RECAP BY: Madison Tucker/UNB Athletics
(FREDERICTON, NB) Friday the 13th proved to be a scary night for the Dalhousie Tigers.
The UNB REDS got off to an impressive start with three first period goals on route to an 8-0 victory over the Tigers.
Brady Gilmour (Grafton, ON) led the way with four assists, earning the Tim Hortons Player of the Game honours.
Adam McCormick (Waterville, NB), Austin Keating (Guelph, ON), and Cody Morgan (Gilford, ON) started the REDS domination, scoring three goals in the first period and setting the tone.
McCormick, joining the rush, gained the zone with a clear lane to the net, firing a puck low glove-side, beating Tigers goaltender, Alexander MacDonald (Truro, NS) to start the scoring.
"We feel good. Definitely, Griff playing well back there, back to back games without letting a goal in, that's our team as a whole, defence first and offence will come from there." said Gilmour. "We feel good, but we've got a big one tomorrow against X."
The REDS have now gone three games without allowing a goal and have outscored opponents 17-0.
Griffen Outhouse (Williams Lake, BC), the winning goalie on Friday, has been in the REDS net for two of UNB's three wins.
"It's just a real commitment from our group to go D first," added Gilmour. "Gardiner talks a lot about that in practice and it's showing out there on the ice."
Morgan pushed the REDS late in the first, scoring on a rocket of a shot, putting the REDS up 3-0.
"I think when you come in to play the defending national champions you've got to bring your 'A' game, and I don't think that we were in that ballpark," said Tigers head coach Chris Donnelly.
UNB didn't hold back in the second period.
Michael Petizian (Mississauga, ON) and Benjamin Corbeil (Granby, QC) added goals to make it 5-0.
"Mikey had a big night for us, he buried a couple for me," said Gilmour. "He's a great player and our line was clicking out there tonight. We had some good O-Zone time, so we'll see if we can keep it going."
On Petizian's goal, he was able to walk out from the corner untouched, ripping a shot over MacDonald's shoulder.
"We got caught standing around, and they made plays, and it's tough to get the feet going again after that," said Donnelly.
The third period began with Morgan adding to the REDS lead with his second goal.
Cole MacKay (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) rounded out the UNB barrage, scoring a short-handed goal midway through the final frame.
"We're fairly young and we've got some new guys that are going to have to learn how to work at this level and, hopefully, they learned something from the game tonight," Donnelly added.
The REDS now sit tied with Saint Mary's atop the Atlantic University Sport standings. Both teams are 3-and-0.
"We're a confident group," said Gilmour. "We work hard all week and we're just excited to play."
The REDS host STFX on Saturday afternoon. Game time is 4:00pm at UNB's Aitken Centre.
The Tigers continue their road weekend facing Moncton on Saturday at 7:00pm.