Huskies head into winter break on three game win streak after 4-3 win over X-Men
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
StFX (8-9-1, 8-9-1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
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Saint Mary's (11-7-0, 11-7-0) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
The Saint Mary's Huskies wrapped up the 2022 portion of their schedule having won three straight games, after defeating the St. FX X-Men 4-3 on Friday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax.
The Huskies were all over the visiting X-Men early, recording the first nine shots of the game. X-Men goaltender Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) stopped the first eight, but the Huskies finally broke through when captain Keith Getson (Bridgewater, NS) tipped home a point shot from defenceman Cameron Pound (White Lake, ON) to put Saint Mary's up 1-0 just 3:25 into the first period.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) December 2, 2022
Captain Keith Getson tips in the Cameron Pound point shot to put @SMUMensHockey up 1-0 in the first period.
��K. Getson (5)
��C. Pound pic.twitter.com/f2AibzqSk8
The Huskies outshot the X-Men 21-6 in the first period, but Raaymakers was outstanding, and the Huskies took a 1-0 lead into intermission.
Just over three minutes into the second period, the Huskies captain struck again, as Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON) centred the puck and Getson quickly dropped to one knee and roofed a one-timer over Raaymakers shoulder for his second of the night.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) December 3, 2022
Keith Getson scores his second of the night to put @SMUMensHockey up 2-0 in the second period.
��K. Getson (6)
��N. Dunkley
��C. McPhee pic.twitter.com/BXy6ZTeeKy
A few minutes later, the Huskies would extend their lead when forward Cedric Ralph (Peterborough, ON) took a pass from Justin MacPherson (East Gwillimbury, ON) down the left boards and cut in on Raaymakers, patiently waiting and then sliding a backhand past the X-Men goalkeeper to put Saint Mary's up 3-0.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) December 3, 2022
Cedric Ralph scores a beauty to extend @SMUMensHockey lead to 3-0!
��C. Ralph (4)
��J. MacPherson pic.twitter.com/sTBpL7rPh1
The Huskies would score their fourth unanswered goal thanks to a great effort by defenceman Jaxon Bellamy (Hampton, NB). After his initial shot ringed off the goalpost, Bellamy track down his own rebound and made no mistake for his fifth goal of the season, putting the home team up 4-0.
HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��
— SMU Huskies (@SMUHuskies) December 3, 2022
If it first you don't succeed, try, try again! Jaxon Bellamy hits the post for the second time tonight but follows up his own rebound to put @SMUMensHockey up 4-0!
��J. Bellamy (5) pic.twitter.com/rM7Xb834SY
The X-Men would answer less than a minute later, when forward Josh Nelson (Lockport, IL) scored a powerplay goal to cut the lead to 4-1. Just over six minutes later, Nelson struck again, taking a pass from Jacob Hudson (Antigonish, NS) and firing the puck past Huskies goaltender Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, ON) to cut the Huskies lead to 4-2.
The X-Men outshot the Huskies 18-11 in the second period, and the Huskies went into the intermission with a 4-2 advantage.
Nelson's scoring prowess showed up again just 30 seconds into the third period, as the Huskies had a scoring opportunity but couldn't capitalize, and the X-Men counterattack sprung the speedy Nelson on a breakaway, where he had no mistake in securing the natural hat-trick and cutting the lead to 4-3.
With the lead down to one, the game tightened up, with great defensive play and increased physicality from both teams. The X-Men had several late chances, including on the powerplay, but the Huskies to withstand the X-Men comeback and hold on for the 4-3 victory.
Huskies goaltender Jeremy Helvig stopped 31 shots for his third straight win, while X-Men goalkeeper Joseph Raaymakers made 38 saves.
Huskies forward Keith Getson was named Subway Player of the Game with two goals. Nathan Dunkley and Caelan McPhee both had two assist nights for the Huskies.
Josh Nelson's hat-trick gave him 13 goals on the season, tying him for the AUS lead,
With the win, the Huskies improve to 11-7-0, as they wrap up the 2022 portion of their schedule, ranked third in the conference with 22 points. They'll return to play on Friday, Jan. 6, as they visit Antigonish for a rematch against the X-Men, with their first home game of 2023 scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 11 when they'll host the UPEI Panthers at the Dauphinee Centre.
The X-Men loss drops their record to 8-9-1 on the campaign. They'll be back in action Friday, Jan. 6, hosting the Huskies in a rematch in Antigonish, N.S.
Recap by: Allan April / SMU Huskies Athletics
Photos courtesy: SMU Huskies Athletics
