Huskies Upset REDS

(HALIFAX, NS) The Saint Mary's Huskies upset the UNB REDS 4-3 Saturday night, in Halifax.

The loss was just the third of the season for UNB.

Huskies' rookie goalie Justin Sumarah (Halifax, NS) provided a standout effort in helping lead the Huskies in their come-from-behind victory.

In the opening minutes, the high powered REDS' offence had the Huskies scrambling, as UNB recorded five shots on goal in the first two minutes of play.

After 16 minutes, the game was still scoreless, but that changed quickly with three goals in just over three minutes to end the period. The REDS were first to hit the scoreboard as the Huskies turned over the puck crossing their own blue line, and Macauley Carson (Midhurst, ON) found Jason Willms (Kitchener, ON) who made a nice deke to beat Sumarah and give UNB a 1-0 lead with 3:43 remaining in the period.

Off the ensuing face-off, REDS captain Samuel Dove-McFalls (Montreal, QC) was sent to the penalty box for slashing. The Huskies took advantage on the power-play, as Sam Dunn (Hamilton Township, ON) found Bradey Johnson (Lindsay, ON), who fired a one-timer past Griffen Outhouse (Williams Lake, BC).

The REDS regained the lead when an Adam McCormick (Waterville, NB) point shot was saved by Sumarah, but Mark Rassell (Calgary, AB) was able to bang home the rebound to give UNB a 2-1 lead with just 34 seconds remaining in the period.

Just past the mid-way point of the second period, the Huskies got a break when Dunn scored to tie the game 2-2.

The REDS thought they had taken the lead when Isaac Nurse (Hamilton, ON) seemed to bang the puck into the goal, but the official waved it off, as Sumarah had been pushed into the net by a REDS player.

Moments later, on the power-play, McCormick fired a blast past Sumarah to put the visitors up 3-2.

In the waning moments of the powerplay, Huskies forward Dawson Theede (Brooklin, ON) had a chance at an open net, but Outhouse made a highlight reel save, sliding across his crease to prevent the goal. That save quickly led to a breakaway opportunity for UNB's Austen Keating (Guelph, ON), who fired it past Sumarah but hit the post, as time expired in the second period.

The REDS kept up their aggressive play to begin the third period, but perhaps too aggressive as Benjamin Gagne was whistled for charging the goalie, sending the Huskies to the powerplay. 

Saint Mary's had several chances, with Outhouse making a pair of acrobatic saves. But the Huskies got their equalizer, as Logan DeNoble (Peterborough, ON) fired a shot from the left face-off circle that went five-hole on Outhouse to tie the game 3-3. It was the second powerplay goal of the night for the Huskies, despite a REDS penalty kill that came into Saturday's action killing 93.4% of their opponents' powerplay opportunities. 

Dunn put the Huskies ahead with 9:07 remaining.

With 1:47 to play, the REDS pulled Outhouse, but couldn't capitalize with the extra attacker.

For his 47 save performance, Sumarah was named Subway Player of the Game.

"I was just trying to keep us in it, and the boys had to take the opportunities when they came, which they really did down the stretch," said Sumarah.

The Huskies improve their record to 9-12-2, while the REDS loss drops their record to 19-3.

The Huskies will be back in action on Wednesday, hosting Acadia. 

UNB returns to home ice next weekend, for a pair of games against the St FX X-Men on Friday, and the Dalhousie Tigers on Saturday.

Recap by Allan April / SMU Huskies Athletics

Photos by Nick Pearce / SMU Huskies Athletics