Gardiner MacDougall is in his 24th season (2023-24) at the helm of UNB’s men's hockey team, one of Canada's most successful university hockey programs.

The native of Bedeque, PE, is the fourth UNB head coach from that province, following in the footsteps of former and present NHL coaches Don MacAdam, Doug MacLean and Mike Kelly.

During the 2022-23 Atlantic University Sport season, MacDougall guided the REDS to a 24-4-1-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL) regular season record and a 5-2 record in the AUS playoffs and the team's fifth consecutive conference championship (19th total). At the U SPORTS Championship tournament, UNB defeated Concordia in the quarter-finals, UQTR in the semi-finals, and the University of Alberta in the gold medal game, UNB's ninth national championship.

The REDS have won eight of their nine Canadian championships under MacDougall's guidance. (2023, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007)

In 2022, MacDougall spent five weeks as interim head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs, of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. MacDougall guided the Memorial Cup hosts to the 2022 Canadian Hockey League championship, beating the Ontario Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs 6-3 in the title game.

Prior to the lost season of 2020-21 (due to the pandemic), MacDougall's REDS were AUS regular season and playoff champions and the No. 1 seed at the 2020 U SPORTS Championship, which was cancelled due to the pandemic. The 2019-20 season did see MacDougall record the 500th regular season or playoff win of his illustrious career. A 10-0 victory over Dalhousie, on Nov. 22, 2019, was his 400th regular season coaching win to go along with 100 AUS and U Cup playoff victories.

MacDougall's impressive UNB resume includes a Canadian record breaking 2009-10 season of 27-1, including 26 consecutive victories to start the season – another U SPORTS record. He helped lead the 2007-08 squad to the most successful season in AUS history (31-1-1) as well as the most wins in a single season (43) in Canadian university hockey.

He is the all-time Atlantic Conference leader in total wins, including regular season and playoff victories. He is top five in all-time U SPORTS victories and 1st all-time in Canadian university hockey history in national championship tournament wins (34), surpassing legends and former NHL coaches Tom Watt and Clare Drake. This further solidifies his reputation as a proven winner and developer of players and teams. UNB has become the top developer of hockey talent for the professional ranks including five recent UNB players signing NHL contracts including three directly out of UNB, the only U SPORTS school to do this in the past 20+ years. 39 UNB players coached by MacDougall have played in the AHL/IHL.

In 2006, he became the all-time winningest coach in UNB history with 106 wins, passing one of his Island mentors Don MacAdam. Since that milestone, he has stretched the standard of success to include becoming the first AUS coach to reach the storied 400^th victory in January, 2014. He has guided the UNB team to 15 consecutive AUS pennants, 11 AUS titles, 16 national championship appearances and a remarkable 23 consecutive AUS “Final Four” appearances

In January of 2023, MacDougall, as head coach, led Team Canada to the gold medal at the FISU World Winter University Games, in Lake Placid, New York. Previously, as head coach, he led Canada to World University Games titles in Trentino, Italy, in 2013. As an assistant coach, he helped guide Canada to another FISU gold medal at the 2007 Games, in Torino, Italy.

Prior to coming to UNB, MacDougall had an outstanding career in junior hockey in Western Canada where he was named Coach of the Year on four separate occasions, capturing four provincial/league championships and developing his reputation as a well-organized communicator, passionate motivator and top notch recruiter.

MacDougall has been named U SPORTS Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2010 after being a finalist in 2004 and 2008. He is also a five-time AUS Coach of the Year and has been awarded Coach of the Year in his home province of PEI two separate occasions.

In April 2007, MacDougall was honored with the special UNB President’s Citation Award by then UNB University President John McLaughlin. In March 2009, President McLaughlin awarded him with the UNB President’s Medal - UNB’s most prestigious recognition. He was the first coach in UNB history to be awarded such honors. He was awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Rotary Fellowship medallion as recognition for his community service in the Fredericton hockey community and in 2012 received the distinguished Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal. In 2014, he was awarded an honorary UNB Alumni distinction by the UNB Associated Alumni.

Aside from a successful on-ice coaching record, Coach MacDougall’s background as an educator has helped UNB student-athletes achieve strong academic standing. He has had more than 150 players achieve at least one term of a 3.0 grade point average while more than 100 players have achieved Academic All-Canadian status (3.5+GPA). In 2021-22, UNB’s Joe Gatenby was named to the prestigious Top 8 (Top Academic All-Canadians from each conference), the third UNB hockey player to earn this honour.

MacDougall is known for his positive enthusiasm and work ethic. He is a top notch recruiter who is very adept at getting the most out of his players and developing a team first culture. A keen promoter of community development, UNB’s numerous hockey programs reach over 1000 young people each year. He was co-founder of the elite V-Reds Prospects program, widely recognized as the top youth development program in Eastern Canada.

He is also an accomplished motivational speaker and presenter, making multiple appearances at the famous Roger Neilson Coaching Symposium, numerous Hockey Canada and NBHA regional events along with guest appearances with assorted businesses, CHL teams and school divisions. He was a guest of the Russian Hockey Federation in 2013, a 2014 guest instructor for NHL players pre-training camp in Vail, CO. and has made five European hockey visits.

MacDougall is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University(BSc. P-ED) and Saint Mary’s(B-ED), and resides in New Maryland with wife Lee, a teacher. The couple has two children, Taylor - a 5-year QMJHL grad and 5-year UNB student-athlete - and Madison - a UNB grad.