CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI - The REDS simply overpowered the Alberta Golden Bears in the third period and defeated their opponent 3-0 to claim the championship banner at the 2023 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms University Cup.

Goals by Cole MacKay and Austen Keating 1:22 apart sealed the victory for UNB. Cody Morgan also scored in the win, while Samuel Richard recorded his only shutout of the tournament with a 17-save performance. UNB has now won four of the last six University Cup titles (2016, 2017, 2019, 2023). 

Alberta has now lost in three-straight University Cup Finals, becoming just the second team in U SPORTS history to lose three or more national finals in a row. The Saint Mary's Huskies lost four-straight national finals from 1970-1973. 

It is also the first time the Bears have lost in both the Canada West Final and University Cup Final in the same season. 

The two decorated national programs were evenly matched in a scoreless first period, as chances were hard to come by.

The deadlock was finally broken at 13:17 of the second period when Morgan took the loose puck from the neutral zone and went in alone before beating Ethan Kruger five-hole.

UNB came out of the second intermission strong and peppered the goalie with shots in the first six minutes of the third period, but Kruger stood tall denying each one that came his way.

However, that only lasted so long, as UNB's constant pressure in the offensive zone finally led to goals.

At 14:30, Cole MacKay took a pass from Isaac Nurse and wrapped the stick around the goalie and slid the puck behind him for the team's second goal.

Then at 15:52, Keating got a couple of hacks on a loose puck in front before slipping one by Kruger to make it 3-0.

Nike Top Performers

• UNB: Cody Morgan
• Alberta: Dawson Davidson

Tournament All-Star Team

• Goalie: Samuel Richard- UNB
• Defence: Ross MacDougall - UNB
• Defence: Justin Bergeron - UQTR
• Forward: Matt Fonteyne - Alberta
• Forward: Jason Willms - UNB
• Forward: Michael Petizian - UNB