REDS hold off Aigles Bleus in semifinal action

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS had a strong night on special teams, going two-for-three on the powerplay to edge the Université Moncton Aigles Bleus 2-1 in game one of their Atlantic University Sport semifinal. 

Kade Landry (Gowanstown, NB) was named Subway Player of the Game, logging great play at both ends of the ice, picking up an assist, four shots and a +1 rating. 

“I thought we got off to a good start, we wanted to get a lot of shots early and dictate the pace, and I think we did that well,” said Landry. 

The game was played before 2,486 fully-vaccinated fans at Fredericton's Aitken Centre. 

Moncton would come out enforcing some early physical play on the rested REDS. The Aigles Bleus would also get the game’s first chance, a breakaway just 90 seconds in that was thwarted by a strong back check by Landry.  

At the eight-minute mark, a scramble in front of the Moncton net would see the puck bounce to Joe Gatenby (Kelowna, BC) with a gaping net, only to be robbed by a sprawling Etienne Montpetit (Valleyfield, QC). 

Just two minutes later, with the REDS on a five-on-three powerplay, Samuel Dove-McFalls (Montreal, QC) fed a backdoor pass to Ryan Roth (St. Louis, MO) who would bury the game's opening goal for a 1-0 UNB lead. 

The Aigles Bleus wouldn’t leave the first empty-handed however, catching the REDS on a three-on-two rush in transition. Vincent Deslauriers (Blainville, QC) fired a shot that Rylan Parenteau (Saskatoon, SK) would stop, but could not control the rebound, leaving the puck on the doorstep for Nathael Roy (Levis, QC) who would clean it up to tie the game 1-1 after the first period.  

Montpetit would continue to stand tall for Moncton, robbing James McEwan (Chatham, ON) with a glove save, and getting a pad across to shut the door on Adam McCormick (Waterville, NB) on a REDS two-on-one.

UNB would finally restore their lead with another furious powerplay, finished off by Brady Gilmour (Grafton, ON), who put it top corner on Montpetit to make it 2-1. 

The goal came in Gilmour’s first game since sustaining an injury on November 27th. 

“I was really happy to get back out there with the guys, compete and just be in that environment again,” said Gilmour. 

The REDS would continue to swarm the Moncton net for the rest of the period, outshooting the Aigles Bleus 15-2, but still only held a one-goal advantage heading into the third. 

“The second period was tough for us, some shifts were two minutes in our zone,” said Moncton head coach Judes Vallee.  

With just under eight minutes to play, Gabriel Vanier (Boisbriand, QC) connected with a one timer from the slot but couldn’t put it past Parenteau. 

With five minutes to go, McEwan would get another great chance in front for the REDS, but put the potential insurance marker just wide. 

Moncton would push to tie it with the empty net in the final minute and a half, but UNB would hang on for the 2-1 final. 

Shots were 41-16 for the REDS. Parenteau made 15 saves to pick up the win for UNB. Montpetit made 39 saves in a losing effort for Moncton. 

Game two goes Sunday night in Moncton. Game time is 7:00pm. 

Recap by Jonathon James/for UNB Athletics