Hockey: AUS Weekly Update

The week started on Wednesday with StFX at Saint Mary's. X chased SMU goalie Brandon Verge by scoring three goals on six shots in the first period, X-Men forward Bryce Swan notched six points, and rookie goalie Bryan Gillis made 43 saves in the 7-5 win which saw neither team score on the power play. StFX hosted UNB on Friday night, and Gillis had another big night with 37 saves, but he couldn't steal another win as the V-Reds' Alex Aldred scored in overtime for the 4-3 victory. In Moncton, UdeM scored first and last, but Acadia scored three goals in between for the 3-2 win. UPEI was in Halifax, and the Panthers went up 3-0 and held on for a 5-3 win.

On Saturday night, UNB was in Halifax to face Dal, and the V-Reds cruised to a 5-1 win in a score that could have been much worse, as UNB was only 2-for-15 on the power play and the two Dal goalies made a combined 54 saves in the game. In Antigonish, the X-Men lost their second game in a row in overtime, this time 3-2, as Panther Howie Martin was the OT hero. In Fredericton, St. Thomas pulled their goalie in the last two minutes and drew within a goal of Acadia, but then gave up two empty net goals as the Axemen won 6-3. In Moncton SMU's Tyler Hawes scored a hat trick and an assist as the Huskies defeated les Aigles Bleus 5-2, outshooting them 37-23.

STU hosted SMU on Sunday, in a game postponed from Friday due to flu wreaking havoc with the Tommies lineup. The Huskies outshot the Tommies 39-21 in the 4-0 win, but worse for STU was rookie goalie Charles Lavigne had to leave the game before the end of the first period with what looked like a groin injury. The game took a nasty turn in the third period when STU's Corey Banfield drove Cody Thorton's head hard into the glass and stanchion next to the Huskies bench. Thorton had to helped off the ice and into the dressing room and Banfield was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. Rookie goalie Neil Conway got the shutout for SMU.

The undefeated Varsity Reds sit in first place with 16 points. The X-Men are three points back in second place, and another three points back are the three teams tied for third place: SMU, Acadia and UPEI.

Looking ahead – Dal is at Acadia on Wednesday. (NOTE: Dal@Acadia has been postponed a week to next Wednesday because of H1N1 concerns.) On the weekend UNB host StFX and then Dalhousie, UPEI hosts Dal and then X, Acadia hosts Moncton and then St. Thomas, and SMU hosts STU and then UdeM.