Reds Top Riverhawks

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS women’s hockey team continued their pandemic-forced exhibition season Saturday night, at UNB’s Aitken Centre.

First-year REDS forward Marisa Valla scored twice to lead UNB in a 6-0 win over the visiting girls prep team from Rothesay Netherwood School.

Valla says her first goal as a Red was a memorable, and lucky, one.

“It was right off my bum and in, so I kind of got lucky there,” she said. “The second one, we had all the rookies out for the power-play, so it was kind of fun. I just chipped it up and over the pad.”

Another first year Red, Melanie Drost, has a goal and an assist, while Emma Giordano, also in her first season at UNB scored too.

Veterans Frederike Cyr and Lily George had UNB’s other goals.

The RNS Riverhawks, who play in the North American Prep Hockey Association, were outshot 31-6 by the Atlantic University Sport REDS.

Riverhawks goaltender Cassie McCallum, who recently committed to join the REDS next season, played the first half of the game in the RNS net.

“I thought we played pretty good. We worked hard, did what we could, got pucks deep, were chasing pucks and trying to stay positive and keep our heads up,” she said.

McCallum admitted it was a tough game, against a superior opponent, one she looks forward to being a part of next season.

“I thought it was pretty cool to be able to play in my rink for next year, especially against a team I’ll be playing with next year and see how the girls work and move and how they play, so I thought that was pretty cool to be playing against them and on the ice with them.”

“She fights, she has a lot of tenacity,” said Cyr, of her future teammate. “She made a lot of really good saves and we had a lot of chances, rebounds, and she really worked until the whistle was blown and I think that’s going to be great for us next year.”

Cyr was also happy to see the REDS offence get a work-out.

“I think we needed this,” she said. “I know it’s not against AUS competition, but scoring six goals feels good, and we know now that we can do that against other teams.”

The REDS are hoping to skate in one more exhibition game before the make-shift season comes to an end.

RECAP AND PHOTOS: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics