HALIFAX (CIS) – The No. 7 seed Lancer men's hockey team dropped a 6-2 decision to the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in the CIS quarter-finals Thursday night.
 
University Cup website: www.universitycup.ca

The score was not indicative of the game as the Lancers trailed 3-2 with 10 minutes remaining in the third and were pressing hard for the tying goal. However, a pair of late Windsor penalties led to two UNB power play goals to make the score 5-2 which put the game out of reach.
 
Early on, the AUS conference champions opened the scoring at 17:15 of the first period on a marker by team captain Cam Critchlow, who stuffed a puck on the lip of the Lancer crease behind goaltender Parker Van Buskirk.
 
At the 1:20 mark of the second period, the Varsity Reds doubled their lead on a power-play goal from Cam Braes on an assist from Philippe Maillet.
 
Lancer captain and player of the game Drew Palmer sliced the UNB lead in half with 13:47 remaining in the second period. On a two-on-one breakaway, in his final CIS game, he deposited a rebound behind David Shantz off a blast from Daulton Siwak. Blake Blondeel notched the other assist.
 
At 7:29 of the third period, Braes scored his second of the game, on an assist from Tyler Carroll, to restore a two-goal advantage for UNB.
 
Just more than one minute later, CIS player of the year Spencer Pommells cut the lead to 3-2 on the power-play. He ripped a blast behind Shantz at the 8:40 mark. Palmer, with his second point of the night, and Julian Luciani assisted.
 
Braes, on a set-up by Jordan Murray, scored his first of back-to-back power-play goals in a one-minute span, to stretch the UNB lead to 5-2.
 
Chris Caissy, unassisted, wrapped up the scoring with an empty-net goal with 10 seconds remaining in regulation.
 
Special teams were a key part of the result, with UNB scoring on three out of eight chances with the man-advantage, while the Lancers, who had the third-best power play in the CIS, could only score one goal in seven opportunities.
 
Palmer said the power plays, especially an extended 5-on-3 UNB advantage in the third period, were key. "It kind of changed the momentum; it hurt a lot," he offered.
 
Even after falling behind by three goals later, Palmer said his team played until the end.
"There is no give up with this team," he added of the Lancers.
 
The loss eliminates the Lancers, who won bronze in the OUA, from further tournament competition.
 
"We thought we gave ourselves a chance to win against a very good hockey team," Windsor head coach Kevin Hamlin said, noting the shots on goal "were not indicative of the play."
 
UNB outshot Windsor 38-12.
 
Shantz made 10 saves for the win, while Van Buskirk turned aside 32 shots in the loss. Braes four goals tied a CIS record for most goals in a national championship tournament game.
 
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SCORING SUMMARY
 
Official Boxscore: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mice/2015/championship
 
 
FIRST PERIOD
1. UNB Cam Critchlow SH (1) (Rob Mignardi), 17:15 SH
 
PENALTIES:
Beaudon (WSR) tripping, 02:31;
Boudens (UNB) hooking, 12:06;
Carroll (UNB) hooking, 15:20;
Pommells (WSR) hooking, 18:54.
 
SECOND PERIOD
2. UNB Cam Braes PP (1) (Philippe Maillet), 01:20
3. WSR Drew Palmer (1) (Daulton Siwak, Blake Palmer), 06:13
 
PENALTIES:
Palmer (WSR) delay of game, 00:45;
Robertson (UNB) contact to the head (2 mins) 02:29, served by #15 Chris Caissey
Robertson (UNB) 10 mins misconduct, 02:29;
Maillet (UNB) unsportsmanlike conduct, 07:38;
Beaudoin (WSR) unsportsmanlike conduct, 07:38;
Denomme (WSR) high sticking, 08:12;
Christou (WSR) cross checking, 10:38;
Petgrave (UNB) high sticking, 14:28;
Gazzola (UNB) tripping, 18:10.
 
THIRD PERIOD
4. UNB Cam Braes PP (2) (Tyler Carroll), 07:29
5. WSR Spencer Pommells PP (Drew Palmer, Julian Luciani) 08:40
6. UNB Cam Braes PP (3) (Jordan Murray), 13:37
7. UNB Cam Braes PP (4) (unassisted), 14:47
8.  UNB Chris Caissy, (empty net), 19:50
 
PENALTIES:
Murray (UNB) roughing, 01:56;
Critchlow (UNB) tripping, 08:11;
Blondell (WSR) 5 cross checking, 09:58; (served by #41 Dylan Seguin)
Blondell (WSR) 10 Min Misconduct, 09:58;
Christou (WSR) interference, 12:51;
Bradford (WSR) holding, 16:06
 
GOALS (by period)
UNB 1-1-4: 6
WSR 0-1-1: 2
 
SHOTS ON GOAL (by period)
UNB 9-10-19: 38
WSR 4-5-3: 12
 
POWER PLAY:
UNB 3-8
WSR 1-7
 
GOALTENDERS
UNB– David Shantz (W, 1-0, 12 shots, 10 saves, 2 GA, 60:00)
WSR – Parker Van Buskirk (L, 0-1, 37 shots, 32 saves, 5 GA, 60:00)
 
PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
UNB: Cam Braes
WSR: Drew Palmer