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Huskies topple top-ranked REDS in 2-1 shootout victory
Posted: Nov 26, 2022

Huskies topple top-ranked REDS in 2-1 shootout victory

Tickets Photos Box Score
Scoring Summary
1st - 19:17 - Andrew Coxhead (Saint Mary's)
3rd - 13:59 - Camaryn Baber (UNB)
OT - 05:00 - Cedric Ralph (Saint Mary's)
Game Leaders
UNB
G: Camaryn Baber - 1
A: 2 Players (#40, #47) - 1
Sh: 2 Players (#40, #47) - 6
Sv: Samuel Richard - 22
Saint Mary's
G: 2 Players (#20, #TM) - 1
A: 2 Players (#19, #26) - 1
Sh: 2 Players (#16, #20) - 5
Sv: Jeremy Helvig - 50
Team Stats
Full stats

Saint Mary's goaltender Jeremy Helvig turned away 50 shots, and forward Cedric Ralph scored the shootout winner, as the Huskies defeated the U SPORTS #1 ranked UNB REDS 2-1 at the Dauphinee Centre on Saturday night.

Saturday's game was part of the Huskies Red Tape Hockey Doubleheader, aiming to combat racism in hockey. The Red Tape Initiative began with local Indigenous youth Logan Prosper of Whycocomagh First Nation, who faced racist taunts at a Midget A hockey game in 2019, and started the Red Tape Initiative with his father Phillip to create awareness of racism in hockey. The Prosper's were involved in ceremonial puck-drop pre-game, and also spoke at a reception between games at the Dauphine Centre.

As part of Saint Mary's Indigenous Sport Week, the Huskies wore jersey patches provided in partnership with the Orange Jersey Project, helmet stickers with the logo of the 2023 North American Indigenous Games, and of course the Red Tape on their sticks to show their support for the cause.

The Huskies had a chance to create momentum on an early powerplay but couldn't get any good looks due to an aggressive UNB penalty killing unit.

The REDS looked to open the scoring minutes later when a pass by Simon Pinard (Drummondville, QC) was fed into the slot for Brady Gilmour (Grafton, ON) who tipped it towards the net. Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, ON) was able to make a nice save off the redirection.

Saint Mary's had an excellent opportunity of their own when Jake Durham (Port Perry, ON) had two swings at a rebound but couldn't beat Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC).

One of the nicest saves of the game came when Austen Keating (Guelph, ON) was in close to the left of the SMU net and fired a shot, but Helvig kicked his right leg up for the denial which got stick taps from the Huskies bench.

Late in the period Andrew Coxhead (Bedford, NS) received a pass from below the goal line and tried to go short side on Richard to no avail. The Huskies collected the rebound, worked it around the zone and Durham took a shot from distance. Richard made the initial save but Coxhead was right on the doorstep to bury the rebound with just 53 seconds left in the period.

Coxhead's 11th goal of the season tied him for fourth in the conference. The second year forward has scored in four straight games, recording six points (five goals and one assist) over the hot streak.

Shots were 15-11 UNB at the intermission, with the Huskies taking a 1-0 lead into the second period.

The second period saw the teams match each other stride for stride with both squads battling for the ever so important second goal of the game.

Near the midway mark of the period the Huskies found themselves on a 2 on 1 rush. Durham held on to the puck and fired a shot past Richard but not the metalworks as the puck rang off the crossbar.

Minutes later Keating received a stretch pass from his own end to the SMU blueline and was in on a breakaway. He tried to wrist a shot past the glove of Helvig but the Huskies goalie snatched it out of the air.

Joel Bishop (St. John's, NL) took a late penalty for goalie interference which gave the visiting REDS a chance to equalize before the end of the frame. With a just a few seconds left in the period Gilmour slid a pass across the ice to Pinard who sent the one-timer off the shoulder off Helvig.

Shots were 30-15 in favour of UNB at the end of 40 minutes.

Near the midway mark of the third period the Huskies were pressuring and were looking to extend their lead. Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON) fed a pass across for Keith Getson (Bridgewater, NS) who was denied by Richard.

With six minutes left in the game the REDS were on the attack. The puck came back to the blueline for Pinard who just threw the puck towards the net. A high deflection by Camaryn Baber (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) sent the puck past Helvig.

The goal was immediately waved off but after some discussion by the referees the call was overturned, and the game was tied at one.

Neither team scored in the final minutes of regulation or overtime, so the game was to be decided in a shootout.

Cedric Ralph (Peterborough, ON) was the third shooter for the Huskies and fired a shot five hole. Gilmour couldn't extend the shootout after sending his backhand attempt high and the Huskies took the game 2-1.

Huskies goaltender Jeremy Helvig was named Subway Player of the Game, stopping 50 shots for the victory.

"I'm feeling great, that was a great win for the boys all around," said Helvig post-game. "We were short a couple players tonight, but it was great to get a big win over the number one team in Canada."

The Huskies win improved their record to 9-7-0 on the season. The Huskies will face crosstown rival Dalhousie Tigers on Wednesday night at the Halifax Forum, before returning to the Dauphinee Centre to host the St. FX X-Men on Friday, Dec. 2, with puck-drop at 7 p.m. GET TICKETS

The REDS loss snapped a 12 game win-streak, and dropped their record to 13-2-0-1 on the campaign. The REDS will return to home ice next Friday, Dec. 2, as they host the Moncton Aigles Bleus, with puck-drop at 7 p.m.

Recap by Troy Langstaff / SMU Huskies Athletics
Photos by Mona Ghiz / SMU Huskies Athletics