(FREDERICTON, NB) – The University of New Brunswick is pleased to announce that Gardiner MacDougall will continue as the head coach of UNB Varsity Reds men's hockey team for the next five years.
MacDougall has just completed his 14th season at the helm of UNB's hockey program. He has helped lead one of Canada's most successful university hockey programs to four national championships and two silver medals and made his eighth national championship appearance in March 2013.
MacDougall began his coaching stint at UNB for the 2000-2001 season after a successful Junior career in Western Canada. He won his first banner in the strong AUS conference in 2003 and added four more to his credit; 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Varsity Reds have been the AUS regular season pennant winner for the past seven consecutive seasons and have reached the AUS Final Four play-off each year of MacDougall's tenure.
MacDougall became UNB's all-time coaching leader in 2006 and since then has become the current AUS leader in all time wins, this year becoming the 1st AUS Hockey coach to accumulate over 400 Wins. Currently he has an overall record of 420-176-21 and 336-140-18 for AUS conference, playoffs and CIS championships including a sparkling 18-5 record at the CIS National Championships.
In the most recent half of Gardiner's stewardship, UNB has won 164 regular season games over the last seven seasons for a winning percentage of 84% in conference play. In the same 7seven year time frame UNB won 39 out of 54 AUS playoff and CIS playoffs games for a 72% winning percentage while winning four AUS championship trophies and three CIS University Cups.
Coach MacDougall also has two World University gold medals including a recent victory in December, 2013 in Trentino, Italy where he helped lead Team AUS to their second consecutive World Championship. He was also a member of the coaching staff for the inaugural victory in 2007
John Richard, Director of Athletics at UNB, is very happy that MacDougall has chosen to continue as head coach of the Varsity Reds. "Gardiner has an infectious personality, an amazing work ethic and a passion for the game of hockey. We are excited with Gardiner's commitment to an additional five years here at UNB not only for the winning culture he has created but for the confidence he instills in his student-athletes; in the classroom, on the ice and in the dressing room."
MacDougall has been keenly interested in player development at all levels. During his UNB career, four UNB players have signed NHL deals while nineteen have played at the AHL Level and numerous others in minor pro and in Europe.
At the local youth level, MacDougall has been instrumental in the highly successful UNB Pumpernickel hockey camps and, along with long-time friends Roger Shannon and Brian Johnston, helped establish the V-Reds Prospects elite youth program. This program has had an amazing 41 NHL draft picks and has had over 350 players drafted to the QMJHL. For his community efforts, he has been recognized for the Rotary Paul Harris Award and recently with a Queens Diamond Jubilee medal.
A Bedeque, PEI native, MacDougall was named the 2003, 2008 AND 2010 Atlantic University Sport coach of the year and was distinguished as the 2010 CIS coach of the year leading to his team to a 27-1 record.. He was also named PEI coach of the year in 2007 and 2008. MacDougall holds a Level III NCP Coaching Certification along with CHA Advanced II Hockey Coaching Certification.
A graduate of two AUS universities, academics have always been at the top of MacDougall's list of priorities for his team. To date 92 of his student-athletes have been named CIS Academic All Canadians; including twelve from the 2012 team. Colin Sinclair of the 2007 CIS Championship team was named as one of the Top 8 CIS Academic All Canadians and Rob Hennigar was named CIS Male Athlete of the Year in 2008.
"I am excited about the opportunity to continue my coaching career at UNB. It has been an unbelievable privilege being a part of the UNB tradition of excellence for the past fourteen years . I am very fortunate to have a wife and family who have been so supportive of my career here at UNB and have truly enjoyed being part of such a great community," said MacDougall.
We have the tremendous support of so many people here at UNB and within the greater Fredericton community who all share in the passion of UNB. This includes our top quality coaches and staff, our UNB hockey alumni, the many supporters, sponsors and volunteers and of course the great opportunity to work with some of the Best student athletes in the country."
Source: UNB Sports Information