WOLFVILLE, N.S. (U SPORTS) – Simon Lafrance struck for a pair of goals including the game-winner in the 14:18 in the second overtime frame as the UQTR Patriotes team topped the Alberta Golden Bears in a close 5-4 2OT win in the Gold Medal game at the 2022 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms University Cup on Sunday at the Andrew H. McCain Arena.

Jordan Martel, Felix Lauzon and Loik Leveillé also scored for UQTR in regulation. Alberta's Noah Philp scored twice, while Matt Fonteyne and Luc Smith scored a goal apiece.

In the marathon game, the Golden Bears outshot the Patriotes 70-40.
UQTR goaltender Alexis Gravel stopped 66 shots in the contest, while Alberta's Taz Burman made 35 saves in the losing effort.

It seemed like Alberta's game to lose for most of the match, but UQTR dominated the third period by scoring two goals to force extra time.

Outside of trailing for 6:10 in the first period against StFX in their semifinal match, the Golden Bears never trailed in the tournament until Lafrance's game-winner. Alberta jumped out to an early lead with a first-period goal from Fonteyne.

Despite not holding a lead in the game until the overtime winner, UQTR never went away. Jordan Martel scored on a partial breakaway 15 seconds after the Golden Bears went up 2-0 in the first. Loik Leveillé added a five-hole marker at the midway point of the third and Simon Lafrance added a power-play marker late in the period to tie the game at 4-4.

This is the first appearance in the final of the University Cup and the first title for the UQTR Patriotes since 2003 when they beat the StFX 3-0.

UQTR also won the 2001 CIAU championship in double overtime and current UQTR head coach Marc-Étienne Hubert scored the winning goal in a 5-4 win over StFX.

The Patriotes finish their season first in the country while holding a 19-3-2 record, while the Golden Bears end their year with a 24-4-1 record.


Nike Top Performers

·      UQTR Patriotes: Simon Lafrance
·      Alberta Golden Bears: Noah Philip
 
CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS

Championship MVP (Major W.J. "Danny" McLeod Award):

·      Alexis Gravel, UQTR

Championship All-Star Team:

·      Goalie: Alexis Gravel, UQTR
·      Defenseman: Clayton Kirichenko, Alberta
·      Defenseman: Santino Centorame, StFX
·      Forward: Simon Lafrance, UQTR
·      Forward: Eric Florchuk, Alberta
·      Forward: Félix Lauzon

R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award:

·      Joe Gatenby, UNB