Hockey: Day 1 recap at the University Cup

Just a brief update. Two 2-1 games to start the University Cup. In the afternoon match in Pool B, the Pool of Death, StFX had a one-goal lead going into the third period, but two McGill goals in roughly five minutes game the Redman the win. For me, this is the best game I've ever seen McGill play at the University Cup. That afternoon opener on the Thursday afternoon can often be tough energy wise, but there were over 3400 fans at the game, many of them school kids who had been directed to cheer for one team or the other.

The evening game was the main event for the local fans, and a sellout crowd of over 3700 had to watch UNB try to break through the Calgary trap. Not very entertaining. UNB did score on the powerplay in the second period, after frittering away a five-on-three advantage, but then handed the Dinos a powerplay soon after and sure enough, Calgary took advantage to tie the game up.

Fans were restless, nervous and quiet through much of the third period, with flashes of noise when UNB had faceoffs in the offensive zone. The last few minutes the Dinos really looked to be just hanging on, and iced the puck several times to relieve the pressure. UNB couldn't get an effective point shot all game until, with less than five seconds left, UNB captain Kyle Bailey won the draw in the Dinos zone back to Luke Gallant, who served a pass over to Josh Kidd who hammered the puck through a crowd and past Dustin Butler, the CIS goalie of the year. Then everyone breathed again and UNB was off to Saturday's game.

[Update: Friday, 7:35 am. Some sad news. CBC Radio is reporting this morning that an elderly man died last night of a medical condition, that may have caused or was the result of a multiple car accident last night in the parking lot next to the Aikten University Centre. Here's the first report of the accident last night.]

Related:

GAME 1 POOL B CIS championship: No. 1 McGill edges StFX in comeback win (CIS)
Redmen drop X-Men in University Cup opener (Christopher Cameron, UNB Sports Information)
Redmen rally to edge X (Bill Hunt, Daily Gleaner)
GAME 1 POOL A CIS championship: No. 1 UNB survives scare, Kidd the hero (CIS)
Heartbreaking goal downs underdog Dinos (Eric Kerkhoven, UC Sports Information)
No Kidding around for UNB (Christopher Cameron, UNB Sports Information)
V-Reds aren't Kidd-ing around (Bill Hunt, Daily Gleaner)