Sumarah, Dunn lead Huskies to thrilling 4-3 victory over top ranked REDS

The Saint Mary's Huskies secured a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the top ranked team in U SPORTS, beating the UNB REDS 4-3 at the Homburg Centre on Saturday night.

The Huskies came into Saturday night's tilt just 24 hours after a 4-1 win over the Moncton Aigles Bleus on Friday night, where they were led by first year goaltender Justin Sumarah (Halifax, NS), who made 28 saves in his first career AUS start. They faced the difficult task of taking on the #1 ranked REDS, who came in on a three game winning streak and with a ridiculous 19-2 regular season record.

Sumarah was back between the pipes for the Huskies on Saturday, and once again provided a heroic effort in helping lead the Huskies to an unexpected comeback victory.

In the opening minutes, the high powered offence of the REDS instantly had the Huskies scrambling, as UNB recorded five shots on goal in the first two minutes of play, but Sumarah continued his stellar play and kept the visitors off the scoresheet.

After 16 minutes the game was still scoreless, but that quickly changed with three goals scored in just over three minutes to end the period. The REDS were first to hit the scoreboard as the Huskies turned it over crossing their own blue line, and Macauley Carson quickly found Jason Wilms, 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 was sent to the penalty box for slashing. The Huskies took advantage on the powerplay, as Sam Dunn (Hamilton Township, ON) found Bradey Johnson (Lindsay, ON), who fired a one-timer past Outhouse for his ninth goal of the season.

The REDS quickly regained the lead, as an Adam McCormick point shot was saved by Sumarah, but Mark Rassell was able to bang home the rebound to give UNB a 2-1 lead with just 34 seconds remaining in the second period.

UNB controlled play in the first period, outshooting the Huskies 19-8, but some great saves from Sumarah helped keep the Huskies within striking distance.

Just over the halfway point of the second period, the Huskies got their break, as Justin MacPherson (Newmarket, ON) sent a puck in deep that made its way to the stick of Dunn, who fired it past Outhouse to tie the game at 2-2.

REDS thought they had taken the lead when Isaac Nurse 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. During the scramble, Huskies defenceman Walter Flower (Lunenburg, NS) was sent to the penalty box for hooking, giving the REDS a powerplay.

The REDS quickly made the scrambling Huskies pay, as Adam McCormick fired a howitzer past Sumarah to put the visitors up 3-2 with just under three minutes remaining in the period.

In the waning moments of the powerplay, Huskies forward Dawson Theede (Brooklin, ON) had a great 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 the REDS Austen Keating, who fired it past Sumarah but hit the post, as time expired on the second period.

Once again, the Huskies were heavily outchanced, with the REDS registering 17 shots to the Huskies 6 in the period, but Sumarah continued to keep the Huskies within a goal.

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

On the ensuing powerplay, the Huskies had several great chances, with Outhouse making a pair of acrobatic saves on Coxhead and Theede. But moments later 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 at 3-3 with just over 16 minutes remaining. It was the second powerplay goal of the night for the Huskies, as they seemingly solved a top ranked REDS penalty kill that came into Saturday's action killing off a ridiculous 93.4% of their opponents powerplay opportunities. 

The Huskies momenteum continued after the equalizer, as DeNoble fired a no-look backhand pass to a charging Sam King, but Outhouse made a great save to keep the game tied at three.

But Dunn and the Huskies wouldn't be denied, and just over a minute later, Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON) fired a great cross-ice pass to Dunn, who sniped a wrist shot past Outhouse to give the Huskies a 4-3 lead with 9:07 remaining in regulation.

With the REDS finding themselves in an unusual position of trailing in the third period, they came out charging and recorded the final eight shots of the game, but Sumarah was able to save them all. With 1:47 to play, the REDS pulled their goalie, and on top of his 46 saves, Sumarah nearly scored a ridiculous empty net goal, as he banked the clearance off the boards that made it all the way to the REDS net, only to bounce off the post.

Moments later time expired and an exuberant Huskies team celebrated by surrounding their first year goaltender, who has stopped 75 of 79 shots in back-to-back wins. Sumarah was named Subway Player of the Game for the Huskies. Sam Dunn was named second star with a big four point night (2 G, 2 A), including the game winner, and Logan DeNoble was named third star with a goal and an assist.

In a post-game interview, Sumarah gave credit to his teammates, and admitted that going up against the top ranked REDS was a little intimidating, but he felt up to the challenge. 

"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. "When I first got the text that I was starting, I was like 'oh my', but just tried to think of it like any other game. Just keep cool and do my thing and hope for the best."

With their second win in as many days, the Huskies record improves to 9-12-2 on the campaign. The REDS loss drops their record to 19-3 on the season.

The Huskies will be back in action at the Dauphinee Centre on Wednesday, March 2, as they host the Acadia Axemen, before travelling to Charlottetown on Friday to visit the UPEI Panthers in their final regular season game. Wednesday night's game will also be the Huskies senior night, as they recognize Jonathan Hampton, Keith Getson, Logan DeNoble, Dawson Theede and Xavier Potvin.

UNB will return to home ice next weekend, for a pair of games vs. the St. FX X-Men on Friday, and the Dalhousie Tigers on Saturday to finish off the regular season.

Recap by Allan April / SMU Huskies Athletics

Photos by Nick Pearce / SMU Huskies Athletics