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Panthers topple first-place Huskies to complete perfect weekend

The UPEI Panthers delivered their most complete performance of the season Saturday night, knocking off the conference-leading Saint Mary’s Huskies 3-2 at MacLauchlan Arena to secure a four-point weekend.

Panthers topple first-place Huskies to complete perfect weekend
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October 25, 2025

By Thomas Becker 

The UPEI Panthers delivered their most complete performance of the season Saturday night, knocking off the conference-leading Saint Mary's Huskies 3-2 at MacLauchlan Arena to secure a four-point weekend.

Robert Orr and rookie standout Colby Huggan continued their hot streaks, each recording a goal and an assist, while captain Ben McFarlane provided the game-winning goal for the second straight night. Elias Cohen also added two assists in the impressive victory.

"It was very big weekend for us," McFarlane said. "When we play the Panther way, things tend to go our way. This league is very close this year and every game is going to feel like Game 7 of the playoffs. We love the gritty games—that's where we're at our best. I'm so proud of the guys, and we're going to keep things rolling." 

The Panthers came out flying and controlled much of the first period, dictating play on both sides of the puck. Defensively, they limited the high-powered Huskies to just six shots on net, while their speed and puck movement created sustained offensive zone pressure. The payoff came at 5:57 when Huggan accelerated through the neutral zone and sent a backhand pass that was deflected by a defender. The puck landed on Cohen's stick, who quickly found Orr cross-ice for a perfect redirection past goaltender Marcus Vandenberg to open the scoring.

UPEI kept pressing and doubled their lead at 14:51. After serving a penalty, Cohen jumped out of the box and immediately disrupted the play, forcing a turnover and finding Huggan streaking up the ice. On a two-on-one rush, Huggan elected to keep the puck and fired a wrist shot over Vandenberg's blocker to make it 2-0.

The Huskies (6-2) showed why they sit atop the standings in the second period, responding with a strong push. They cut the lead in half at 6:30 when a turnover by Cole Larkin led to a two-on-one rush the other way. Ben Allison fed a pass to Reid Valade, whose shot sailed over the net and took a friendly bounce off the glass right back to Allison, who tucked it past Jakob Robillard to make it 2-1.

Momentum stayed with the visitors late in the frame when Liam Van Loon set up Connor Olson from behind the net, and Olson one-timed a shot from one knee to tie the game 2-2.

With both teams grinding through the fatigue of back-to-back nights, the third period turned into a tight defensive battle. But when the moment called for leadership, McFarlane once again rose to the occasion. Off a clean faceoff win, Keiran Gallant slipped the puck to McFarlane in the slot, and the captain lifted it over Vandenberg's glove for the game-winner that brought the crowd to its feet.

With the win, the Panthers even their record at 4-4 and will look to extend their streak to three straight when they visit the Dalhousie Tigers in Halifax on Halloween night.

Photos by Janessa Vanden Broek

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