REDS No. 1 Seed For U Cup
(FREDERICTON, NB) The defending U SPORTS champion UNB REDS will be the number one seed at the 2024 U SPORTS men’s hockey championship tournament, in Toronto.
The REDS are ranked ahead of the UQTR Patriotes, champs of the OUA, and the Canada West champs, the UBC Thunderbirds.
Hosts and OUA finalists Toronto Metropolitan University will be the fourth seed and the Calgary Dinos, Canada West finalists, are fifth.
OUA bronze medallist McGill are the sixth seed, followed by AUS finalist Moncton and OUA semi-finalist Brock, who draw into the host’s berth.
The top-ranked REDS will face the eighth seeded Badgers in the first game of the University Cup tournament, Thursday afternoon at 2:00pm Atlantic/1:00pm Eastern.
“It’s always very special to earn our way back to the national championship, and we look forward to a new opponent for the opening game of the tournament,” said REDS head coach Gardiner MacDougall.
The REDS claimed their 16th consecutive Atlantic University Sport regular season title, going 30-0 before continuing their unbeaten run in the playoffs, sweeping Saint Mary’s in the AUS semi-finals and Moncton in the league final for their sixth straight conference championship.
The Badgers were 21-7 during the regular season and 3-3 in the playoffs. They dropped a 5-2 decision to McGill in Saturday’s OUA bronze medal game.
“It will be a big challenge for our group as it will be the highest ranked ELO opponent we’ve played so far this season,” said Coach MacDougall. “Our practices in Toronto will be key for our success.”
UNB and Brock have met once previously in University Cup tournament action. In 2008, in Moncton, UNB beat the Badgers 6-1 in round-robin play.
All games of the University Cup tournament will be broadcast live on CBC Sports’ digital platforms. The full schedule will be available throughout the tournament at www.usports.ca/en/broadcast
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
FILE PHOTO BY: Evan Richtfeld/for UNB Athletics