UNB captures AUS championship with 2-0 sweep of best-of-three series versus Acadia

(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) - After an 8-2 loss to the Varsity Reds in game one in Fredericton, Acadia had hope to pull off a home rink win to tie the best-of-three series at one game apiece.

Facing elimination, the CIS No. 3-ranked Acadia Axemen fell short in pushing the series to a third and final game, losing 4-2 to the eventual AUS champions and CIS No. 2-ranked UNB Varsity Reds.

In front of a capacity crowd of 2,100 at the Andrew H. McCain arena, the Axemen struck first on an even handed goal at 3:53 by second year Axeman Taylor Makin (Lethbridge, Alta.). On a giveaway by a UNB defenceman, Makin capitalized on the opportunity.

The Varsity Reds tied the game at one just under seven minutes later when Rob Mignardi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) pushed in the puck on a scramble in front of Acadia's Brandon Glover.

With under two minutes remaining in the opening period, first-year AUS all-rookie Remy Giftopoulos (Ancaster, Ont.) scored on the man-advantage to give Acadia a 2-1 lead after one period.

Giftopoulos netted his fifth goal of the playoffs before a UNB hooking penalty expired. After receiving a pass from Brett Thompson (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.), Giftopoulos cut to the net beating UNB netminder David Shantz (Hamilton, Ont.) high on the glove hand side.

The V-Reds' Chris Caissy (Campbellton, N.B.) tied the game for a second time at the 10:16 mark of the second period when he grabbed a Glover rebound that found its home in the top corner of the net.

The tie would hold at two for the remainder of the second frame.

AUS MVP Philippe Halley (Lachenaie, Que.) would score the eventual game winner for UNB with 1:48 remaining in the contest.

Dylan Willick (Prince George, B.C.) scored the empty netter with 16 seconds remaining in the game to guarantee the win and the two-game sweep of the best-of-three Subway AUS Men's Hockey Championship final series.

Acadia's Brandon Glover (Victoria, B.C.) stopped 38 of UNB's 41 shots, while David Shantz stood tall and made 28 saves.

Both the Varsity Reds along with the Axemen will head to Halifax next week to take part in the CIS University Cup. Six other teams from across Canada will also join them, including the host StFX X-Men.

Seeding has yet to be set for the national championship. The CIS University Cup will take place March 12-15 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax.

Source: Acadia Sports Communications