Varsity Reds top Huskies to advance to Subway AUS Men's Hockey Championship finals

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - The UNB Varsity Reds posted a 2-1 victory over the Saint Mary's Huskies to win their Subway AUS Men's Hockey Playoffs best-of-five semi-final series 3-1.

Just like in Game 3, the Huskies had a short bench with only 14 skaters dressed.

"It is what it is," said Huskies head coach Trevor Stienburg. "You have to be proud of the fact that to play in these games you need guys who will lay it on the line and the guys did. There's some guys in there that are pretty sore from blocking shots."

"That's a hell of a hockey team[the Varsity Reds] with skill and they were pumping shots and we're trying to get in front of them. It's not fun but we're going to live to fight another day and that's what we'll do."

Cole Cheveldave (Calgary, Alta.) was sensational again for the Huskies. He made 33 saves in the loss.

"Chevy turned a lot of heads tonight," said Stienburg.

Chris Clapperton (Cap Espoir, Que.) and Mark Simpson (Fredericton, N.B.) scored for the Varsity Reds.

Hunter Garlent (Thorold, Ont.) picked up the lone tally for the Huskies.

Etienne Marcoux (Terrebonne, Que.) made 10 saves in the win.

Clapperton opened the scoring 11:57 into the game, on a breakaway after nifty lead pass from Matt Murphy (Fredericton, N.B.).

Garlent tied it up with 56-seconds left in the first. Anthony Repaci (Toronto, Ont.) hit Garlent with a stretch pass for his own breakaway. Garlent took a quick shot that went clean through the five-hole.

Simpson picked up the series winner with a short-handed marker 3:07 into the third. Rob Mignardi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) chipped the puck to Simpson. He fanned on his first shot attempt from the top of the circle, but was able to reach behind him, corral the puck and fire it towards the net. The puck hit a shin pad in front and ricocheted in.

The Huskies got the extra attacker out in the final minute but were not able to find an equalizer.

Shots were 36-11 in favour of the Varsity Reds.

The Varsity Reds move on to face the StFX X-Men in a re-match of last year's Subway AUS Men's Hockey Championship final round. The Huskies will face the Acadia Axemen in the consolation final to determine the third entry from the AUS in the Cavendish Farms University Cup.

Source: Cam Honey-Webb for Saint Mary's Athletics Communications