(FREDERICTON, NB) The newly-crowned Memorial Cup champions, the Saint John Sea Dogs, are returning to UNB’s Aitken Centre to begin defence of their national major junior hockey title.

The UNB REDS will host the Sea Dogs for four Quebec Major Junior Hockey League pre-season games, two in August and two in September.

“Having the 2022 Memorial Cup champions here as we begin to ramp up our hockey season at the Aitken Centre is another amazing opportunity,” said Nick Zildjan, the REDS Marketing and Sales Manager. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to host them in previous years, but this year, in the wake of their big win, it’s even more special.”

As part of their preparations for the 2022-2023 QMJHL season, the Sea Dogs, now two-time Memorial Cup champions, will host the Moncton Wildcats on Thursday, August 18^th, at 7:00pm, the Acadie Bathurst Titan on Tuesday, August 23^rd, at 7:00pm, and the Halifax Mooseheads on Friday, September 9^th, at 7:00pm. The Sea Dogs will host the Titan in a pre-season re-match on Sunday, September 11^th, at 3:00pm.

“It’s only fitting that our first games since our Memorial Cup victory are being played at UNB, the home of Coach Mac,” said Sea Dogs President and General Manager Trevor Georgie. “The Memorial Cup brought the entire province together and this year’s exhibition games at the Aitken Centre gives us the opportunity to share that excitement with an audience that is very familiar with winning national championships.”

Tickets for all four games will go on sale Tuesday, July 19^th, at 10:00am.

Tickets can be purchased online, at www.goredsgo.ca, or in person at the Aitken Centre box office. In July, the Aitken Centre box office is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. In August, the box office will be open Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00am to 4:00pm and on game nights. After September 1^st, the box office is open 10:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday and on game nights.

“Over the years, the REDS have built a relationship with the Sea Dogs and this pre-season series further cements our bond with the team,” said Zildjan. “Like the REDS, the Sea Dogs are a respected hockey organization. They’ve always felt the need to provide an opportunity for fans outside of the immediate Saint John area to experience their product and we’re happy to provide them a venue for that.”

“We value our relationship with the University of New Brunswick and with the REDS,” said Georgie. “Coming off a historic season, any chance to share even a small piece of that beyond Saint John is special for us. We’re thankful that UNB’s administration and REDS Athletics have been able to partner with us again.”

Fans can purchase ticket packages for all four games or individual game tickets.

Four-game packages will cost $45 for adults, $35 for students and seniors, and $20 for youth (under 12).

Individual game tickets will cost $14 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $6 for youth.

All packages and individual game tickets are subject to a service fee.

The connection between the REDS and the Sea Dogs has always been good, and grew stronger during the team’s effort to capture the 2022 Memorial Cup. Saint John recruited long-time REDS men’s hockey coach Gardiner MacDougall to be their interim head coach. After leading UNB to seven national university titles, MacDougall coached the Sea Dogs to their second Canadian Hockey League championship in franchise history.

The REDS 2022-23 roster will feature former Sea Dog Benjamin Gagne and, in recent seasons, former Sea Dogs Samuel Dove-McFalls, Olivier LeBlanc, Stephen Anderson and Mike Thomas, among others, have all played for the REDS.

The REDS, defending Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey champions, will open their training camp in September. UNB hosts the UPEI Panthers in their 2022-2023 regular season opener on Friday, October 7^th, at 7:00pm.

The REDS women’s hockey team, also reigning AUS champs, host Moncton in their home opener the following night, October 8^th, at 7:00pm.

The Sea Dogs will play their QMJHL regular season home opener, at Saint John’s TD Station, on Saturday, September 24^th, at 7:00pm, against the Titan.

PHOTO: Saint John Sea Dogs