FREDERICTON, New Brunswick -The University of Maine men's ice hockey team skated to a 5-4 exhibition victory over the University New Brunswick on Friday night in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Chris Hahn (Fort Qu' Appelle) led Maine with two goals, including the game-winner in the third period.
Maine took a 1-0 lead just 3:59 into the game. With a two-man advantage, Ryan Hegarty (Arlington, Mass.) had the puck on the blueline and passed it down to Gustav Nyquist (Malmo, Sweden), who was to the right of New Brunswick goalie Travis Fullerton. Nyquist fed Tanner House (Cochrane, Alberta) who was easily able to beat Fullerton. It did not take the Black Bears long to add to their lead. Still on the power play, Robby Dee (Plymouth, Minn.) found Jeff Dimmen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) on the blueline, who had his shot find the back of the net at 5:33.
New Brunswick answered back less than two minutes later when Dion Campbell controlled a rebound and beat Maine goalie Dave Wilson (Caledon East, Ontario). Chris Hodgson and John-Scott Dickson each assisted on the tally for New Brunswick. Maine regained the two-goal lead at 13:47 when Chris Hahn was able to stuff home his own rebound. Kyle Solomon (Southampton, N.Y.) and Matt Duffy (Windham, Maine) each assisted on the goal by Hahn. Maine took the 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
Maine continued its attack early in the second period. Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario) carried the puck up the ice and found Nyquist trailing the play. He fed Nyquist who roofed the puck over UNB goalie Derek Yoemans. House also assisted on the goal for the Black Bears.
The three-goal lead was short-lived as Daine Todd was able to beat Wilson at 7:56. Kevin Henderson and Hunter Tremblay each assisted on the goal. The Varsity Reds cut the Maine lead to just one goal at 9:29 when Josh Hepditch scored on a breakaway. Campbell assisted on the goal.
At 11:08 of the second period, New Brunswick was on a power play and Maine's Nick Payson (Surry, Maine) had a breakaway. UNB goalie Yeomans came out to challenge Payson and threw his stick. Payson was awarded a penalty shot, but was unable to convert.
New Brunswick tied the game at 4-4 at 15:04 when Tremblay scored on a shot that went five hole on Wilson. Jimmy Cuddihy and Kyle Bailey each assisted on the goal by Yeomans. The game was tied at 2-2 after two periods of play.
Maine took the lead back just 3:33 into the third period with a power play goal. Hegarty rifled a shot from the blueline that Yeomans was able to stop, but not control. Hahn was right on the doorstep and stuffed it home for his second goal of the game. Simon Danis-Pepin (Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec) also picked up an assist on the goal.
New Brunswick nearly tied the game at 9:46, but Wilson was able to make a great save as Maine kept the 5-4 lead. Just seconds later, the Varsity Reds hit the post.
Wilson made 34 saves in goal for the Black Bears.
The Black Bears and Varsity Reds finish their two-game series on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 6:00 p.m. eastern time in Fredericton, New Brunswick.