Panthers come out on top of hard fought game with X-Men

ANTIGONISH, NS - The UPEI Panthers skated away with a hard-fought 4-2 win over the STFX X-Men in AUS men's hockey action on Friday night at the Charles V Keating Centre. The Panthers picked up an important two points as they look to move up in the AUS standings with five games remaining on the season. 

STFX entered the game in a three-way tie for second place in the AUS, alongside Moncton and Saint Mary's. The top ranked UNB REDS have already locked up a bye in the first round of the upcoming playoffs, with the team finishing second also earning a bye.  

It was a tight start to the game, with the Panthers holding a slight advantage in scoring chances. The X-Men looked dangerous while on a pair of powerplay halfway through the first period, but couldn't solve Panthers goalie Jakob Robillard.

UPEI had a powerplay of their own in the last two minutes on the period, but the teams headed into intermission tied 0-0. 

The X-Men came out with some jump in the second period, peppering Robillard with shots in the first five minutes. It was the Panthers who opened the scoring though, with Kurtis Henry one-timing a pass Kaleb Pearson from while on the powerplay. 

Zack Trott tied it up eight minutes later, collecting a pass from Alex Christopoulos, and snapping one to the top shelf.

MHKY: Here's a look at the X-Men's 1st goal of the night from Zack Trott! #goxgo pic.twitter.com/ROWIFEfIXE

— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) February 1, 2025

A 4-on-4 situation led to a flurry of chances late in the period, but the teams remained 1-1 after 40 minutes.  

Pearson broke the deadlock 90 seconds into the third, ripping home a short-side shot off a pass from Robert Orr.

Connor Roberts knotted the game again for the Blue and White six minutes later, pouncing on a loose puck and potting one five-hole. 

MHKY: Check out the game tying goal in the 3rd period from Connor Roberts! #goxgo pic.twitter.com/F6gojnGSFd

— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) February 1, 2025

Noah Sedore pulled the Panthers ahead again three minutes after that, getting the last touch on a tic-tac-toe passing ply with Orr and Brett Bresette in what would be the game-winning goal.

STFX pulled goalie Patrick Leaver with two minutes to go, but an empty-netter from Ben McFarlane sealed the game. 

Henry was named the first star of the game, with Trott and Bressette getting the second and third stars nods respectively. 

Leaver had 23 saves on the night for the X-Men, while Robillard finished with 19 saves and the win. 

The X-Men continue their homestand with a matchup against U SPORTS #1 ranked UNB on Friday, February 7, at 7 p.m.

The Panthers continue their weekend road trip tomorrow, February 1, when they head to Halifax for a game against the Dalhousie Tigers at 7 p.m.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics

Tonight's game was the Woolley's Warriors game for Diabetes awareness and fundraising, led by X-Men defenseman Mark Woolley (right). Ella VandeSompel and Mairead MacPherson dropped the ceremonial puck.