The Golden Bears were no match for the UNB REDS Sunday afternoon as the Alberta side dropped the gold medal game 3-0.
It was a tight-checking affair between both sides, but the REDS got a 1-0 lead in the second period in thanks to a goal from forward Cody Morgan. From there, they never looked back as they stimied any chance the Alberta side threw at them.
As time ticked down on the clock in the third period, Cole MacKay and Austen Keating extended the REDS’ lead to 3-0. UNB netminder Samuel Richard only had to turn aside 17 shots, but made multiple 10-bell saves including one seven minutes into the second frame making a diving stop on Golden Bears forward Tyler Prezuiso.
For the Golden Bears, the trip to the finals was their third straight appearance — and third straight loss — becoming just the second team in U SPORTS history to lose three or more national finals in a row. The only other team to do so was the Saint Mary’s Huskies, who lost four straight between 1970-73.
The Golden Bears faced off with the University of Windsor Lancers in the quarter-final on Friday night, taking them down in dominant fashion 7-0.
On Saturday, the Bears literally had to fight their way to finals in a 4-1 victory over the host UPEI. The Alberta side had a 3-0 lead four minutes into the third period when UPEI forward Zac Beauregard ran Alberta goaltender Ethan Kreuger. Tempers flared and as players were standing up from the fray, Beauregard sucker punched Kreuger.
The chippiness continued throughout the rest of the game which saw the Bears take care of business in 60 minutes. After the final buzzer, the Golden Bears promptly left the ice declining the handshake line.
“Didn’t feel safe for our players, we thought something else would happen,” said Bears head coach Ian Herbers. “I didn’t want that opportunity to happen.”
Alberta captain Matt Fonteyne, who scored a goal and an assist in the Bears’ win over UPEI, was named to the tournament all-star team.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.