Hockey: AUS Weekly Update (Exhibition Games)

UNB: Even though the Varsity Reds gave up only one goal in their first 3 exhibition games, on Friday McGill’s Francis Verreault-Paul scored just 13 seconds into the game on University Cup hero Travis Fullerton to launch the sixth annual UNB Varsity Reds Fall Classic tournament. McGill scored on their next shot a few minutes later before the V-Reds finally started replying. The final score in this sloppy affair was 7-6, with UCup MVP Lachlan MacIntosh getting a hat-trick. Shots were 42-18 for UNB. The next night was more like the familiar UNB, as they scored 5 times while dominating McGill, and Derek Yeomans had his second consecutive shut-out foiled with 25 seconds to go in the game. Shots were 38-14 for the V-Reds. With the victories, UNB retained the Fall Classic cup. Rookie UNB defenceman Ben Wright missed the games as he is now at the Norfolk Admirals (AHL) camp, and recruit Jeff Lee has yet to suit up with the V-Reds as he has been at the Edmonton Oilers and Springfield Falcons (AHL) camps (but he just got cut by them on Sunday).

SMU: For their part, the Saint Mary’s Huskies won the Don Wells tournament at Acadia. In their first game of the tourney the edged the StFX X-Men 2-1. Shots were 25 apiece. In the championship game on Sunday they spotted the host Acadia Axmen a 3-1 lead, traded a few goals, and then scored six unanswered goals for the 10-6 victory. Shots were 30-27 for SMU and their vaunted powerplay counted for two of the goals.

Acadia: In their first game at their tournament on Saturday the Axemen hammered the Dalhousie Tigers 7-1, with Dal’s lone goal coming in the last two minutes on a powerplay. Acadia went 4 for 6 on their powerplay while outshooting Dal 40-22 in the game.

Moncton: Friday night in Shediac Les Aigles Bleus were stoned by St. Thomas Tommies’ new netminder, Charles Lavigne, who made 41 saves to steal the 3-2 win. The next night across the Fixed Link in Charlottetown, UdeM squeaked by the UPEI Panthers 6-5 in a game that was reportedly exhibition sloppy. Shots were 34-31 for UdeM.

StFX: In X’s other game at the Don Wells they defeated Dal 5-3. Dal scored first, gave up the lead and then got it back, only to see the X-Men score three unanswered goals in the third period. Shots were 33-27 for X.

Dal: The rebuilding Dalhousie Tigers, with something like a dozen new players, are still giving up lots of goals. See above.

STU: That big win in Shediac over Moncton makes up a lot for their two 8-1 losses the week before.

UPEI: They only had that one exhibition game against Moncton. Like many teams in the AUS they’re heading to the States next weekend for some NCAA competition. I’ll post more about that later this week.