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UNB edges Calgary to open University Cup

Josh Kidd scored the winning goal with four seconds remaining as the University of New Brunswick edged the Calgary Dinos 2-1 at the University Cup men’s hockey tournament Thursday.

FREDERICTON — Josh Kidd scored the winning goal with four seconds remaining as the University of New Brunswick edged the Calgary Dinos 2-1 at the University Cup men’s hockey tournament Thursday.

UNB captain Kyle Bailey won a faceoff and sent a pass to Luke Gallant who set up the big defenceman with the one-timer.

“This is definitely the highlight of my career so far,” said Kidd. “Gallant set me up nicely and the puck had eyes and it was in the back of the net.”

UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall says Baily’s faceoff win was key to the victory.

“A faceoff late in the game is always an opportunity and it proved successful for us tonight,” said MacDougall.

After a scoreless first period, Jordan Clendenning opened the scoring for UNB on the power play 3:09 into the second. He capitalized on a one-timer feed from Nick MacNeil.

However, Calgary tied it on a power play of its own just under a minute later when Teegan Moore put the puck behind Dustin Butler.

The Dinos limited UNB’s powerful offence, but couldn’t hold on at the end.

“They executed at the end of the game and we didn’t,” said Dinos head coach Mark Howell. “I’m extremely disappointed.”

Howell did mention they could take some positives from the game, including the play of Dustin Butler, the CIS goaltender of the year who recorded 26 saves in the loss.

“To win a national championship or even get this far, your goaltender has to be very, very good and Dustin did that for us today.”

Earlier Thursday, Marc-Andre Daneau scored midway through the third period to give the McGill Redmen a 2-1 win over the St. FX X-Men on Thursday in the opening game of the University Cup men’s hockey tournament.

The second-seeded Redmen, OUA champions, dominated play but were denied by St. FX netminder Joseph Perricone for 46 minutes. Perricone made 38 saves, including 19 in the second period alone.

“He was so good, we knew we had to drive the net, we knew the next goal would probably come on a rebound or something,” said Daneau.

The Redmen outshot St. FX 40-26.

The X-Men play Alberta today while the Redmen will challenge the No. 3 Golden Bears on Saturday.