University Cup recap: day two

By: Dylan Buckman and Ryan Bradbury

On the second day of the U Sports men’s hockey University Cup, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Patriotes and the University of New Brunswick Reds moved on to the semifinal round.

The day began with a game between third-ranked UQTR and the sixth-seeded Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus. 

The Patriotes dominated possession in the first period. Patriotes right winger Kassim Gaudet notched the game’s first goal off of a UdeM turnover.

Shortly afterwards, Charles Beaudoin received a pass from William Dumoulin to score the second goal for the Patriotes. The third goal was scored just one minute later by Mathis Cloutier. 

The Aigles Bleus’ David Doucet was awarded a penalty shot after being taken down on a breakaway, but was shut down by the Patriotes goaltender William Grimard to keep the game at 3-0.

Moncton fired on all cylinders, but could not find the back of the net in the second period. Derek Cormier, head coach of the Aigles Bleus, felt the team bounced back between periods.

“It was just a matter of us having that break after the first period and coming back out … and wanting to play our game,” Cormier said. 

In the third, Patriotes captain Conor Frenette wasted no time scoring the team’s fourth goal on a rebound shot, boosting the lead to 4-0. 

Frenette had 15 goals in the regular season, leading the team in goals. He said the team was ready for this game, given the Patriotes played two years ago in the final against UNB. 

“Every player wants to play these games,” Frenette said. 

Moncton was unable to respond, being shut out 4-0 by the Patriotes.

“It’s a model in our room,” said Frenette. “We pride ourselves on our defence, so we took pride in our game today.”

The Reds survive a scare

Following the afternoon fixture, the second-ranked UNB Reds took on the seventh-seeded Queen’s University Gaels; the Atlantic University Sport’s top-seeded Reds took the game 5-2.

UNB got on the board early after a drop pass from Cole Huckins set up Cody Morgan in front of the Queen’s goalie.

“Cole’s a tremendous player. I can’t say enough good things about him,” said Morgan. “He’s been a treat to play with over these last couple of months.” 

The Gaels’ goalie, Tanner Wickware, immediately responded with a goal-line stick save against Morgan, keeping his team in the game.

After Queen’s third penalty of the period, Huckins buried a power play goal, doubling their lead.

The physicality was evident, as there was a scrum after every whistle.

“You have to play, and you have to play hard,” said Brett Gibson, the Gaels’ head coach. “The best way to show them respect is by playing them hard, and that’s what we wanted to do.”

The first period ended with the Reds outshooting the Gaels 20-7.

In the second period, Queen’s was able to compose itself and play a more balanced game. Despite that, UNB forward Camaryn Baber sniped the puck over Wickware’s shoulder to extend UNB’s lead to three.

Queen’s quickly retaliated, scoring their first goal just 40 seconds later, courtesy of Aidan Castle.

The Gaels continued to push the tempo, as forward Sebbie Johnson got Queen’s back into the game by burying a loose rebound after a shot from the point got lost in the crease.

The Reds stayed composed as Jax Dubois iced the game after dangling around two defenders. Michael Petizian then scored, to put the game further out of reach, and UNB went on to win the game 5-2.

UQTR and the Reds are now on a collision course to the semifinal, where the game will decide who advances to the national championship.