(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds are adding forward Macauley Carson to their recruiting class of 2020.
The native of Midhurst, Ontario, recently finished an impressive junior career that saw him play five seasons with the Sudbury Wolves, of the Ontario Hockey League.
He’s signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the Reds ahead of the 2020-21 Atlantic University Sport season.
“I'm excited to get the chance to win and be a part of UNB's winning culture,” said Carson. “I look forward to getting a degree, building new relationships, and at the end of it all, hopefully still having a chance to play pro.”
“We’re extremely excited about adding Macauley,” said Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall. “He’ll be an impact player who’ll be equally important in both the offensive and defensive zones. He does an excellent job of getting to the net, he has speed on the forecheck, and he has a great shot. He’ll add physicality and puck-pressure skills, and he’s known for his tenacity and shot-blocking ability.”
Carson, who captained the Wolves in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, finished his major junior career having played 304 regular season games, making him the Wolves’ all-time leader in games played. He scored a total of 85 goals and 97 assists.
2019-20 had Carson on pace for his best season, statistically speaking.
Before the suspension of play, he’d scored 22 goals and added 28 assists, equaling his career high of 50 points, amassed in 2016-17.
In a recent poll of OHL coaches, Carson was rated in the top three in the best shot blocker and best defensive forward categories in the OHL’s East Division.
“He has outstanding leadership qualities and his intangible skills will be a great compliment for our team,” said MacDougall. “He fits our need for a gritty, hard-to-play against forward who is physical and enjoys going to the dirty areas of the ice to get pucks.”
“We feel he’ll quickly become a fan-favorite, and will bring some of the attributes that former Red Matt Boudens brought to our team,” he added.
“The one thing I valued about UNB, and the coaching staff, is the commitment to making their players better, and the program they’ve put in place to set their players up for success,” said Carson. “There were other schools that showed interest, but I ultimately chose UNB based on the successful program they've built, and being able to talk to some of the guys on the team before deciding.”
Carson says he received messages from several Reds, including Kris Bennett and Brady Gilmour, and that they helped him in the decision-making process.
“It was nice of those guys to reach out, and that showed what a good group of guys they have.”
Carson, who has attended training camps with the NHL’s New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks, has yet to decide on an area of study, but says he’s always had an interest in Kinesiology.
PHOTO: Terry Wilson/OHL Images