Bressette leads Panthers in 5-2 game one win over Huskies 

HALIFAX, N.S. – UPEI forward Brett Bressette scored two goals and added an assist, helping lead the Panthers to a 5-2 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies in game one of the best-of-three Atlantic University Sport men's hockey quarterfinal series on Wednesday night at the Homburg Centre. 

The first period saw tightly contested play and several trips to the penalty box for both teams, with the Huskies recording four first period penalties, to the Panthers three. 

With under two minutes remaining, the Panthers powerplay finally broke through. Forward Robert Orr (Beaconsfield, QC) was stopped by Huskies netminder Gage Alexander (Okotoks, AB), but UPEI's Brett Bressette (Penetanguishene, ON) jumped on the rebound and whacked it into goal to open the scoring, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead, 18:12 into the first period. 

The Panthers outshot the Huskies 10-9 through the opening 20 minutes, and took a 1-0 lead into first intermission. 

Less than two minutes into the second period, the Huskies were able to equalize with defenceman Connor Olson (London, ON) playing a pass out wide to forward Dylan Andrews (Cole Harbour, N.S.) on the right wing, with Andrews unleashing a wicked one-timer that beat Panthers goaltender Jakob Robillard (Rockland, ON) high, tying the game at 1-1, 1:46 into the second. 

But several minutes later the Panthers took the lead, with forward Simon Hughes (Stratford, PEI) falling to the ice but still able to slide a pass over the forward Elias Cohen (Toronto, ON) who stuffed it past Alexander to put the visitors ahead 2-1, 4:17 into the second. 

The back-and-forth continued, with Huskies forward Connor Trenholm (Cole Harbour, N.S.) winning a face-off in the Panthers zone, and playing the puck behind the net to Ben Boyd (Dartmouth, N.S.), who cut back and fed a pass back to Trenholm who lifted it past Robillard to tie the game at 2-2, 6:35 into the second. 

Once again, the Huskies lead didn't last long, as the Panthers retook the lead thanks to a snipe from captain Ben McFarlane (Ayr, ON), who lifted a shot high over Alexander's glove, putting UPEI ahead 3-2, 13:17 into the second. 

The Huskies outshot the Panthers 15-9 through the period, but UPEI took a 3-2 lead into second intermission. 

The Panthers took a two goal lead midway through the third period, as forward Keiran Gallant (Covehead, PEI) dug the puck out from the corner onto the stick of Brett Bressette, who fired a shot high past Alexander for his second goal of the game. 

UPEI added to their lead with a goal from defenceman Derek Pys (Ayr, ON), 12:44 into the third, putting them ahead 5-2. 

Saint Mary's outshot the Panthers 40-28 on the night, but Panthers netminder Jakob Robillard was stellar, turning away 38 shots, while Gage Alexander made 23 saves in defeat. 

Panthers forward Brett Bressette was named the Boston Pizza Player of the Game with two goals and an assist. 

The quarterfinal series now shifts to Charlottetown, where the Panthers will host the Huskies for game two on Friday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m., with a chance to advance to the AUS semifinal with a win. If the Huskies are able to tie the series up, the series will shift back to Halifax for a decisive game three, Sunday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Dauphinee Centre. 

Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics 
Photos by Mona Ghiz / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics