(ANTIGONISH, NS) Kris Bennett (Brampton, ON) scored twice and assisted on another pair of goals to lead the U SPORTS No. 1 ranked UNB Reds in a 6-2 win over the X-Men, at St FX, on Saturday night.
The Reds took control of the game early, and never let the X-Men get close.
Matthew Boucher (Los Angeles, Calif.) scored on the power-play mid-way through the first period, and Marcus McIvor (Whitby, ON) beat X-Men netminder Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) five-hole to give UNB a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The second period was dominated by the Reds, as they held the X-Men without a shot on goal until late in the period, responding with 17 shots of their own and four goals.
Alexandre Goulet (Disraeli, QC), Tyler Boland (St. John's, NL) and Bennett with his pair, provided the scoring. Bennett's back-to-back goals were just over two minutes apart.
The X-Men responded with a late goal with eight seconds remaining in the period.
Jeremiah Addison (Etibicoke, ON) was finally able to solve UNB's Samuel Harvey (Alma, QC). After the Reds blocked a Cole MacDonald (Wetaskiwin, AB) shot, the puck found its way directly onto the stick of Addison, who fired it into the open side of the Reds goal.
The third period was relatively quiet.
Matt Graham (Bedford, NS) scored the lone goal for the X-Men with five minutes remaining in the game.
Harvey earned the win in the Reds net with 13 saves. Raaymakers was tagged with the loss, turning aside 42 of 48 UNB shots on the night.
The Reds earned a sweep of the game's three stars as Goulet was the third star, Boland was second star and Bennett claimed first star and Subway Player of the Game honours.
Fifth year Reds forward Stephen Anderson (Morell, PE) picked up three assists, and Olivier LeBlanc (Quebec City, QC) was strong on defense as the Reds shut down St FX's offence.
With the win, UNB improves to 15-and-4. They will take to the ice again on Friday, when they host the UPEI Panthers. Game time is 7:00pm.
The X-Men are also back in action on Friday, hosting the Acadia Axemen.
RECAP BY: Krista McKenna/St FX Athletics
PHOTOS BY: Kendra Vigneau/for St FX Athletics