AUS Men’s Hockey: Game four
March 25, 2026 11:04 AM
After a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of the St. Mary’s Huskies to force a game five in the AUS semi-finals in Halifax, it was grimly uncertain whether another game would be played on KMC ice this season.
Due to the overtime heroics of Phil Mangan however, X’s roller coaster post season continued into their second straight AUS finals, this time against their heated rival the UNB Varsity Reds.
Playing two games in two nights, the Reds took game three of the series Tuesday night with a 2-0 win.
The next night StFX took the ice once again with their post season hanging in the balance and a packed house eager to see them persevere once more.
The boys in blue did not disappoint, defeating the Reds 6-3 in an emotionally raw game that at one point saw them down 3-1.
Having won game three 2-0 the night before the UNB Reds came out in the first period aggressive and eager to ensure there would not be a game five.
The play as it is often between these two teams was very physical but evenly matched.
In a series where goals were few and far between, UNB nearly got their first goal late in the first from a chip in front by Daine Todd.
X net minder Joseph Perricone was able to get his glove on it and remain solid to close out what was by the end a very evenly played first period.
What was a very even-keeled scoreless game became a shooting gallery in the second period, with four goals in just over two minutes scored mid period.
StFX came out laying down hits early to establish presence but it was UNB first on the board, scoring right off a face off.
Less than a minute later on a power play, X’s Chris Hulit blasted one at UNB net-man Travis Fullerton who initially deflected the puck but failed to see it trickle in behind him.
The insanity continued on the ensuing face off when the Reds surged back up the ice and Jordan Clendenning beat Perricone to make the score 2-1 at 7:36 minutes, just ten seconds after X had tied the game.
The momentum completed its full swing into the Red camp when Todd atoned for his early near goal, beating Perricone, and making what had moments earlier been a scoreless contest now a 3-1 game in UNB’s favour.
X rallied to cut the lead down to 3-2 on a power play when X-Man R.D. Chisholm blasted in from the point.
StFX got a very late interference penalty that drew massive boos from the crowd at 19:59 and caused the X-Men to go into a critical third period a man short.
With their season on the line, fate once again intervened in the X-Men’s favor.
Fullerton, the UNB net minder, on a bad clearing attempt, coughed up the puck which was promptly shot in by X’s Brennan Wray just 11 seconds into the third period.
Fullerton then drew a delay of game penalty, and on the ensuing X power play Spencer McAvoy wired a laser from the top of the face off circle to make the game 4-3.
Perricone, despite his shaky second period, became a rock in the third and X continued to apply offensive pressure.
Kevin Undershute fired it past Fullerton in traffic, making it 5-3 in favour of StFX.
The final nail in the coffin was delivered less than a minute later on a breakaway by Bryce Swan that blew the roof off the KMC and made the game 6-3.
This forced a game five for all the marbles Friday night in Fredericton.
First star of the game was awarded to Perricone for his stellar play in net.
UNB won the series after another intense game on Friday night, defeating the X-men 5-4 in OT.
Both teams will now go on to CIS which are also being held in UNB during March 24-27.
