(MONCTON, NB) The UNB REDS won their seventh consecutive Atlantic University Sport (AUS) or (Sport universitaire de l’Atlantique) title with a 3-2 win over the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus in game two of their best of three conference championship series Tuesday night at Moncton’s J. Louis Levesques Arena.
Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC) scored twice, including once into an empty net, and had an assist to lead the REDS to their 21st championship in program history.
The teams played more than 19 minutes of scoreless hockey, with both goaltenders making a handful of spectacular saves each before Moncton’s Olivier-Luc Hache (Savoie Landing, NB) solved UNB’s Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC) with just 29 seconds remaining in the first period.
The tight checking game continued in the second period.
It wasn’t until the 16:45 mark, with the REDS working with the man advantage, that UNB was able to breakthrough.
Corbeil took a pass from Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) at the side of the net and fired a shot past Nathan Darveau (Rouyn-Noranda, QC) to tie the score 1-1
In the third period, Peter Reynolds (Fredericton, NB) put the REDS in front on a one-timer from the slot at 8:24.
Corbeil’s empty-net goal came with 1:23 to play, and it was a goal the REDS would need.
With 40 seconds remaining, Nathael Roy (Levis, QC) scored for Moncton, making it a 3-2 game, but that was as close as the home team would get.
Richard, who made 24 saves on 26 shots, was named the AUS Playoff MVP.
Darveau gave up two goals on 28 shots.
Next up for both teams, the U SPORTS men’s hockey championship tournament, in Ottawa, March 20-23.
The REDS will go in as AUS champs and two-time defending national champions.
Moncton will be making their second consecutive appearance in the national championship tournament.
Seedings and the tournament schedule are expected to be announced this weekend.
