UNB Reds women's ice hockey
UNB Reds athletic logo
UniversityUniversity of New Brunswick
ConferenceAUS
Governing BodyU Sports
Head coachKyle MacDonald (Interim)
Since 2023-24 season
Assistant coachesCassidy Hilworth
ArenaAitken University Centre
Fredericton, New Brunswick
ColorsRed and Black
   
U Sports Tournament appearances
2022, 2023
Conference Tournament championships
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 27th, 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]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height DoB Hometown Previous team
11 Ontario Julia Spitzig Freshman F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 2000-09-12 Kitchener, Ontario Cambridge Rivulettes (PWHL)
12 Alberta Hanna Matchett Junior F 5' 3" (1.6 m) Nanton, Alberta Olds College (ACAC)
14 Manitoba Sage McElroy-Scott Freshman F 5' 4" (1.63 m) 2000-04-04 Morden, Manitoba Pembina Valley Hawks
15 Alberta Emma Borbandy Freshman D 5' 7" (1.7 m) Langdon, Alberta Rocky Mountain Raiders MAAA (AFHL MAAA)
16 New Brunswick Hayley Hallihan (A) Junior F 5' 5" (1.65 m) Miramichi, New Brunswick Saint Mary's Huskies (AUS)
17 British Columbia Hannah Green Freshman D 5' 5" (1.65 m) 2000-04-11 Richmond, British Columbia Greater Vancouver Comets (FMAAA)
18 Dominion of Newfoundland Ashley Stratton Freshman F 5' 5" (1.65 m) Mount Pearl, Newfoundland Ontario Hockey Academy (EWHC)
19 Alberta Alayna Wagstaff Freshman F 5' 4" (1.63 m) Olds, Alberta Red Deer Chiefs (MAAA)
27 New Brunswick Sydney DesRochers (C) Senior F 5' 5" (1.65 m) Woodstock, New Brunswick Moncton Aigles Bleues (AUS)
31 New Brunswick Jaclyn Purcell Sophomore G 5' 5" (1.65 m) Saint John, New Brunswick St. Thomas Tommies (AUS)
35 British Columbia Hailey Martens Freshman G 5' 7" (1.7 m) 2000-03-12 Ladysmith, British Columbia Pacific Steelers (JWHL)
47 Saskatchewan Jenna MacLean Freshman D 5' 7" (1.7 m) 2000-04-06 Wilcox, Saskatchewan Notre Dame Hounds AAA (SFMAAAHL)
70 British Columbia Kendra Woodland Freshman G 5' 8" (1.73 m) 2000-02-18 Kamloops, British Columbia Canada U18
OMAHA Thompson AA (BC Zone U18)
77 British Columbia Myah Bowal Freshman F 5' 6" (1.68 m) 2000-04-04 Terrace, British Columbia Toronto Leaside Jr Wildcats (PWHL)
91 New Brunswick Jennifer Bell (A) Senior F 5' 7" (1.7 m) Miramichi, New Brunswick Mount Allison University (AUS)
94 Ontario Katherine Chadwick Freshman F 5' 5" (1.65 m) 1999-06-12 Kanata, Ontario Ottawa Lady Senators (PWHL)

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

Won Championship Lost Championship Conference Champions League Leader
YearCoachWLOTLConfGFGAPtsFinishConference Tournament
2020–21Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019–20Sarah Hilworth18917351374th, AUSLost, Semi-finals vs. Saint Mary's Huskies
2018–19Sarah Hilworth131145356304th, AUSLost, Semi-finals vs. St. Thomas Tommies

Team captains

  • 2018-19: Sydney DesRochers (assistants: Hayley Hallihan and Jennifer Bell)
  • 2019-20: Sydney DesRochers
  • 2021-22: Paige Grenier [10] (assistants: Jenna MacLean, Ashley Stratton, Frederike Cyr, Amanda Desrochers and Katherine Chadwick)
  • 2022-23: Paige Grenier (assistants: Jenna MacLean, Ashley Stratton, Frederike Cyr and Lillian George)
  • 2023-24: Payton Hargreaves (assistants: Lillian George, Lauren Carter, Reagan Minor and Kendra Woodland)

Season team scoring champion

YearPlayerGPGAPTSPIMAUS rank
2019–20[11]Ashley Stratton2813173022nd
2018–19[12]Tamina Kehler2861016415th (tied)

Rivalries

Awards and honours

AUS Awards

  • Kendra Woodland, 2018-19 AUS Rookie of the Year[13]
  • Ashley Stratton, 2019-20 AUS Most Sportsmanlike Player[14]
  • Ashley Stratton, 2021-22 AUS Most Sportsmanlike Player
  • Sarah Hilworth, 2021-22 AUS Coach of the Year
  • Jana Headrick, 2021-22 AUS Community Service Award
  • Jenna MacLean, 2021-22 AUS Defensive Player of the Year
  • Kendra Woodland, 2022-23 AUS Most Valuable Player

AUS All-Stars

  • Kendra Woodland, Goaltender: 2018-19 AUS First Team All-Star
  • Jenna MacLean, Defence: 2018-19 AUS Second Team All-Star
  • Kendra Woodland, Goaltender: 2019-20 AUS Second Team All-Star
  • Jenna MacLean, Defence: 2021-22 AUS First Team All-Star
  • Kendra Woodland, Goaltender: 2021-22 AUS First Team All-Star
  • Jenna MacLean, Defence: 2022-23 AUS First Team All-Star
  • Kendra Woodland, Goaltender: 2022-23 AUS First Team All-Star

AUS All-Rookies

  • Kendra Woodland: 2018-19 AUS All-Rookie Team
  • Jenna MacLean, 2018-19 AUS All-Rookie Team
  • Payton Hargreaves: 2021-2022 AUS All-Rookie Team

Pre 2008 awards

  • 2000-01: Lynda Robinson, Forward, AUS Rookie of the Year
  • 2001-02: Emily Hobbs, Goaltender, AUS Rookie of the Year
  • 2005-06: Terri Ryerson, Goaltender, AUS Rookie of the Year
  • 2005-06: Meghan Ward, AUS Most Sportsmanlike Player
  • 2005-06: Terri Ryerson, Goaltender, CIS All-Rookie Team

U Sports Awards

  • Jana Headrick, 2022 Marion Hilliard Award
  • Kendra Woodland, 2023 Brodrick Trophy[15]

All-Canadians

  • Jenna MacLean, Defence, 2018-19 All-Rookie Team
  • Kendra Woodland, Goaltender, 2018-19 All-Rookie Team
  • Ashley Stratton, Forward, 2019-20 Second Team
  • Kendra Woodland, Goaltender, 2022-23 First Team

References

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