MONCTON (CIS) Ian McDonald of Edmonton scored the game-winner with eight minutes and 27 seconds left in regulation as the second-seeded Alberta Golden Bears edged the defending national champion UNB Varsity Reds 3-2 Sunday night to claim their record 13th CIS mens hockey title in front of 4,712 at the Moncton Coliseum.
The Golden Bears (2-1), who came out of a three-way tie in Pool B to earn a ticket to the gold-medal final, have now captured the University Cup in each of their last three appearances. They were returning to the tournament after a one-year absence following back-to-back championships at home at Edmonton in 2005 and 2006.
Alberta now has a 4-3 all-time record against UNB at the championship, including a 5-4 double-overtime win at Saskatoon in 2000, the only previous time the rivals had met in the title match.
Im really proud of these guys. This is an incredible feeling obviously, said Alberta head coach Eric Thurston, who was leading his troops to a second title in three seasons behind the bench.
UNB is just an incredible team, theyve got a great organization. I said to (UNB head coach MacDougall) Gardiner after the game that we need to have a best-of-seven series because university hockey at this level is just great.
The top-seeded and two-time CIS champion V-Reds (2-1), who were crowned a year ago following a 3-2 win in extra time over host Moncton, settle for silver for the fourth time.
It marked the first time the top two seeds met in the championship game since the tournament returned to a six-team, two-pool format in 1997-98.
If they told me last September that we were going to get 42 shots in the national final and only give up 25, and wed be tied 2-2 going into the third, which is usually our best period, I would have spent some serious money on that, said MacDougall.
But thats the way it is the hockey world. Full compliments to our opponents. They found a way and its usually one thing that makes the difference when you get two great teams fighting for a national championship.
McDonald scored his tournament-leading fourth goal 22 seconds after defenceman David Bowman of St. Catharines, Ont., was sent to the box for interference.
The six-foot-three, 210-pound sophomore was named University Cup MVP he led all scorers on the weekend with six points. He assisted on Tim Krymusas (Morden, Man.) game-tying marker 2:34 into the middle period.
It was a case of Johnny-on-the-spot. The puck hit the goalie and bounced right on my stick. I was in the right place at the right time, said McDonald, who buried a rebound on an Eric Hunter (Oakbank, Man.) shot from up close.
It is extra sweet, coming into this game as the underdog. We knew we had a good team but we knew they did too, McDonald continued. Both teams played well tonight and the game could have gone either way. It just happened that we got a few bounces go our way.
Brian Woolger of Edmonton also scored for the Bears, who erased a pair of one-goal deficits en route to victory.
Former all-Canadian and CIS rookie of the year Aaron Sorochan, also from Edmonton, was named Alberta player of the game following a spectacular 40-save effort.
UNB out-shot the Bears 42-25 on the night, including a 16-6 margin in the final stanza.
They (UNB) had some good opportunities. My whole mind-set was keep my eyes on the puck at all times, Sorochan said. Tonight I was just mentally plugged and it showed with a couple of big saves early for the guys, and they scored for me late.
Justin DaCosta of Mississauga, Ont., and CIS player of the year Rob Hennigar of Jordan, Ont., found the back of the net for the AUS champion V-Reds, who came into the duel riding a 21-game winning streak and sporting a 39-2 overall mark against CIS opponents this season.
Sophomore Michael Ouzas of Hamilton made 20 saves in the loss. The second-team all-Canadian entered