MacDougall-coached UNB Reds win another AUS ch’ship

Next stop is University Cup in Lethbridge, Alta.

SUMMERSIDE — The UNB Reds have earned another Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey championship banner.

The Reds, under the guidance of head coach and Bedeque native Gardiner MacDougall, built period leads of 3-0 and 5-1 en route to defeating the St. Francis Xavier X-Men 7-1 in Antigonish, N.S., on Wednesday night to sweep the best-of-three final series in two straight games. UNB won Game 1 in Fredericton, N.B., on Monday night 5-1.

The Reds, who have won two straight AUS titles and six of the last nine, feature two other Prince Edward Islanders and former Summerside Western Capital players. Kinkora native Charlie Cameron is an assistant coach while forward Stephen Anderson of Morell is in his fourth season at UNB.

NATIONALS

With the AUS granted two berths in the Cavendish Farms University Cup in Lethbridge, Alta., from March 14 to 17, both the Reds and X-Men will compete in the U Sports national championship tournament. The final pre-tournament seedings, which will determine the matchups, are expected to be released Sunday. The Reds were ranked second in the latest national rankings released Tuesday.

UNB posted a regular-season record of 25-2-3 in finishing atop the AUS, and went 5-0 in the post-season.

The Alberta Golden Bears (24-3-1), with a 4-1 playoff record, are ranked No. 1.