No Sweat, No Tears, Just Blood

Kendra Woodland, of the REDS women's hockey team, and Thomas Casey, of UNB's men's hockey team, were among the more than two dozen UNB student-athletes, team staff and coaches who donated blood at a recent Canadian Blood Services clinic held on campus. (PHOTO: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics)

October 19, 2021

(FREDERICTON, NB) More than 25 UNB REDS student-athletes, team staff and coaches rolled up their sleeves on Monday, donating blood at a Canadian Blood Services clinic at UNB’s Student Union Building.

“It’s amazing,” said Kendra Woodland, a goalie with the REDS’ women’s hockey team and a Hockey Gives Blood Player Ambassador. “It means a lot. I’m only a new player ambassador for Hockey Gives Blood, and giving blood for just the third time, but the turnout, the support, is amazing.”

Woodland and a number of her teammates were among those volunteering to donate blood on Monday. They were joined by members of the REDS’ men’s hockey team, both under the Hockey Gives Blood banner, as well as members of UNB’s women’s basketball team, women’s volleyball team, men’s soccer team, and the school’s Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology, Dr. Wayne Albert.

“You’re, basically, a super hero,” said Woodland of all the REDS donating blood. “You’re saving strangers.”

Woodland joined Hockey Gives Blood, which works in conjunction with Canadian Blood Services to promote blood donation in communities across the country, following the passing of her grandmother.

“My grandma needed blood transfusions,” she said. “Those transfusions kept her alive a bit longer and I’m grateful that those blood donations were there when they were. The more that is there, the more other people can be saved and more loved ones can be alive for longer.”

“There’s so many people that need it (blood), so it’s awesome to be able to give it,” said Thomas Casey, a first-year member of UNB’s men’s hockey team.

Casey became a Hockey Gives Blood Player Ambassador while a member of the Charlottetown Islanders, of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

“I’m thankful that I can continue the process with the REDS, coming from Charlottetown. It was fun and I’m looking forward to doing that again.”

Like Woodland, Casey believes donating blood is one way student-athletes can give back to the community.

“If you have a chance to give back, donating blood is such an easy way to do something like that,” he said.

For more information on Hockey Gives Blood, visit their website: https://hockeygivesblood.ca

For more information on becoming a blood donor, visit Canadian Blood Services website: https://www.blood.ca/en

STORY AND PHOTO: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics