AUS Final: No. 8 Huskies sweep No. 10 X-Men to repeat as champions

HALIFAX, NS - The CIS No. 8 ranked Saint Mary's Huskies defeated the No. 10 ranked StFX X-Men 5-3 Monday night in front of 3,896 fans at the Halifax Forum to complete a three-game sweep of their best-of-five AUS men's hockey final.

The Huskies will head back to Thunder Bay, Ont., for another run at the University Cup national men's hockey title.

Brett Morrison gave the X-Men the lead just 88 seconds into the game, but Cody Thornton tied it on the power play at 12:35. The Huskies appeared to take control with goals 22 seconds apart early in the second as Alexander Keith's Championship MVP Colby Pridham beat StFX's Bryan Gillis just 43 seconds in followed by Mike Danton's first of two goals to make it 3-1 at the 1:05 mark.

The X-Men fought back to tie it 3-3 after 40 minutes after goals by Ryan Sparling, on the power play, at 10:44 and Brett Robertson with 58 seconds left in the period.

Pridham potted his second goal of the night and 10th of the post-season just 32 seconds into the third to put the Huskies ahead for good. SMU goalie Neil Conway was unbeatable after that, making eight saves in the third period and 29 in the game.

Andrew Hotham picked up his second assist on a Mike Danton empty netter at 18:42. Gillis turned away 34 shots in a losing cause.

StFX had stunned the defending national champion UNB Varsity Reds in AUS semifinal play. Saint Mary's won the earlier games in the series 7-1 and 3-2 in double overtime.

SMU's Cody Thornton, Colby Pridham and Andrew Hotham tied for the lead in playoff scoring as each ended the post-season with 14 points in 9 games. 2008-09 AUS Most Valuable Player Marc Rancourt added 13 points as the Huskies won eight of their nine playoff games.

The six-team CIS men's hockey championship runs March 25-28.

The Huskies will join the host Lakehead Thunderwolves, Alberta Golden Bears, Manitoba Bisons, McGill Redmen and the Trois-Riveres Patriotes.

Source:

AUS