Connor Hicks makes 45 saves in loss to UNB

(FREDERICTON, NB) James McEwan (Chatham, ON) had a goal and an assist and Griffen Outhouse (Williams Lake, BC) stopped all 26 shots he faced as the UNB REDS shutout the Dalhousie Tigers 4-0 in the Atlantic University Sport regular season finale for both teams, on Saturday. 

McEwan's two points earned him Subway Player of the Game. 

"It's our culture, which stems from great leadership in the dressing room, the coaching staff bringing great players in and it all blends together," said McEwan, reflecting on the REDS key to sustained success throughout an unusual 2021-22 season. 

Mark Rassell (Calgary, AB) added a pair of assists for the REDS. 

The game was played before 1,949 fans at UNB's Aitken Centre. 

The REDS would get the first high-danger chance five minutes in when Ryan Roth (St. Louis, MO) fed James Phelan (Laval, QC) a pass from behind the Dal net that Phelan couldn't elevate past Tigers' goaltender Connor Hicks (Kanata, ON). 

Dalhousie would get a 2-on-1 shortly after that would create a goalmouth scramble, but Outhouse would shut the door. 

The REDS opened the scoring at 7:56, as Rassell skated a lap of the Tigers zone to keep the puck in before giving it to Roth, who then put a shot into traffic that was tipped by Noah Carroll (Strathroy, ON) for his first goal as a RED and the 1-0 lead. 

"It's a big sigh of relief," said the fourth-year defenceman. "I've been patient, tried not to worry about it, but I can't say that it hasn't been in the back of my mind," said Carroll. 

"You saw our bench's reaction, that pretty much tells the story about how close we are as a team, we were so excited for him," said McEwan, of Carroll's goal. 

Samuel Dove-McFalls (Montreal, QC) would add to the REDS lead early in the second, finding the back of the net just 26 seconds in. 

Isaac Nurse (Hamilton, ON) would add to the lead with 2:07 left in the second, cleaning up a bouncing puck in the Tigers crease for the 3-0 goal. 

Just over five minutes into the third, Jason Willms (Kitchener, ON) would take the puck up the right wing off of a Dalhousie turnover and drop it to McEwan who would fire the puck top shelf for the UNB's fourth goal. 

The REDS would continue to hold the Tigers offense scoreless through the final 15 minutes for a 4-0 final.  

Shots were 49-26 for UNB in the game. 

Hicks made 45 saves in a losing effort. 

The REDS sit atop the AUS standings at 21-3, and have earned a first-round bye in the AUS playoffs. 

Dal finishes in third place at 11-11-1. They'll play the winner of a play-in game between the Acadia Axemen and the Moncton Aigles Bleus in the first round.