Source: Kiana Pace, StFX Sports Information
Antigonish, NS - The U SPORTS No. 2 ranked StFX X-Men shut out the visiting Dalhousie Tigers 3-0 on a stormy Wednesday evening at the Charles V. Keating Centre. Despite play being postponed 15 minutes due to the inclement weather affecting the arrival of the games officials, both teams came ready to play a very active 60 minutes of hockey.
The opening period saw Dalhousie goaltender Corbin Boes (Saskatoon, SK) and X-Men goaltender Chase Marchand (Halifax, NS) allow no goals on 9 and 11 shots respectively. Both teams also saw only two penalty minutes each in the period.
Play ramped up in the second period when Subway Player of the Game and first star Michael Clarke (London, ON) scored his first of two goals in the contest while Tigers defenseman Evan Scott (Montreal, QC) was serving a two minute slashing penalty. Kristoff Kontos (Penetanguishene, ON) found the nights' second star Jagger Dirk (Penticton, BC) at the blue line then Dirk set up Clarke for a one timer which beat Boes glove side at 17:15.
Despite having another power play only moments later when Scott was sent back to the penalty box on another slashing call, the X-Men's second and third goals didn't come until the final frame.
Shots in the second period favoured StFX 12-8.
The final 20 minutes of play saw a total of 36 penalty minutes being handed out between the two squads. While playing four on four, following an offensive zone draw, Holden Cook (Oshawa, ON) drew the puck back but had it intercepted. Clarke managed to steal the puck back, walked in front of the net and fired it past Boes, hard enough to destroy the water bottle sitting atop the Tigers net.
Furthering their lead even more was an empty net goal from Matt Needham (Penticton, BC) at 18:31. Cook and Dirk were credited with assists on the goal.
For his strong performance Dalhousie forward Jackson Playfair (Fort St. James, BC) was awarded third star of the game.
Shots in the contest favoured StFX 38-25. Marchand picked up his league-leading 13th win of the season with his first shutout of the year.
Dalhousie is back in action again on Friday as they host the Moncton Aigles Bleus at 7:00 pm. The Aigles Bleus then travel to Antigonish on Saturday to play the X-Men, also at 7:00 pm.