Étienne Montpetit shines in net as Moncton downs Panthers 4-2

MONCTON, NB—The Université de Moncton's Aigles Bleus scored twice in the 5 minutes of play to break a 2-2 tie game and win 4-2 over the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers at the J.-Louis-Lévesque Arena on the Moncton campus for the inaugural game of the 2022-2023 Atlantic University Sport men's hockey season Wednesday. 

The game was originally scheduled in Charlottetown, but the lack of ice since Hurricane Fiona forced the Panthers to travel this week instead of playing at home. 

Thomas Cusson (Samuel Guilbault) with his first goal of his university career on a precise shot over the opposing goalie glove scored the 3rd and winning goal at 14:26 of the third period. Maxime Boudreau (unassisted) managed the last in an open net at 19:59. The Panthers had retired their goalie in favor of a forward. They tried everything to level the odds, but Étienne Montpetit was there to say no in favor of the Blue and Gold. Troy Lajeunesse (Kaleb Pearson, Carson MacKinnon) evened the score at the beginning of the third period.  

The Panthers opened the scoring in the first period with Kyle Maksimovich's (Leon Denny) goal in the 5th minute of play on a beautiful, precise shot from the side of the open net. The goalie had no chance for a save. 

Nathaël Roy (Vincent Deslauriers) scored his team's first goal of the year and the game at 5: 55 of the middle period, and 7 minutes later, it was Mika Cyr (Roy, Deslaurieurs) turn to place the puck in the net during a scramble in front of the net to give the Aigles Bleus a 2-1 lead.  

Étienne Montpetit, the first star of the game, saw 47 pucks (12-19-16) for the Blue and Gold and he saved his own team a few times. Jonah Capriotti was less busy with 28 shots (10-10-8) in the loss. The Panthers were 0-of-4 on the power play and Moncton was 0-for-7. 

RECAP/PHOTOS BY: Normand Léger, UdeM Sports Information