Media Information and Press releases

Media Information and Press releases

Media Information and Press releases

Media Information

The willingness to share information of public interest

See Media Information

 

Press Release

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Aigles Bleus to host X-Men on Wednesday


Maxime St-Cyr and Francis Thibeault


View Full-Size Image

Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus have not been able to advance further than the first playoff round since the 2013–2014 season and the team is ready to tackle the St. Francis Xavier University X-Men in the Subway Atlantic University Sport quart final series of men’s hockey on Wednesday evening.

The Aigles Bleus fans are thirsty to see their team qualify for the U SPORTS championships and they expect this season’s edition to be the one to do it. The Judes Vallée troop will host the X-Men on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the J.-Louis-Lévesque in the first game of the series.

The second is slated for Friday evening in Antigonish. Moncton did win three of four encounters between the two clubs this season. After losing the first game 6-1, Moncton won 6-3, 3-0 and 4-3 in a shootout. Moncton finished the season in fourth spot with a 13-11-6 record for 32 points while St. Francis Xavier was fifth with 12-13-5, for 29 points.

“It is now time to put it all together and we look forward to,” Moncton coach Judes Vallée said. “We play against a team that should have finished higher in the standings. Our focus is on Wednesday evening. We always play tight games against them, and sometimes, it gets physical. We were able to take advantage of games against them this season. I have players that have won championships in other leagues, but our aim is to create our own experience and each shift will be important. They have a strong number one line and it could be a war of trenches.”

The Aigles Bleus top scorer this season is Maxime St-Cyr who indicated the series will not be easy. “A 2 of 3 goes by fast and the X-Men have a strong team,” he said. “Anything may happen in the playoffs and we cannot count on what happened during the season. It gives us confidence with three wins, but it means nothing. We need to play a full 60 minutes in the playoffs and begin from the first puck drop.”

Rookie defenceman Francis Thibeault will be playing in his first university playoffs. “’I know it will be hard going and that we need to work harder and do the small things better,” Thibeault said. “I listen to my coaches and my progression went well this season. This is a very different league from the one I played last season. We will do the small things right. I know we will be missing two defencemen, but that is part of the sport and we will work harder. Our play will bring us positive results.”

In brief—During the season, the X-Men scored 103 goals and allowed 125 compared to 92 and 98 for Moncton… StFX scored 32 power-play goals and Moncton 26… Moncton lost 2-0 to UPEI in the quarterfinals last season; missed the playoffs in 2017–2018; lost 2-0 to StFX in 2016–2017; lost 2-0 to Saint Mary’s in 2015–2016; lost 2-1 to Saint Mary’s in 2014–2015; and Moncton eliminated the X-Men 2-0 in 2013–2014 before losing 3-1 to Acadia in semifinal action… The last AUS championship for Moncton dates to 2006–2007.

Defencemen Vincent Lanoue and Michael Kemp will not dress for the game because of injuries. Étienne Montpetit will be the goaltender.




Return to Press release