The StFX hockey teams are on the ice for AUS action.
The X-Men are in New Brunswick to take on the UNB Varsity Reds in a battle of the top two teams in the conference, and two of the top teams in the country.
StFX (7-2-2), winners of six straight and seven of the last eight, is second in the seven-team conference with 16 points, two points back of first-place UNB (8-0-2), who has yet to lose in regulation, and a point ahead of third-place Saint Mary’s.
UNB is ranked first in the country; StFX is sixth.
It’s the first game of the season between the rivals; it’s also the first of back-to-back games for the X-Men, who head to Charlottetown to meet UPEI Saturday night.
The X-Women play the UPEI Panthers at the Keating Centre in Antigonish.
StFX (6-1-1), with wins in six of the last seven games. is second in that eight-team conference with 13 points, a point behind St. Thomas for top spot, and two points ahead of Saint Mary’s and UNB, who are tied for third; they’re ranked fifth in the country.
UPEI (4-4-1) is tied with Moncton for fifth with nine points.
It’s the first game of the season between the teams.
Both games get underway at 7 p.m.
The Strait Pirates have a rare Friday night road game in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League.
They’re in Springhill to face the Cumberland Co. Blues in a match-up of first-versus-worst in the Sid Rowe Division.
The Pirates (10-1-1), who have won five straight and six of their last seven, lead the division- and the entire league- with 21 points, two points ahead of East Hants for top spot overall, and seven points ahead of Antigonish and Pictou Co. for top spot in the division.
The Blues (1-9-0), with one win in 10 games, are last in the division with two points.
It’s the third game of the season between the teams- the Pirates swept a home-and-home series against the Blues Nov. 2-3.
Game time is 7:30 p.m.
The Cabot Highlanders play their second game at the second annual Rob Sneath Memorial Minor Midget AAA Hockey Tournament.
The Highlanders (1-0-0), who won their opener against the Cape Breton Jets Thursday night, meet the Basin Armada (1-0-0), who also won their first game of the tournament, in Shearwater at 2 p.m.
There are a pair of games in the Cape Breton West High School Hockey League.
The SAERC Saints visit the Inverness/Baddeck Academy Rebels at the Dr. Bernie MacLean Cultural and Recreation Centre.
The Saints (2-0-0) are perfect to the 2018-19 season; the Rebels (1-1-0) have split their first two games.
It’s the second half of a home-and-home series- SAERC defeated Inverness-Baddeck Academy 3-1 in Port Hawkesbury Wednesday night.
The Dalbrae Dragons host the Richmond Academy Hurricanes at the Al MacInnis Sports Centre in Port Hood.
The Dragons (1-0-0) shutout Eskasoni 8-0 in their season opener in Eskasoni Wednesday night; the Hurricanes (0-0-1) lost to Inverness-Baddeck Academy in a shootout in Louisdale in their first game Nov. 1.
Both games get underway at 7:30 p.m.
The Battle of Nova Scotia resumes in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League when the Halifax Mooseheads host St. Andrews’ Declan Smith and the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
The Mooseheads (14-4-1), who have won two of their last three, are tied with Baie-Comeau for third in the 18-team league with 29 points, a point behind Moncton for second, and two points ahead of fifth-place Drummondville; they’re ranked seventh in the country.
The Screaming Eagles (10-9-1), winners of back-to-back games, are in a three-way tie with Rimouski and Blainville-Boisbriand for eighth with 21 points, three points behind Chicoutimi for seventh, and a point ahead of Sherbrooke and Victoriaville, the two teams tied for 11th.
Halifax has won two of the first three games in the nine-game season series between the provincial rivals.
Puck drop at Scotiabank Centre is 7 p.m.
It’s the first of two home games in as many nights for the Mooseheads, who host Pomquet’s Logan Chisholm and Acadie-Bathurst Saturday night.