REDS defeat Huskies 6-3

HALIFAX, NS – The UNB REDS scored three unanswered goals in the third period, defeating the Saint Mary's Huskies 6-3 in Atlantic University Sport men's hockey action on Saturday night at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax.

The REDS opened the scoring with a four-on-four goal midway through the first period as forward Cody Morgan (Gilford, ON) skated wide around a Huskies defender and slid a low shot past Huskies netminder Marcus Vandenberg (Dorchester, ON), giving the visitors a 1-0 lead, 8:23 into the first period.

The REDS outshot the Huskies 10-5 through the opening 20 minutes, but Vandenberg was sharp, making nine saves, and the visitors took a 1-0 lead into first intermission.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Marcus Vandenberg with a couple nice saves in the second period! pic.twitter.com/vbJXdIcusO

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 18, 2026

Saint Mary's tied it up just over a minute into the second period, as on the powerplay, U SPORTS leading scorer Reid Valade (Caledon, ON) sparked captain Charlie Da Fonseca (Thornhill, ON) on a breakaway, where he snapped a wrist shot past REDS goaltender Remi Delafontaine (Sherbrooke, QC), tying the game at 1-1, 1:05 into the period.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Captain Charlie delivers right on cue! @mikebarkhouse speaks it into existence and Da Fonseca makes it happen with a breakaway goal to tie the game at 1-1!

��C. Da Fonseca (5)
��R. Valade pic.twitter.com/9wmzKCJX1S

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 18, 2026

The game remained tight and physical, with several altercations and penalties throughout the second period. Midway through, the Huskies were on a powerplay but it was the REDS who took advantage, as forward Camaryn Baber (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) caught up to a dump and chase and wrapped around the Huskies goal before delivering a pass to forward Braeden MacPhee (Moncton, NB) who slid it past Vandenberg to put the visitors ahead 2-1, 11 minutes into the second period.

But once again the Huskies were able to quickly equalize, with forward Dylan Andrews (Cole Harbour, NS) cutting in on goal before delivering a perfect pass to Davis Cooper (Hammonds Plains, NS) who scored to tie the game at 2-2, at the 12:20 mark of the second.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Dylan Andrews makes a nice play to set up Davis Cooper for the goal, tying it at 2-2!

��D. Cooper (3)
��D. Andrews
��C. Grisolia pic.twitter.com/MTpj8b6I5j

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 18, 2026

The REDS took another lead just over a minute later, with another four-on-four goal courtesy of a nice wrist shot from forward Justin Nolet (Mississauga, ON), putting the visitors ahead 3-2, 13:41 into the second period.

Saint Mary's outshot UNB 17-11 in the period, but the visitors took a 3-2 lead into second intermission.

For the third time in the game, the Huskies tied it up with a powerplay marker from Jacob Holmes (Alliston, ON) off a shot from a sharp angle, 5:06 into the third.

HUSKIES HIGHLIGHTS ��

Jacob Holmes snipes a powerplay goal to tie the game at 3-3!

��J. Holmes (3)
��L. Arnsby
��W. Chisholm pic.twitter.com/sDMLKLKxkP

— Saint Mary's Huskies (@SMUHuskies) January 18, 2026

But the REDS finished the game strong, with Braeden MacPhee scoring his second goal of the game, following up an attempt from forward Thomas Larouche (Gatineau, QC) and catching Vandenberg out of position to put UNB ahead 4-3, 6:20 into the third.

The REDS iced the game with two shorthanded goals from Jax Dubois (Ottawa, ON) and Roberto Mancini (Maple, ON), securing the 6-3 victory.

Saint Mary's outshot the REDS 31-27 for the game, with Remi Delafontaine making 28 saves in the win, while Marcus Vandenberg stopped 21 shots in defeat.

With the win, the REDS improve to 13-8-1-0 on the season, and are tied with the Huskies for third in the standings with 27 points. UNB will be back on home ice next weekend, hosting the STFX X-Men (9-10-0-3) on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Dalhousie Tigers (1-19-1-1) on Saturday at 4 p.m., in Fredericton, N.B.

The Huskies loss snaps an eight-game point streak, dropping their record to 12-7-1-2. Saint Mary's will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 23, visiting the Acadia Axemen (14-5-1-2), before returning home to host the Moncton Aigles Bleus (15-6-1-0) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics
Photos by Eduardo Ibarra / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics