Marcoux, Dubeau, McIvor and Anderson commit to UNB hockey
The 2015 AUS champion and CIS Silver Medalists UNB Varsity Reds men’s hockey team is pleased to announce part of the recruitment class for the upcoming 2015-16 season
(FREDERICTON, N.B.) The 2015 AUS champion and CIS Silver Medalists UNB Varsity Reds men's hockey team is pleased to announce part of the recruitment class for the upcoming 2015-16 season. Joining the Varsity Reds are Etienne Marcoux (goal, ECHL/QMJHL Blainville-Boisbriand), Alex Dubeau (goal, QMJHL Moncton), Marcus McIvor (defence, OHL North Bay), Stephen Anderson (forward, QMJHL Cape Breton), and Mike Thomas (forward, AHL/QMJHL Saint John).
Defenseman Marcus McIvor (Whitby, Ont.) is a five-year OHL veteran and team captain of the North Bay Battalion. Originally an OHL 1st-round selection with Brampton, the 6'2", 225lb McIvor played his whole career with the Battalion organisation under legendary coach Stan Butler, becoming the Battalions' leader in all-time games played. He had a career best 2014-15 season with 5-33-38 in 68 games played and an additional two goals and five assists for seven points in 15 playoff games. He was named OHL Eastern Division Top Defensive Player, Most Underrated Player and Top Penalty Killer while finishing second for Top Shot Blocker in the annual OHL Coaches Poll.
"Marcus is an outstanding addition to our hockey program and will be a key contributor to our success this season," said UNB associate coach Rob Hennigar. " He plays the game the right way, has plenty of key playoff experience and is an outstanding leader. We are very excited to have him here at UNB."
Alex Dubeau (Montreal, PQ) has an outstanding five-year QMJHL career, winning a Memorial Cup as a 17-year-old in Shawinigan in 2012 where he posted a 2.56 GA and .904 save percentage. He was then traded to the Moncton Wildcats where he enjoyed three outstanding seasons, including a career best 20-year-old season where he was 41-13-1 and was named team MVP in leading the Wildcats to a first place finish in the Atlantic Division and second overall in the QMJHL. Dubeau is the second winningest goalie in QMJHL history with 138 career regular season wins and tied the QMJHL record for most career shut-outs with 16. Dubeau attended the Montreal Canadiens rookie development camp in June.
Etienne Marcoux (Montreal, PQ) had an outstanding five-year QMJHL career in the Montreal/Blainville Armanda organization, culminating in three terrific years including a QMJHL-best 2.14 GA and .913 save percentage in 2012-2014 when he was named Second Team QMJHL All-Star. He received the QMJHL "Golden Puck" award for these achievements. He also was selected to play with Subway Series Team Canada/QMJHL versus Russia. Marcoux attended NHL training camps with the Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks. He turned pro last season signing a one year AHL contract with the Norfolk Admirals. He played 9 games in the ECHL with Utah/Rapid City before undergoing shoulder surgery in December 2014. An excellent student and three-time QMJHL Scholastic Player of the Month Award winner, Marcoux will enter year three of UNB's Business Administration program.
UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall acknowledged "a new era of goaltending at UNB. We are very fortunate to have two top rate goaltenders with excellent pedigrees, outstanding work ethic and plenty of experience in key situations. Etienne has a year of pro experience and has been to the QMJHL Final Four while Alex has been part of a Memorial Cup-winning team and reached the QMJHL Final Four this season.
Stephen Anderson (Morell, PEI) just completed a career best fourth QMJHL season where he had 28 points in 24 games after a trade to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles from Val d'Or where he had 20 points in 36 games. A former member of the Memorial Cup champion Saint John Sea Dogs, Anderson played three years with the Sea Dogs before suffering a career-threatening concussion in 2013-2014. The former Summerside Western Capital was an MHL Rookie of the Year in 2012 under coach Billy McGuigan.
"We've always had a lot of success with players from PEI, and we expect Stephen to continue the tradition," explained Island-born MacDougall. "Stephen has lots of speed and grit and his versatility will allow him to play all three forward positions. We see a big upside for his development and growth here at UNB."
Anderson will study Kinesiology at UNB.
Mike Thomas (New Maryland, N.B.) is a familiar name to fans in the local area and will return to the UNB lineup for the second half of 2015-2016 after completing his academic requirements. The former captain of the Memorial Cup-winning Saint John Sea Dogs under Gerrard Gallant and former V-Red Mike Kelly, Thomas played one year of pro hockey in the AHL/ECHL before returning to UNB in 2013-2014 and helping UNB to an AUS pennant. Last year he decided to attend firefighting school but has now decided to complete his degree in Kinesiology and Education at UNB.
"Michael is a proven winner and a top character leader who will add an exciting physical dimension to our hockey club. He is very popular in the community and will be a key addition for the second half," said MacDougall.