Gardiner MacDougall has been coaching for 35 years. During that time, he’s won more than 600 games, captured nine championships and earned the title as the “winningest coach” in Canadian university hockey.
But the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds coach will be the first to tell you that this year was more special than all the rest.
Not only did UNB win its second consecutive University Cup, but they did it in dominating fashion by going undefeated all year long and shutting out their opponents in the final three championship games.
In the process, they put U Sports on the map, with some in the hockey world arguing that UNB was so dominant that it could beat the best of the best in the NCAA.
“It was a real special group obviously and a historic occasion for the program and for the team,” said MacDougall, who has won nine of the Reds’ 10 championships. “It was the most special year ever for UNB hockey.”
Indeed, this year was perfect.
The Reds went 30-0, averaging six goals per game in the regular season. In the playoffs, they were unstoppable. All three championship final games were shutout wins. It was the first time a team did not get scored on in the University Cup.
How did they do it? Well, it helped that UNB had a star-studded roster that was filled with 14 players who had previously played in the OHL, many of whom have been in high demand since claiming a second straight championship.
MacDougall pointed to great leadership among multiple players, including captain and forward Jason Willms, alternate captain and blueliner Kade Landry, and forwards Brady Gilmour and Austen Keating.
Keating now plays for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, while Willms and Gilmour are both playing for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.
“It was awesome to be able to do it with those guys,” said Keating, who led the Reds with 23 goals and 50 points in 30 games. “The bonds that we make at UNB, they’re unbreakable.
“Every guy is so close, (it) doesn’t matter if you’re first year or fifth year. You become a family, you become brothers, and it’s just really great to be able to finish my UNB career with such a great group of guys.”
Gilmour, who was named playoff MVP, is still amazed at what the team was able to accomplish.
“I don’t know if it’s fully sank in quite what we did yet,” said the 24-year-old. “It’s been pretty cool to kind of reflect on it but yeah, our team, I can’t say enough good things about the team we had at UNB this year.”
Despite making it look easy all year long, MacDougall said there were scares throughout the season, whether it was a game that went into overtime or another where the Reds came from behind for the win. But somehow, the team never lost faith — or focus.
“I think we learned lessons along the way,” said MacDougall. “Any time you have a streak like that, there’s certainly going to be lessons. Thankfully, we learned the lessons and still were able to get the two points every night.”
REDS NATION, we just won back-to-back U Cups. It’s time to celebrate! GOOD NIGHT 🏆#goredsgo pic.twitter.com/VqYeH65mqp
— UNB Reds (@UNBAthletics) March 18, 2024
Their consistency was born out of internal competition. Keating said the Reds took pride in being the hardest-working team during practices. Everyone had high expectations of one another, whether it was in a game, practice or recreational activity.
“Whether it was Ping Pong or Sewer ball or anything honestly, the group was super competitive,” said Gilmour.
MHKY: @bradygilmour9 discusses another @UNBMHockey national championship and being named University Cup MVP.#goredsgo pic.twitter.com/0goNpQ0RQI
— UNB Reds (@UNBAthletics) March 18, 2024
“It’s the will to get better each and every day,” said Keating. “We know that coming to UNB, you’re expected to compete for national championships and to be able to get to that point, you have to push each other, you have to compete. You have to get better every day, so that you’re able to play in those big-time moments, those big-time games.”
Goaltending, defense and the penalty kill were all strengths for the Reds, who had a .926 team save percentage, 1.56 goals-against average per game and an 88.4 penalty kill percentage.
Samuel Richard, who was one of the four UNB players named to the tournament All-Star team, made 23 saves during the championship game and earned his third shutout of the tournament.
“We worked so hard in practice and [the] coach managed to keep us hungry during the whole season,” said Richard, who was an emergency backup for the Maple Leafs in a game last season. “We just had to follow each other, keep each other accountable and the magic happened after.”
Sam Richard lookin' good in Blue & White 😎
🎥 @TSN_Sports#goredsgo pic.twitter.com/kKtWnswrK5
— UNB Reds (@UNBAthletics) April 13, 2023
It was certainly magical. The kind of year that may never happen again. That is unless MacDougall can lead them to another perfect season which would also provide them with a legendary three-peat.
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News Summary:
- 'The Most Special Year Ever': How U Sports' Reds Had a Perfect and Historic Season
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