(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS, defending Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey champions, are welcoming heralded centre Jacob Gaucher to their recruiting class of 2022.
The 21-year-old, from Longueuil, QC, has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2022-2023 AUS season.
“Jacob is a tremendous addition to our program and comes with outstanding pedigree,” said REDS head coach Gardiner MacDougall. “He was a key defensive player for Val d’Or when they were QMJHL finalists in 2021 and was captain in Baie Comeau this past season where he had a chance to grow the offensive side of his game.”
Gaucher played five major junior seasons, the first four in Val d’Or, and last season with Baie Comeau. He played in 242 regular season games and scored 65 goals and 76 assists during his career.
“I’d heard and have seen great things about the hockey program and the university itself,” said Gaucher. “I had some great conversations with Coach MacDougall and his staff. It’s a perfect fit for me.”
“I had some interest from other schools, but UNB really stood out to me,” he said. “UNB has an excellent reputation academically and in the world of hockey, there’s a strong winning culture and I want to be part of it.”
In 2021, Gaucher was awarded the QMJHL’s Marcel-Robert Trophy as the league’s Scholastic Player of the Year.
In 2022, he earned the Guy Carbonneau Trophy as the QMJHL’s best defensive forward.
“Jacob fits into a key role for us,” said Coach MacDougall. “He’s a big, two-way centre that can positively impact a game. He’s a top-notch faceoff specialist and is tremendous on the penalty kill.”
“I’m a hard-working player that has a strong desire to win,” said Gaucher. “As a player, I’m willing to do everything to help us win.”
Gaucher’s father, Yannick, recently named General Manager of the QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, played university hockey at UQTR in the late 1990s.
“My goal is to get better as a player and help the team win,” said Gaucher. “I want to win a national championship with the REDS. Long-term, my goal is to, eventually, sign a professional contract after my university career.”
Gaucher recently attended the Philadelphia Flyers summer development camp and has been invited to the NHL team’s fall rookie camp.
Previously, he’s attended development camps with the Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights.
“We’ve had great success in developing big centres,” said Coach MacDougall. “Sam Dove-McFalls, who got his MBA, and Mark Simpson, who earned a Computer Science degree, are two recent examples. They not only graduated with degrees, both earned American Hockey League contracts and are playing professionally.”
Through the QMJHL’s educational program, Gaucher has already taken a number of UNB courses online. He’s pursuing a Business degree.
PHOTOS: Kassandra Blais Photographie/Baie Comeau Drakkar