Bailey Makes AHL Debut
Kyle Bailey – the 5th year Senior captain of the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds takes his next step in his hockey career by signing an ATO contract with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey league. Bailey will join the Americans immediately to help with their playoff push in the highly competitive Western Conference of the AHL.
Bailey is the 2nd V-Red to join the Rochester franchise in the past three years as former team-mate John Scott Dickson had joined them at the conclusion of the 2009 season. He becomes the 42nd UNB player to graduate to this level including an amazing 11 players from the UNB line-up in the past three years who have played in the AHL. He will be the 6th UNB player to play in the AHL this season – a new UNB team record and a new CIS record.
Bailey had a stand-out UNB career helping the team win 5 consecutive AUS pennants , 3 AUS Playoff championships and make it to the CIS National Championships 4 times .He is a 2 time Canadian National Champion - 2009 , 2011 along with a CIS Silver Medal in 2008. He was team captain of Canada’s most successful university program for the past three years
This year he had a career best season culminating in winning the prestigious Randy Gregg award as best student athlete in the country. He is the second UNB player to receive the Dr. Randy Gregg Award and joins former Varsity Red Colin Sinclair ( Brooks, Alta.), who was honoured in 2006-07. He is also a two time winner of the AUS Godfrey Award – only the second player to ever win this award two times. Bailey is in the UNB MBA program and is en route to his 5th consecutive Academic All Canadian honours. He was a 2010-11 AUS All-Star.
In his fifth and final campaign with the V-Reds, the Ponoka, Alta. native, finished fourth in AUS scoring with 16 goals and 33 points in 27 games, including three game-winners and a league-leading 10 power-play markers. He wraps up his stellar university career with 65 goals, 88 assists and 153 points in 138 regular season contests, and ranks third all-time in career points at UNB. He also holds a number of other UNB records including Career Points at the National Championships, Most Goals at Nationals and All Time Games Played leader. Bailey was an NHL draft pick of the Minnesota Wild before deciding to enroll at UNB. He joined the V-Reds after skating for Portland and Lethbridge in the WHL.
V-Reds Go Pro: Graduating D-men Jon Harty and Bretton Stamler also made their pro debuts. Harty – a 2012 CIS/AUS All Star joined Kalamazoo of the ECHL while Stamler – a AUS All Star joined Las Vegas –ECHL. There are 21 former V-Reds playing pro hockey this past year. Senior D-man Luke Gallant had interest from 2 AHL teams but couldn’t work out his MBA courses while a roster rule prevented Jeff Lee from a CHL debut.
“ My experiences at UNB were the five best years of my life and I’ve made so many great friends and had so many positive memories “ – Kyle Bailey