CALGARY – Hunter Tremblay notched a hat-trick as the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds made it three for three in the province of Alberta, defeating the host Calgary Dinos by a score of 6-1.
On a rare four on three power play situation early in the first period, 2009 CIS Player of the Year Hunter Tremblay was the benefactor of crisp UNB passing, finding a wide open net as he easily put it under Calgary goaltender Dustin Butler.
The four on three situation was due in part to a scary early situation in which 2009 CIS All-Rookie Team defenseman Ben Shutron was tripped up by Eric Frere and fell awkwardly into the end boards. Shutron appeared to have suffered a leg injury on the play, was taken off the ice by stretcher and did not return. Frere received a five-minute tripping major and a game misconduct on the play.
Tremblay would add two more goals in the third period, the first of which on a short-handed breakaway off of a Dinos turnover, and the second coming in a scramble situation in front of Butler. Tremblay finishes his three-game Alberta road swing with five goals and two assists, showing Canada West exactly how he managed a ludicrous 57 points in the AUS in 2009.
Chris Culligan would make it 2-0 for the Varsity Reds in the 16th minute of the opening frame, converting on a nice give and go from defenceman Jonathan Harty. UNB outplayed the Dinos in most facets in the first period, outshooting the home squad twelve to four.
Despite the eventual 20 to eight difference in shots, Calgary played much better in the second period, particularly on defence as they deflected numerous Varsity Red shot attempts. The defensive effort would be rewarded late in the second, as Dinos rookie Kodie Curran's shot from the slot beat UNB goaltender Travis Fullerton on his left side. Curran's goal took Calgary into the break down only one, and after the 10-2 loss on Wednesday; the game looked to be a much more exciting one down the
stretch.
However UNB simply wore the Dinos down in the third, using Tremblay's two goals as well as markers from Luke Gallant and Nick Layton to go up 6-1. Gallant's blast from the point may have been redirected by a Dinos defender, which completely handcuffed Dustin Butler, while Layton took a cross-crease pass from Jeff Lee to find a wide open left side of the net late in the period.
Fullerton and Derek Yeomans had fairly quiet nights in net in the victory for the Varsity Reds, making seven and four saves respecticvely, while Dustin Butler countered with 29. Despite the lopsided score, Butler played fairly well in net for the Dinos, dealing with near constant pressure the entire game.
The game was another physical one, with both teams combining for 59 penalty minutes after teaming up for 98 in Wednesday's UNB victory.
UNB will return to Fredricton on September 24th for their fall classic, and will face the Guelph Gryphons, while Calgary draws their provincial rival, the Alberta Golden Bears on Sunday September 19th. The Bears lost to UNB 6-2 on Friday night in Edmonton, and will face off with the Dinos at 6 pm Sunday night.
-UC-
