Braes Hat-Trick Leads UNB Over Moncton

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Varsity Reds scored nine goals. The Moncton Aigles Bleus had just nine shots on net.

That was the difference.

The U Sports Canada No. 1 ranked Varsity Reds beat the visiting Aigles Bleus 9-1, on Saturday.

Cam Braes(Shawnigan Lake, BC) scored three times and had two assists to lead the home team.

Philippe Maillet(Terrebonne, QC) had two goals and two assists, while Jordan Murray(Riverview, NB) added a goal and two assists, and Stephen Anderson(Morell, PE) registered three assists.

Jean-Francois Plante(Sherbrooke, QC) scored Moncton's lone goal.

"My linemates made a ton of great plays tonight," said Braes, named the game's first star and Subway Player of the Game. "I didn't have to do a whole lot out there, I was just in the right place."

The fifth year forward scored midway through the first, and again about five minutes later.

Maillet's first of the night came in the final minute of the opening period.

Plante put Moncton on the board just 40 seconds into the second, but UNB would add three more to put the game out of reach.

The VReds added three more in the third, including two on the power-play, one of which came with just four second left on the clock.

Alex Dubeau(Mascouche, QC) stopped eight of the nine shots he faced for the win.

Brandon Thibeau(Riverview, NB) gave up six of the UNB goals in 40 minutes of work, suffering the loss.

"It was kind of a perfect storm, for us," said Aigles Bleus' head coach Serge Bourgeois. "They're the best team in Canada, we played last night, they were on a break."

While critical of the schedule-maker, Bourgeois was realistic when asked about the Varsity Reds.

"They have a pro team over there," he said. "They could play against an East Coast League team and I think they'd have a really good shot at winning hockey games."

With the win, the Varsity Reds improve to 12-0-2.

UNB leads the AUS standings by six points, over St. FX.

"The team keeps winning, that's the most important thing," said Braes. "The individual points are great, but I'm happy that we're on a roll here. Hopefully we'll keep it going into the Christmas break."

The Varsity Reds travel to Acadia next Friday, for a 7:00PM faceoff.

Moncton will host Dalhousie the same night.