REDS comeback to defeat Huskies 3-1

HALIFAX, NS – The UNB REDS defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies 3-1 in Atlantic University Sport women's hockey action on Saturday afternoon at the Dauphinee Centre in Halifax, N.S.

The game began with a ceremonial puck-drop as part of the Huskies Indigenous Heritage Weekend, with former Huskies women's hockey player Erin Denny dropping the puck. In August, Hockey Nova Scotia and the Genevieve Francis Memorial Fund announced the creation of the Erin Denny Award and the Erin Denny Scholarship, two new annual awards that will recognize and inspire the next generation of Indigenous players in Nova Scotia. To learn more about this fund, please visit hockeynovascotia.ca. 

The Huskies opened the scoring just 1:49 into the first period, as forward Ava Shearer (Windsor, NS) took a pass from linemate Mia Faseruk (Winnipeg, MB) and unleashed a wicked wrist shot that beat REDS netminder Cassie McCallum (Rothesay, NB) high, giving the hosts an early 1-0 lead.

The Huskies outshot the REDS 7-4 through the opening 20 minutes, and took a 1-0 lead into first intermission.

Neither team scored in the second period, as McCallum and Huskies goaltender Ridleigh Hansen (Red Deer, AB) were sharp in nets, turning away six and four shots respectively, and the Huskies took a 1-0 lead into second intermission.

The REDS came back in the third period, with a trio of goals. First it was defender Lilly Bell (Waterloo, ON) who fired a shot from the point that beat a screened Hansen, tying the game at 1-1, 6:18 into the first period.

Just over two minutes later the REDS took the lead, with league-leading scorer Olivia Eustace (Riverview, NB) knocking in a rebound to put the visitors ahead 2-1, 8:42 into the period.

UNB added an insurance marker at 15:20 into the third, with defender Robyn Brokenshier (St. Albert, AB) stealing the puck at the Huskies blueline and cutting in on net, before lifting a backhand shot over Hansen's blocker to put the REDS ahead 3-1, which would remain the final score.

Olivia Eustace was named Player of the Game for the REDS, scoring the game-winning goal.

REDS netminder Cassie McCallum stopped 16 shots for the win, while Ridleigh Hansen made 14 saves in defeat.

The REDS win improves their record to 5-2-1-0 on the campaign. UNB will be back on home ice next Friday, Oct. 31, as they host the STFX X-Women (5-2-0-0) at 7 p.m. at the Aitken Centre in Fredericton, N.B.

The Huskies loss drops their record to 3-3-0-0 on the season. Saint Mary's will be back on home ice on Sunday afternoon, hosting the St. Thomas Tommies (3-3-0-0) at 3 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre. GET TICKETS

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