Huskies drop 4-1 loss to #1 ranked REDS

FREDERICTON, NB - The U SPORTS No. 1 ranked UNB REDS scored three goals inside a three-minute span of the second period on route to a 4-1 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies on Saturday night at UNB's Aitken Centre.

"The boys are pumped to have beaten Saint Mary's, especially with the rivalry we developed last year in the playoffs," said REDS' forward Emmett Sproule (Colllingwood, ON), named Tim Horton's Player of the Game. "We knew they'd come out hot and we matched their pace."

The teams played through a scoreless first period where play appeared even despite the REDS outshooting the Huskies 12-3.

Things changed dramatically in the second period as both teams opened up in search of the game's first goal.

The REDS found it at the 4:03 mark when Sproule took a pass and went roof on Huskies' goalie Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, ON).

"Keats (Austen Keating) entered the zone, made a nice pass to Kade (Landry) and he found me, and I roofed it," said Sproule. "Call it a little bit of luck, a little skill, I'll take it."

Just 52 seconds later, Saint Mary's evened the score when Reid Valade (Caldeon, ON) beat REDS netminder Griffen Outhouse (Williams Lake, BC).

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Ben Boyd with a gorgeous backhand pass to set up Reid Valade who scores his third of the campaign to tie the game at 1-1.

�� R. Valade (3)
�� B. Boyd pic.twitter.com/tk2U9CpzDd

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) October 28, 2023

"It was a great pass by Boyder (Ben Boyd). I chipped it in, he had a full head of steam going in. I called for it and he made a great backhand pass to me, and I banked it in," said Valade. "It was a good response for us, and we wanted to build off it, but couldn't get it going."

51 seconds after Valade's goal, the REDS went back in front when Camaryn Baber (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) beat Helvig on a wrap-around.

"We were disappointed to give one up so quick, but I thought the response was good," said REDS' head coach Gardiner MacDougall. "I thought Cam's line with Nurse and Macauley played very well, had a good, solid game. It's great to see a player like Cam get rewarded. Everything we worked on in practice, he did on that goal."

Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC) gave UNB a two-goal advantage with his goal at 6:57 of the period and the REDS took that 3-1 lead to the second intermission.

Both teams had opportunities in the third period, but neither could connect.

Jason Willms (Kitchener, ON) scored UNB's fourth goal into an empty net with 1:26 left to play.

"They're a good opponent, a little banged up right now, but they're good," said MacDougall of the Huskies. "There are aspects of our game that have improved and aspects that we need to work on this week to get ready for Moncton."

With the win, the REDS are now 8-and-0 to start the season and remain atop the Atlantic University Sport standings.

The Huskies, now 3-and-5, are tied for fourth place. They return home to host cross-town rival Dalhousie on Friday night.

The REDS return to action Friday as well. UNB hosts l'Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus at 7:00pm.

RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB Athletics