OAKVILLE, ONT -- McGill defenceman Nikolas Brouillard set up a goal -- for the second consecutive year -- but it was insufficient as the U SPORTS All-Stars fell 4-3 to Hockey Canada's world junior prospects, Wednesday, before a sold-out crowd of 1,500 at the Sixteen Mile Sports Centre.

Hockey Canada's national junior team has faced various U SPORTS competition on a regular basis dating back to 1988. But since a U SPORTS national all-star team began participating in December 2015, the collegians hold a 5-4-1 record.

In a closely-contested battle, Vancouver Giants defenceman and Colorado Avalanche prospect Bowen Byrum scored the game-winner for Canada at 6:52 of the third to put the prospects ahead for good at 4-3.

Kris Bennett of the UNB Reds notched a power-play goal and added an assist to lead the collegians. Bennett redirected a Nikolas Brouillard point-shot past Portland Winterhawks goaltender and St. Louis prospect Joel Hofer at the 3:16 mark in the second period to even the game at 2-2. The 2019 University Cup MVP also picked up an assist on a third period, game-tying goal by Stephen Johnson less than six minutes into the final frame.

It was third consecutive time in the game that the All-Stars had tied the score, impressing the coaching staff with their series-opening performance. 

"There was a lot of resilience to our group. We had a good start, had the lead and we had to fight back three times," said head coach Gardiner MacDougall of the UNB Reds. "I thought we had a lot of good opportunities there late."

Hofer, who started, and Guelph Storm netminder Nico Daws -- who collected the win in relief -- combined to stop 24 of 27 shots for Canada, while Moncton's Olivier Rodrigue and Peterborough's Hunter Jones stopped 17 of 21 while playing for U SPORTS.  

The tilt was fast-paced from the initial drop of the puck. Mount Royal forward Ryley Lindgren opened the scoring just 52 seconds into the game for the All-Stars, driving the net before shoveling the puck past Hofer. It would end up being U SPORTS' only lead for the rest of the contest.

Ottawa 67's blueliner and Arizona Coyotes prospect Kevin Bahl quickly answered back for Canada, tying the game at one apiece with an unassisted marker at 4:13.

The junior prospects claimed their first lead at 6:28, with a tip-in goal by Dawson Mercer of the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Later in the period, Saint Mary's defenceman Nick Welsh nearly beat Hofer, but rang two shots off post on the same shift.

With 90 seconds to go in the second period, Tampa Bay Lightning prospect and Kelowna Rockets captain Nolan Foote found the back of the net on the end of a passing play with Quinton Byfield and Braden Schneider, putting Team Canada up 3-2.

Then just under six minutes into the third, Johnson notted the game again at 3-3.

Moments later, Byram relied replied with the game winner, bringing the pro-Juniors crowd to their feet.

MacDougall believes he has a team that can both be competitive for Team Canada and showcase the talent Canadian university hockey offers.

"It's a double purpose, we want to be the best we can and represent the U SPORTS name," he said.  "On the other side you want to provide a real good opponent for our World Juniors."

The U SPORTS Men's Hockey All-Star Series continues at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville on Thursday at 2 p.m. Eastern. Live streaming is available on  USPORTS.LIVE.

GAME NOTES: The teams played an exhibition five-minute, 4-on-4 overtime period, followed by an exhibition shootout... The Juniors took the overtime session 1-0 but the U SPORTS side won the shootout 2-1, with McGill's Brouillard netting the go-ahead marker on a nifty wrist shot to the top right corner. Brouillard, is one of three alternate captains on the squad, a group captained by UNB's Matt Murphy.

LINK TO SCORING SUMMARY