Tigers fall to Moncton 5-2

The Moncton Aigles Bleus downed the Dalhousie Tigers 5-2 on Friday night in their last AUS regular season game of 2023.

The Aigles Bleus opened the scoring halfway through the first period when Olivier-Luc Hache (Savoie Landing, NB) scored an unassisted goal. Just 30 seconds later Edouard St-Laurent (Levis, QC) found a way past Dalhousie's Nicholas Chenard (Tecumseh, ON). Hache earned his second point of the night with an assist on the goal.

Moncton continued their scoring run with five minutes to go in the period. Dalhousie's Jarrett Baker (Black Rock, NS) took a slashing penalty, giving the Aigles Bleus the man advantage. A minute into the power play, Denis Toner (Saint-Andre, NB) scored the feed from Jacob Dion (Sherbrooke, QC). Once again, Moncton scored anther goal less than 30 seconds later. Hache round the back of the night for the second time on the night. Despite back-to-back penalties for the Aigles Bleus, the Tigers were not able to find away past Olivier Adam in the Moncton goal in the first period.

The Tigers came out from the first intermission with extra pep in their step and a change in goal with Alexander MacDonald (Truro, NS) taking over from Chenard. It paid off with a goal 4 minutes into the period when Jackson van de Leest buried a point shot. Despite outshooting Moncton 13-10 in the period, the Tigers were not able to cut the Aigles Bleus lead further.

Moncton returned their four-goal lead less than a minute into the third period with Alexandre Couture (Granby, QC) finding the back of the net. After Couture was sent to the box for a tripping penalty, Dalhousie looked to go on offence. Joseph Serpa (Cambridge, ON) took a feed from Shaun Miller (Enfield, NS) and cut the Aigles Bleus lead to three.

 The Tigers would run out of time to stage the full comeback however, and the game would end 5-2 for Moncton.

With two goals and an assist in the game tonight, Olivier-Luc Hache earned player of the game honours. 

The Tigers play their final game of 2023 on Saturday when they host the undefeated UNB REDS. Puck drop is set for 7pm at the Halifax Forum. 

Moncton now heads into their winter break. They return to the ice on January 5 when they host the Tigers.