Late Goal Scuttles REDS Comeback
(FREDERICTON, NB) On a night when an almost full house was waiting for the UNB REDS to score, the home team made them wait… and wait… and wait.
In UNB's 9th annual Teddy Bear Toss Game, Friday, the goal that triggered a shower of more than 2000 stuffed animals onto the Aitken Centre ice didn't come until early in the third period.
In the end, the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus beat the REDS 3-2 in Atlantic University Sport men's hockey action.
After a scoreless first period, the Aigles Bleus were first on the scoreboard when Mika Cyr converted a powerplay opportunity mid-way through the second.
Moncton went up 2-0 just 53 seconds into the third period on a goal by Johnathan Desrosiers.
Jax Dubois finally gave the crowd of 3258 a chance to throw their stuffed animals when he scored at 3:07 of the third period, the latest Teddy Bear Toss Game goal in UNB history.
2213 stuffed animals were tossed, a new UNB Teddy Bear Toss Game record.
Clean-up caused an almost ten-minute delay.
The stuffed animals were collected and will be distributed by the Salvation Army to families in need during the coming holiday season.
Luke Torrance scored six minutes later to tie the game 2-2.
Then, with just 12 seconds left on the clock and Moncton working on the powerplay, Jules Boilard scored the winning goal.
The REDS' record falls to 9-6-1-0 (W-L-OTL-SOL), good for third place in the AUS standings.
Moncton is now 10-4-1-0 and sit atop the standings, tied with Acadia.
The next action for the REDS will be next Friday when they visit Dalhousie for a 7:00pm start.
Moncton will host UPEI tomorrow (Saturday) night.
RECAP BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS
PHOTOS BY: James West/for UNB REDS