Trott pots game winner in OT to lift X-Men over Huskies

ANTIGONISH, NS - The STFX X-Men kicked off their weekend with a thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Saint Mary's Huskies on Friday night at the Charles V. Keating Centre in Antigonish.

Zack Trott (Mulmur, ON) scored the game winner 35 seconds into overtime, wristing home a low shot from the slot after getting a pass from second star Charlie Callaghan (Toronto, ON). Jacob Maillet (Dundas, ON), the Gabriel Pizza STFX player of the game also assisted on the game winning goal, after scoring the tying goal in the third period.

The Huskies went on the powerplay early in the first period but it was STFX turning the opportunity into a goal. Ben Mercer (Halifax, NS) picked up a loose puck in his own end after blocking a Saint Mary's shot, skated in on a two-on-one, and passed it over to Cole Stewart (Moncton, NB) for the shorthanded marker. 

Two minutes later, Alex Christopoulos (Richmond Hill, ON) potted a powerplay goal for the home team, ripping a high wrist shot off a pass from the faceoff dot, with Trott assisting. 

About midway through the period, SMU cut the lead in half, with Ben Allison (Halifax, NS) one-timing a from Dennis Busby (Oro-Mendote, ON) and Derek Gentile (Sydney, NS) into the net after some sustained powerplay pressure from the Huskies.

Shots at the end of 20 minutes were 13-7 in favor of Saint Mary's though they trailed 1-0 on the scoreboard.

The rough and tumble action continued in the second period, but neither team was able to find the back of the net early on.

The Huskies found the tying goal with nine minutes left in the stanza, with Jaxon Bellamy's (Hampton, NB) point shot finding the back of the net through a crowd. Will Thompson (Fredericton, NB) and third star of the game, Declan McDonnell (Buffalo, NY) had the assists. 

Five minutes later, Nathan Dunkley (Campbellford, ON) pulled the Huskies ahead 3-2, tucking one high off a pass from Ben Boyd (Dartmouth, NS).

Shots after 40 minutes were 30-15 in favor of Saint Mary's. 

STFX goalie Patrick Leaver (Perth, ON) made a dynamite save 90 seconds into the third period to keep the game close, while on the other end of the ice, Justin Sumarah (Halifax, NS) made a big save with 10 minutes left to play. 

STFX drew even with four minutes to go, as Maillet potted one between the legs off a pass from Ethan Burroughs (Georgetown, ON). Neither team could break the deadlock in regulation, setting the table for Trott's game winner. 

Leaver made 37 saves in the win, while Sumarah had 23 saves. 

The X-Men return to home ice tomorrow night, when they will take on the visiting Acadia Axemen at 7 p.m. The Huskies host the Dalhousie Tigers tomorrow night in Halifax, also at 7 p.m.

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Recap courtesy Matt Draper, STFX Athletics