FREDERICTON, NB - The University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds won their third straight game against an NCAA opponent, defeating the Providence College Friars 6-3 Friday night at Schneider Arena in the Rhode Island capital.

It was the first game of the season for the rebuilding Friars, and the ninth preseason game for the V-Reds. UNB has only ever played PC once before, back on December 29, 1983 at a tournament in Halifax, and apparently the Friars won that game.

UNB was the first on the scoreboard at 5:19, when Josh Hepditch (Fredericton, NB), who was playing forward this game, tipped a Matt Fillier (Durham, NS) shot on the rush past Friar netminder Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, ON). Providence, who had an early lead in shots, tied the game at 12:25 when Chris Eppich scored off a rebound on UNB goalie Travis Fullerton (Riverview, NB). Veteran forward John Scott Dickson (Barrie, ON) restored the UNB lead at 18:28. PC edged UNB 11-10 in shots in the first period.

In the second period, the Friars caught a break while short-handed when UNB defenceman Luke Gallant (Bedford, NS) coughed up the puck at his blueline and Matt Bergland (Faribault, MN) scored unassisted at 4:07 to tie the game again. UNB regained the lead at 6:44 when Lachlan MacIntosh (Perth-Andover, NB) benefited from some strong fore-checking from his linemate Kyle Bailey (Ponoka, AB) and got the puck past Beaudry.

Jordan Kremyr (Cloverdale, BC) tied the game for the Friars yet again at 9:11 when he beat Fullerton glove side. Shortly after, at the midpoint of the game, UNB swapped goaltenders as planned for the exhibition game and Derek Yeomans (St. Albert, AB) went between pipes. The Varsity Reds' newest player, big defenceman Josh Kidd (Sundridge, ON), scored his first UNB goal in his first game in the red 'n black when he fired a puck through a crowd from the top of the circle that the PC goalie had no chance on at 16:44. Showing the shift in momentum in the game in the second period, UNB outshot the Friars 14-6.

Justin Gates (Cranston, RI) went into the Providence net for the third period, but it did little to slow down UNB. Rookie Daine Todd (Stettler, AB) finally beat Gates at 12:20 when he came around from behind the net and scored on the wraparound. Providence was on the power play at the 15 minute mark when Hunter Tremblay (Timmins, ON) knocked in short-handed the rebound of a Jonathan Harty (Oromocto, NB) shot. The V-Reds smothered the Friars in the third period, only allowing them 2 shots while they notched

15 of their own.

Final shots were 39-19 in favour of the V-Reds. Next up for UNB is their home opening start of the regular season next Friday at 7:00 pm., when the UPEI Panthers will be at the Aitken University Centre. UNB finishes the preseason with a record of 8-1, with their only loss to date to the AHL's Portland Pirates.

Source:

By David Kilfoil for UNB Athletics