 17, 2024

UPEI would equalize at 7:44 in the second period, as rookie forward Elias Cohen (Toronto, ON) scored his first goal of the playoffs on a power play to tie the game, with assists from veterans Kaleb Pearson and Kurtis Henry (Garden River First Nations, ON).

Both teams failed to score in the third period as both goaltenders stood tall, with Helvig making a big stop on Kaleb Pearson late in regulation, and the game would head to overtime.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Another great save from Jeremy Helvig! He's got 21 stops as we're heading into overtime tied up 1-1 in Charlottetown! pic.twitter.com/GpYcL2m0Tk

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 18, 2024

Just 30 seconds into overtime, Reid Valade redirected a shot by defenceman Connor Olson (London, ON) past Capriotti to give the Huskies the 2-1 win and clinch a berth in the semifinals.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

HUSKIES WIN IT IN OT! Reid Valade scores the game-winning goal in overtime and the Huskies are headed back to the AUS Semifinal! @SMUMensHockey

�� R. Valade (2)
�� C. Olson
�� B. Johnson pic.twitter.com/1BayoTiGNr

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) February 18, 2024

Saint Mary's outshot the Panthers 24-22 in the game, with Jeremy Helvig denying 21 of 22 shots the win, while Jonah Capriotti turned away 22 shots in defeat.

Reid Valade was named Player of the Game for the Huskies with a goal and an assist, while Jonah Capriotti earned Player of the Game honours for the Panthers.

The Huskies now advance to the AUS semifinal for the second straight season, where they'll taken on the U SPORTS #1 ranked UNB REDS.  

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Janessa Vanden Broek / UPEI Panthers Athletics