Tempers flared early on as UNB's
Varsity Reds took to the ice on Saturday, October 9th for
their season home opener. Fans were already pumped up for the game
after watching the team raise the AUS banner from last season.
Regardless of UPEI's late arrival to
town due to high winds on the bridge, preventing them from crossing,
UNB did not let the delay of the game affect their drive to win. The
Reds scored their first goal of the game, just one minute and 42
seconds into the game, despite what should have been UPEI's first
penalty of the game just 12 seconds prior. UPEI was just about to get
a penalty after one of their players struck UNB's player directly in
the mouth with his stick, fresh out of the face off before UNB snuck
in for the goal. The goal was scored by #19, Cameron Brace and
assisted by newbie #79, Marcus McIvor.
Fans stayed on the edge of their
seats as UNB's #12, Peter Trainor slid the puck past UPEI's, Mavric
Parks for their second goal of the game at 4:01. The goal was
assisted by the dynamic duo of Phil squared, #8, Phillipe Halley, and
#16, Phillipe Maillet.
After two more close calls for UNB,
the team received their first penalty of the game at 9:17. After a
pile up of players in front of their net, #8, Phillipe Halley was
sent to the “sin bin” for 2 minutes on a tripping penalty. UPEI
must have taken tips from UNB as they received their first penalty
at12:05 as #77, David Mazurek was sent to the box on a cross checking
call. The home boys didn't take long to make the most out of the
power play as they scored their third goal of the game at 13:29. The
goal was scored by the teams enforcer, #21, Francis Beauvillier and
assisted by #18, and #15.
After their first close call for a
goal at approximately 15:00, UPEI's #9, Brent Andrews clearly didn't
think much of UNB's lead, as he earned himself a two minute holding
penalty. Shortly after, UNB's #12, Peter Trainor received a 2 minute
slashing penalty at 17:14.
Things got chippy at 18:18 as UNB's
#28, Matt Boudens chirps a player on the UPEI side resulting in a
roughing match between the two players. Luckily, no penalties were
called. However at 20:00, as the period came to a close, tempers
flared between the two teams resulting in a second roughing match.
This time, players didn't get off so easy, as three of them partied
in the penalty box for the first two minutes of the second period.
UNB's #2, Randy Gazzola received a 2 minute goaltender interference
penalty, joined by teammate #19, Cameron Brace for 2 minutes due to
unsportsmanlike conduct. UPEI's #24, Carter Rigby also gained a 2
minute break due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Wanting to join the party at the gate,
UNB's #40, Matt Petgrave also received a 2 minute penalty for
interference just 17 seconds into the second period. Due to the power
play advantage, and being two men up in a 5 on 3 play, UPEI managed
to score their first goal at 0:59. The goal was scored by #9, Brent
Andrews, and assisted by #7, and #86.
UNB's #21, Francis Beauvillier earned
himself a trip to the box at 4:02 on a slashing call, but the team
refused to let it get them down as #2, Randy Gazzola got his revenge
from his penalty earlier in the game, as he scored the fourth goal at
7:20. Maillet once again picked up an assist from the goal. A minute
later, Fredericton's own #22, Taylor MacDougall scored the Red's
fifth goal of the game, points for assists going out to #23, and #40.
Clearly unhappy with UNB's back to
back goals, UPEI's #8, Spencer Metcalfe sought revenge on UNB's #40,
Matt Petgrave as he sent him down to the ice after a check from
behind. Metcalfe immediately received a 2 minute penalty, as well as
a 10 minute misconduct as a result at 11:52. Joining his buddy in the
penalty box, UPEI's #21, Craig MacLauchlan earned himself a 2 minute
tripping penalty shortly after.
Having trained by watching UPEI, Peter
Trainor of the Vreds took an extended visit to the sin bin at 11:52.
Trainor earned himself two 2 minute penalties for cross checking and
checking from behind, as well as a 10 minute misconduct. Despite
being short handed, UNB's Matt's didn't let it get them down as they
paired together to earn the teams sixth goal at 13:01. #40, Matt
Petgrave scored, and #28, Matt Boudens picked up an assist on the
play causing UPEI to switch out their goalie, sending Parks to the
bench to be replaced by Connor Wilkinson. Wilkinson did his job as he
stopped all shots in the remaining 7 minutes, refusing to let UNB
pull any farther into the lead, causing the second period to end with
a 5 goal advantage for the Vreds.
Having done well at the end of second
period, UNB used Wilkinson's confidence to their advantage as the
picked up two back to back goals early on in the third period. The
first was scored unassisted by #19, Cameron Brace at 1:18, followed
by Phil squared at 1:34 as Halley slides the puck past, and Maillet
earns his third assist of the game.
The Panthers retaliated back quickly,
as they scored their second goal at 2:14. The goal was scored by #9,
Brent Andrews, assists going out to #27, and #21. Despite picking up
a goal, UPEI's #8, Spence Metcalfe remained unimpressed and proved so
by receiving a 2 minute check to the head penalty, and a 10 minute
misconduct at 2:38. Metcalfe's misconduct resulted in a game
misconduct, due to having already received a misconduct earlier in
the game.
After keeping quiet for awhile, UPEI's
#25, Brock Beukeboom earned himself a 2 minute interference penalty
at 6:25. Shortly after, at 9:02, UNB's Matt Petgrave, and UPEI's Nick
Czinder got into a tussle, resulting in penalties for both players.
Petgrave was given a 2 minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and
Czinder a 2 minute roughing penalty. Confused by the penalties, UNB's
#19, Cameron Brace joined Petgrave in the box on a bench minor
penalty for too many men on the ice at 10:15.
After insisting to the referee that he
as simply giving UPEI a hug, UNB's #4, Jordan Murray earned a 2
minute holding penalty at 14:44. Surprising to fans, it was Murray's
first penalty of the game as he sat in the box with his hand on his
hip in the sassy way that he does.
Unable to pick up another goal, but
unwilling to let UNB pull any farther ahead, UPEI's #77, David
Mazurek was gifted a two minute interference penalty at 17:22. He was
then joined by UNB's #21, Francis Beauvillier on a 2 minute slashing
call at 18:30, bringing the third and final period to a close as UNB
brings home their first win of the regular season, sending the
Panthers packing. Having picked up a goal and an assist during the
game, Phillipe Halley was crowned first star of the game, followed by
Francis Beauvillier as second, and Phillipe Maillet as third.
