UNB seeking sixth consecutive conference crown
By Corey LeBlanc
Players, coaches and fans are preparing for another highly competitive Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men's hockey season.
The defending conference champion UNB Reds – who also captured the 2023 USPORTS championship – will be skating for their sixth consecutive AUS banner.
"It is an exciting time of year," veteran head coach Gardiner MacDougall said.
He added, "We can't wait to have the opportunity to play again."
Before capturing another national title, the Reds topped the AUS regular season standings with a 24-4-1-1 record, and then ousted the Acadia Axemen in the semifinals and Saint Mary's Huskies in the conference finals.
"It's the opposite of last season," MacDougall noted of his roster, which includes just three newcomers, as opposed to 12 one year ago.
Nevertheless, he cautioned, "That doesn't mean that we are a veteran group yet," considering the lion's share of his student-athletes are second and third years.
Noting the depth in his line-up, MacDougall offered, "The team is going to be the strength of our team."
The backbone of the roster is sophomore goaltender Samuel Richard (Ste. Catherine, QC), the top rookie in the conference last season and a first-team all-star; not to mention USPORTS all-rookie team member and second-team All-Canadian has returned for his sophomore campaign. He forms a potent one-two punch in the crease with Griffen Outhouse (Williams Lake, BC).
Although the Reds graduated three defensemen, MacDougall said this season's group – "one through seven" – is strong.
"They are all very capable of moving the puck," he explained, noting the importance of that group to UNB's vaunted 'D' zone movement and transition game.
Adam McCormick (Waterville, NB) – an AUS first-team all-star last season – and Kade Landry (Gowanstown, ON) anchor that unit, one that has added experience in former X-Man Patrick Kyte (Pembroke, ON).
"We expect to have four really balanced lines; each of which will be able to make a positive impact," MacDougall said of his forwards.
He added, "We have a good mix of players who are skilled and hard to play against; high-performance throughout the group."
Austen Keating (Puslinch, ON), who his head coach noted has been having his "best camp" as a Red, and Brady Gilmour (Grafton, ON) are key returnees, along with Jason Willms (Kitchener, ON) – a conference second-team all-star last season – and Cody Morgan (Maple, ON), who garnered an AUS all-rookie team nod in 2023. They have also added Sean McGurn (Ottawa, ON) up front.
"We want to keep getting a little bit better each day," MacDougall said of his team's focus on "making incremental improvement" with each practice and game.
Although they carry "confidence" from last year, he cautioned that means nothing if they Reds don't put the work in this season.
Noting that he expects another "highly competitive" regular season in the AUS, MacDougall added, "We have terrific parity."
Want to be top dogs
One of the main challengers to UNB's recent dominance in the AUS will be the Saint Mary's Huskies, who pushed the Reds to the limit in last season's playoffs – a deciding game in a hotly contested three-game championship series. As part of that post-season run, which included a spot in the USPORTS national title tournament, the Maroon and White finished second in the AUS regular season – at 20-9-1 – before ousting the UPEI Panthers in a conference semifinal series.
"I really like the way that we are coming together," Tyler Naugler, who is entering his fourth season as Saint Mary's head coach, said, despite the program losing "key assets" from last year's roster.
He added, "It is hard to do [replace them], but I like what we have done and where we are. I really like our look for this season."
When asked about his team's goals, Naugler offered, "Same as any year, we want to be in the top half of the league," while noting the importance of being in the hunt for a first-round playoff bye as the first or second place finisher in the AUS regular season.
AUS first-team all-star defenseman Justin MacPherson (East Gwillimbury, ON) and forward Andrew Coxhead (Bedford, NS), who earned a second-team nod, are key pieces of the puzzle for Saint Mary's.
"What's good about our team this season is that we have good quality veterans," Naugler said, noting the youth of his roster in 2022-23.
He also expects to continue getting "outstanding goaltending" from the dynamic duo of Matt Welsh (Halifax, NS) and Jeremy Helvig (Kingston, ON).
"They are going to help lead the way," last season's AUS coach of the year said.
As for the recruiting class, which he described as "very impactful," he offered, "We are really happy with every player."
"We expect him to be an outstanding fit," Naugler said of Ben Roger (Markham, ON), a 6'4" defenseman.
He also expects a strong contributions from freshmen forwards Ben Allison (Halifax, NS), Reid Valade (Caledon, ON) and Declan McDonnell (Buffalo, NY).
"We want to play a fast, 200-foot game on both sides of the puck," Naugler said, noting the strength of Saint Mary's transition game.
When it comes to the continuing strength of the conference, he offered that each AUS match-up is a "playoff-type game," with any team having the ability to beat another on any given night.
"We can't wait to get started," Naugler said.
New look Panthers
After finishing third in the AUS regular season, with a 17-10-2-1 mark, and being ousted by the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus in the conference quarterfinals, a new look UPEI Panthers program will take the ice in 2023-24.
"Obviously, we are very young; probably the youngest team in Canada," head coach Forbes MacPherson said.
The Panthers, who hosted the USPORTS national title tournament last season, boast 17 newcomers; two transfers, along with 15 student-athletes who will be freshmen in university varsity hockey.
"We won't have a lot of experience," MacPherson said.
He added, "In a very competitive league – like ours – we are going to have our hands full."
Nevertheless, MacPherson explained, "We have an energetic group, and we are excited about getting the season going."
As for who will lead the way for the young Panthers, the UPEI bench boss offered, "It would be unrealistic and unfair," when it comes to putting that sort of pressure on any returnees.
