(FREDERICTON, NB) Samuel Dove-McFalls is returning to New Brunswick.
The productive forward who spent four seasons with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the UNB Reds beginning in the 2018-19 season.
“Sam is a player that we’ve watched closely for a while now,” said Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall. “Playing in Saint John, we got to see him play a lot and knew he was someone we coveted. He’s a character player that brings size and skill down the middle and is great in all three zones.”
The 21-year-old Dove-McFalls is a centre, and was a 4th round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2015 NHL Draft.
He played his first four QMJHL seasons(2013-14 through 2016-17) in Saint John, skating in 202 regular season games, scoring 42 goals and 67 assists. Dove-McFalls was a member of Saint John’s 2017 President Cup winning team and one of the team’s assistant captains for three of his four seasons.
He played 2017-18, his overage season, with the Rimouski Oceanic, where he served as the team’s captain and registered a career-high 22 goals and 51 assists in 64 games.
“The history and tradition of winning at UNB is what appealed to me the most,” said Dove-McFalls. “The program is run in a very professional way and all the players have high expectations and aspirations, which can only help me become a better player and person.”
Last season, Dove-McFalls was recognized for his contributions at both ends of the ice when he was named winner of the QMJHL’s Guy Charbonneau Trophy, as the league’s top defensive forward.
“I’m a reliable 200-foot player who is good in the circle and on the penalty kill,” he said. “I have a good work-ethic and have some leadership skills that I believe I could use down the road.”
“We’re extremely excited to land a player with Sam’s pedigree and character,” said MacDougall. “He brings size and strength at the centre position and will be great on face-offs. He had a tremendous season in Rimouski, and played a key role in Saint John’s championship run two seasons ago. He’s going to be an important piece to the UNB hockey family during his time here and we look forward to working with him"
Dove-McFalls played his minor hockey in the Montreal area. In 2011-12, he lived in Germany, where he played for a Berlin-based bantam-aged youth team before returning to Quebec for a year of midget.
“I will work hard and get better every day to help achieve the annual goal at UNB, winning a national championship,” said Dove-McFalls. “On a personal note, I hope to develop my game and earn an opportunity to show my worth at the pro level.”
Dove-McFalls will pursue a degree in Recreation and Sport Studies while attending UNB.