Celebrating A Legend
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS will celebrate the illustrious career of long-time men’s hockey coach Gardiner MacDougall in a special pre-game ceremony on Friday, November 29th.
The ceremony will take place ahead of that evening’s Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey game between the REDS and the Acadia Axemen.
“Gardiner brought nine national championships to UNB and left as the winningest coach in regular season play in the history of Canadian university men’s hockey. His is a career that demands celebration,” said REDS Athletic Director Jeff Speedy. “His accomplishments were witnessed by so many UNB fans and supporters, we wanted this night of recognition to be something people could plan to attend.”
“We’re going to keep details of the evening somewhat secret, but the event will be appropriate for someone who’s left the legacy that he’s left,” added Speedy.
MacDougall retired from UNB in May, after 24 seasons as head coach.
He recorded 490 regular season wins during his career, more than any other coach in Canadian men’s university hockey history.
His nine University Cup titles is tied for most in that category with the legendary Tom Watt.
2024 marked MacDougall’s ninth consecutive trip to the national championship tournament and 17th overall, a new record.
MacDougall’s final season as REDS head coach might have been his most impressive.
The team went 43-0, winning all five exhibition games, all 30 regular season games, all five AUS playoff games, and all three at the national championship tournament in Toronto.
During his 24 seasons as the coach of UNB’s men’s hockey program, MacDougall coached in 985 regular season, conference playoff, national championship tournament and exhibition or non-conference games, amassing an impressive record of 732 wins, 232 losses, and 21 ties for a .743 winning percentage.
During his career, MacDougall helped more than 125 student-athletes achieve U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian status, some multiple times, which requires them to maintain an 80% or better average while participating in a varsity sport.
“It’ll be one more memorable MacDougall night at the Aitken Centre,” said Speedy. “It’s not a night many people will want to miss.”
The November 29th game is scheduled to begin at 7:00pm. The ceremony honouring MacDougall, now the head coach of the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats, will begin at 6:55pm.
Tickets for that game are on sale now.
They can be purchased online, at www.goredsgo.ca or at the Aitken Centre box office, open Monday-Friday, 10:00am to 4:30pm.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
FILE PHOTO BY: Fran Harris/for UNB Athletics