FREDRICTON, New Brunswick – Today in New Brunswick, the number one ranked University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds met their rivals, number two ranked McGill University Redman.
Interestingly enough, McGill had never played in the University Cup Championship game in 135 years of university hockey for the school, UNB on the other hand were looking for their fourth national championship, a win would bring them a third championship in five years.
Going into the game both teams had some hardcore scouting reports to look at for McGill they had the big shooters of Alexander Picard Hooper, Maxime Langelier Parent but in order for the Redman to be a force in this game secondary scoring would have to step up to the plate.
On the other end of the ice UNB had their own weapons in Travis Fullerton the amazing goalie that had shut out the Western Ontario Mustangs in the semi finals, and McGill had to watch the special teams with UNB killing 11 straight penalties. When the puck was dropped at centre ice at Aitken Centre in Fredricton, UNB was taking no prisoners and they were taking it hard to McGill and were taking it to the body with several very hard hits while on the forecheck the McGill Redman looked like Timbits players playing against the NHL.
It took McGill the first ten minutes to settle down and start playing the body on UNB but at 10:04 of the first period UNB’s Luc Gallant, was fed by Hunter Trembly and shot it past McGill’s Hubert Morin to take the 1-0 lead.
But McGill turned it over to UNB in the defensive zone it was an unforced turnover. McGill applied tons of pressure towards the end of the third period but Travis Fullerton was great and made a great diving stop and then a great glove save. Josh Kidd of UNB who is a former Los Angeles Kings draft pick was giving a boarding penalty for his nasty hit on McGills Patrick Belzille that send Belzille to the dressing room but he did return in the second period. The second period started with the score still 1-0, but McGill was a new team and came out with a point to prove, they put tremendous pressure on the UNB V-Reds and they had a number of scoring chances but Fullerton was standing on his head and stopped everything that came his way.
The nerves had worn off and both teams played controlled, strong, smart until McGill turned the puck over again in the defensive zone which resulted in Daine Todd scoring to take the 2-0 lead. Todd was fed by Hunter Trembley and Luc Gallant. It was a sloppy goal and a sloppy play by McGill as goalie Morin was left all alone and the defence way out of position. The third period got off to a good start with UNB scoring at 4:08 of the third period Matt Fillier netted his first goal of the year. By the middle of the third McGill was playing sloppy and their frustration was showing, and at 11:15 off the third Daine Todd scored his second goal on a feed from Luc Gallant on the third unforced McGill turn over.
When time ran out the University of New Brusnwick Varsitey Reds were University Cup Champions for 2010/11 season in front of a home town crowd. Travis Fullerton UNB goalie finished the tournament letting in one goal in three games and playing to 145:56 minutes of shut out hockey. Congrats to the UNB Varsitey Reds
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