UNB Reds women's ice hockey explained

Team Name:UNB Reds
Team Link:
University:University of New Brunswick
Sex:women's
Conference:Atlantic University Sport
Conference Short:AUS
Governing Body:U Sports
Location:Fredericton, New Brunswick
Coach:Kyle MacDonald (Interim)
Coach Year:Since 2023-24
Assistant Coaches:Cassidy Hilworth
Arena:Aitken University Centre
Capacity:3278
Nickname:Reds
Color1:Red
Hex1:FF0000
Color2:Black
Hex2:000000
Usportstourneys:2022, 2023
Conference Tournament:2022, 2023

The UNB Reds women's ice hockey program represents the University of New Brunswick in the Atlantic University Sport conference of U Sports.

History

Return to AUS hockey

Former UNB Reds skater had filed a human rights complaint following the decision to downgrade the women’s hockey team from varsity to club status following the 2007-08 season.[1] In mid-March 2008, the UNB Reds athletic department announced that five sports would become competitive club status.[2] In addition to women’s ice hockey, men’s swimming, cross country, along with men’s and women’s wrestling were casualties of this decision.

The program would return to varsity status for the 2018-19 Atlantic University Sport season. With an official introduction taking place on October 12, 2018, including a jersey ceremony held at Long Hall, in the Richard J. Currie Center, the captains for the new era of Reds hockey were also announced. Sydney DesRochers, a native of Woodstock, New Brunswick was named Team Captain, while Hayley Hallihan and Jennifer Bell, both from Miramichi, New Brunswick, were named assistant captains. Paige Grenier, from Olds, Alberta, became the first Red, extended an offer by head coach Sarah Hilworth, late in the summer of 2017.[3] Ashley Stratton, from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, became the first Atlantic Canadian recruited to the Reds, having won the Atlantic Challenge Cup in 2015.[4]

Inaugural season

The Reds first game, which was also their Atlantic University Sport season opener took place versus the Mount Allison Mounties on October 13, 2018. The game was the Reds first women's ice hockey game since an 8-1 loss to Mount Allison in the AUS Quarterfinals on February 22, 2008.[5] As a side note, it was also the Reds first home opener since October 27, 2007. Jennifer Bell scored unassisted, 21 seconds into the second period, on Mounties goaltender Kaitlin Mowbray, capitalizing on a power play for the first goal of the new era. The game would go into double overtime, with Mounties skater Maddy Koughan scoring the game-winning tally. Of note, Kendra Woodland would be recognized as the Second Star of the Game,[6] recording 32 saves.

Woodland would emerge among the team's star players in the landmark season. Participating in 23 regular season games, she would capture a trio of honours, including the Atlantic University Sport Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Star honours, plus a spot on the AUS All-Rookie Team. Winning nine games, including three shutouts, she paced all goaltenders in conference play with a sparkling .945 save percentage, ranking eighth overall in U Sports play.

Statistically, Tamina Kehler would finish as the Reds leading scorer, amassing 16 points, on the strength of 10 assists. Jennifer Bell and Lillian George would tie for the team lead in goals scored with 7. Between the pipes, Kendra Woodland amassed 23 appearances, recording a Goals Against Average of 1.73 and a save percentage of .945.

Qualifying for the playoffs in the first season of their return, the Reds faced off against the UPEI Panthers program in the Subway Atlantic University Sport quarter-final series. Enjoying a 3-0 lead in Game One, the Reds would prevail in a 3-2 final, to win the first playoff game of the new era. Goals were scored by Lillian George, Ashley Stratton and Paige Grenier.[7]

Roster

[8]

2020s

Among the first key departures in the new era involved the resignation of Brittany Esposito from the coaching staff in April 2020. Having won the Clarkson Cup in 2016 with the Calgary Inferno, Esposito, a former CWHL All-Star, was part of Hilworth’s staff for the Reds first two seasons.[9]

Season-by-season Record

Year Coach W L OTL Conf GF GAPts Finish Conference Tournament
2020–21 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019–20 Sarah Hilworth 18 9 1 73 51 37 4th, AUS Lost, Semi-finals vs. Saint Mary's Huskies
2018–19 Sarah Hilworth 13 11 4 53 56 30 4th, AUS Lost, Semi-finals vs. St. Thomas Tommies

Team captains

Season team scoring champion

Year Player GP G A PTS PIM AUS rank
2019–20[11] Ashley Stratton2813 17 30 2 2nd
2018–19[12] Tamina Kehler 28 6 10 16 4 15th (tied)

Rivalries

Mount Allison University

St. Thomas Tommies

Awards and honours

AUS Awards

AUS All-Stars

AUS All-Rookies

Pre 2008 awards

U Sports Awards

All-Canadians

See also

UNB Reds men's ice hockey

Notes and References

  1. News: Reds Women's Team Introduced. goredsgo.ca. October 12, 2018. June 2, 2021. en.
  2. Web site: Women's hockey exploding - still UNB cuts Varsity Reds. The Spec. 29 March 2008.
  3. News: Reds Women Ready For Return. goredsgo.ca. October 11, 2018. June 2, 2021. en.
  4. News: Varsity Reds Name First Atlantic Canadian Recruit. goredsgo.ca. December 6, 2017. June 11, 2021. en.
  5. News: Mounties earn double OT victory over UNB. mountiepride.ca. October 13, 2018. June 11, 2021. en.
  6. News: Mount Allison at UNB. goredsgo.ca. October 13, 2018. June 11, 2021. en.
  7. News: Reds Score Playoff Win. goredsgo.ca. February 14, 2019. June 7, 2021. en.
  8. Web site: 2018–19 UNB Reds Women's Ice Hockey Roster. University of New Brunswick Reds. 11 June 2021.
  9. News: Esposito Leaving Reds. goredsgo.ca. April 14, 2020. June 7, 2021. en.
  10. News: Grenier Named REDS Captain. goredsgo.ca. June 7, 2021. June 11, 2021. en.
  11. News: 2019-20 AUS Women's Hockey - Individual Statistics. atlanticuniversitysport.com. 2021-06-07. en.
  12. News: 2018-19 AUS Women's Hockey - Individual Statistics. atlanticuniversitysport.com. 2021-05-06. en.
  13. News: Woodland Named AUS Rookie Of The Yeard. goredsgo.ca. February 21, 2019. June 2, 2021. en.
  14. News: 2019-20 AUS women's hockey major awards and all-stars announced. atlanticuniversitysport.com. February 19, 2020. June 2, 2021. en.
  15. News: Kendra Woodland named U SPORTS women’s hockey player of the year. usports.ca. March 15, 2023. April 3, 2023. en.