Nevertheless, he conceded, there will be a "couple of key vets," who will be relied on to help develop the youthful unit.
"We expect he will play big minutes and bring a lot of leadership," MacPherson said of junior defenseman Kurtis Henry (Garden River First Nations, ON).
He added that the blue liner is able "to play in any situation."
"He was arguably the best player at nationals last year," MacPherson said of third-year forward Kaleb Pearson (St. Marys, ON).
He added, noting his steadily improved play last season, "We hope Kaleb is able to pick up where he left off."
Goaltender Jonah Capriotti (Charlottetown, PE), who MacPherson described as "the foundation of our program" over the past couple of years, has returned for a fifth season.
"Their job is going to be to help us head in the right direction," MacPherson offered of the trio, including helping to form a "new culture" with the program.
He agreed, when it comes to his recruiting class, it will be a "by committee" approach; not relying on one or two players to lead the way.
"They are going to have to jump in the deep end and see what happens," MacPherson explained.
He added, from the get-go, he praised his student-athletes for coming to the rink with "a lot of energy."
"We are pleasantly surprised with what we have seen, so far, as a collective group," MacPherson said of the Panther newcomers.
When it comes to keys to success for the evolving UPEI line-up, he added, "We will have to be on task, pay attention to detail and be hard to play against."
Veteran X-Men
Last season, the STFX X-Men chartered unfamiliar territory – a quick exit from the AUS playoffs. After finishing fourth in the regular season, with a 16-13-1 record, the White and Blue were bounced from the post-season by the Acadia Axemen in a quarterfinal series.
"We haven't forgotten – we are certainly motivated by that early exit," Sean Donovan, X-Men associate head coach, said of his "veteran group."
He added, "No one was very happy with how it ended."
As for who will lead the way for the X-Men, a roster with only three newcomers, Donovan said, "It will be by committee."
He added, "We are focused on playing a well-rounded team game," one that will feature a more balanced offense.
Although the X-Men will not "rely on one or two players," Donovan agreed that reigning AUS most valuable player – Liam Hawel (Arnprior, ON) – who led the conference with 39 points last season, will be expected to help lead the charge, along with Antigonish's Jacob Hudson (14G, 21A, 35 points) and Matthew Struthers of Milton, Ontario (13G, 22A, 35 points), also an AUS first-team all-star, who placed second and third, respectively, in the AUS scoring race.
On the back end, the X-Men have added Raegan Wiles (Calgary, AB), Charlie Callaghan (Toronto, ON) and Shawn Spearing (Toronto, ON), who Donovan said bring size and intelligence to the roster.
"We expect them to make an immediate impact," he said.
That trio will join returnees Bailey Webster (Charlottetown, PE), Clark Webster (Charlottetown, PE), Brendon Clavelle (Kapuskasing, ON) and Mark Woolley (St. Thomas, ON) to form a "great mix," according to the former X-Men blue liner.
Joseph Raaymakers (Chatham, ON) and Lucas Pfeil (Owen Sound, ON) are back in the crease.
"They are competing hard; they both want the net," Donovan said.
As for what has to happen for the White and Blue to compete for an AUS banner, he offered, "We are going to have to play with speed and pace to be successful."
And, Donovan added, "We have to focus on taking care of things defensively."
He stressed the importance of "having to compete hard," considering the X-Men play in "probably the toughest conference in the country."
"Every game is a tough one – we know we are going to have a battle every night, which means that we are always going to have to be prepared," Donovan said.
'Energetic' Axemen ready to challenge
In Wolfville, the Acadia Axemen are focused on continuing to build on the progress the young program made last season; one that ended with a semifinal sweep at the hands of UNB, which came after upsetting the X-Men in a conference quarterfinal series.
"We have an energetic group," veteran head coach Darren Burns said of his Axemen, who finished last season with an 11-16-2-1 mark with 11 first-year players in the line-up.
He added, "We are going to have to be focused and hungry to be successful."
As for goals this season, Burns quipped, "Beat UNB," while noting the dominance of the Reds over the past few AUS campaigns.
As for his Axemen, he offered, "I expect us to be much improved," including when it comes to 5-on-5 scoring.
Burns added, of last season, "We didn't have a lot of offense."
He also pointed out that the Axemen's special teams will "have to be better."
Burns explained that they have "made additions that we think that will help in those areas."
He noted that it will be a matter of "how quickly that they develop."
With a veteran 'D' corps, Burns offered, "Our strength is on the blue line."
And, he added, "We have also made some tremendous additions."
Between the pipes, Acadia welcomes a pair of "well respected" goaltenders from the major junior ranks: Thomas Couture (Levis, QC) and Brayden Peters (Taber, AB).
"They are talented, but inexperienced," Burns said.
Describing the need to achieve "success by committee," Burns balked at mentioning individual players who will need to lead the charge.
He tasked the coaching staff – including him – with being stronger in their delivery of instruction and structure to their student-athletes this season.
"We have to do a much better job," Burns noted.
He knows, once again, that nothing will come easily in the AUS.
"We have the best conference in the country – I think – in any sport," Burns said.
Ready to roll
The race for the AUS banner, which also includes the Université de Moncton Aigles (11-17-1-1), who secured the final playoff spot last season (before losing to the Panthers in a quarterfinal series), and Dalhousie Tigers (6-22-1-1), begins this week.
In the season opener, on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. ADT, Moncton will host UPEI. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ADT. All games of the AUS regular season and postseason will be webcast live on AUStv.