(FREDERICTON, NB) Nine new names will be featured on the UNB REDS’ men’s soccer team’s 2022 roster.
This year’s recruiting class boasts some home-grown prospects, some international flavour, a strong Winnipeg connection, and a transfer from the NCAA ranks.
“We’ve got a really dynamic group of players,” said REDS head coach Barry Morrison. “Pretty much everyone we brought in can play multiple positions and different roles, so it’s going to make us, tactically, very flexible.”
Among the first-year REDS is former Fredericton High School standout Ben Davidge.
The 18-year-old wing back spent the 2021 season with the St. Thomas University Tommies.
“I’ll bring hard work and competitiveness,” said Davidge, who grew up playing on UNB’s turf and watching previous REDS teams. “I haven’t really taken it all in yet, but it’s cool to be here now. I’m excited to get going.”
Davidge will study Engineering while attending UNB.
Fellow Frederictonian Harrison McGinn also joins the REDS.
A product of the Fredericton District Soccer Association, he attended Soccer New Brunswick’s High-Performance Academy and the Fleetwood Town International Football Academy, in England.
“I remember watching games here when I was young, and watching guys like Diego (Padihla) and Ben (Gorringe) and Marcus Lees. I always looked up to them and thought it would be great to play here.”
The 18-year-old wing back wants to help return the REDS to Atlantic University Sport glory.
“I think, even as a first year, I bring good intensity that can help raise the level of training and, hopefully, I can get some game time and help this team any way I can.”
McGinn will study Business.
Ravtej Singh was born and raised in Chandigarh, in northern India, but has called Fredericton home for a number of years.
After two years at St. Thomas University, Singh is moving across campus and joining the REDS.
The 22-year-old striker-winger trained with the REDS during the lost 2020 season.
“I think that’s where Barry saw me and saw how I play and where I could make a mark,” said Singh. “He saw my work ethic, my effort to be present and to get things done.”
A Fine Arts Major, Singh is studying music and theatre.
He plays numerous musical instruments and says the timing required to be a good musician can translate to the pitch.
“Being on time, for training, for the ball when it’s passed to you, and being able to finish, everything involves timing and it’s something I work on a lot.”
Ryker Friesen is an 18-year-old full back and one of three Winnipeg natives joining the REDS in 2022.
He’s a product of Winnipeg’s Phoenix FC and E&E Sports Management Academy teams.
“I’m hard working. I’ll push until I’m broken,” said Friesen, with ice packs taped around both knees and both ankles. “I bring energy. I’m here to work and learn and help in any way I can.”
Friesen will study Kinesiology.
Centre back Emmanuel David Kwilu-Kama comes to the REDS from Winnipeg as well.
The 19-year-old is a product of Winnipeg’s Bonivital FC and the same E&E Academy program as Friesen.
“I bring grit and hard work,” said Kwilu-Kama. “I’m not afraid to block shots or make tackles.”
Kwilu-Kama said he made an instant connection with Coach Morrison and knew UNB was where he wanted to be.
Kwilu-Kama will study Kinesiology.
Midfielder Alex Oprea is the third of the three Winnipegers joining the REDS and is coming off a Canada Games appearance with Team Manitoba.
He’s spent time with Winnipeg’s Phoenix FC and Lucania FC programs.
“I’ll do my best to try and get into that starting lineup,” he said.
Oprea was sold on UNB during his recruiting visit in the spring.
“I knew, right away, this was the place for me,” he said.
Oprea will study Business.
Centre midfielder Liam MacGowan comes to the REDS from the TSS Rovers club which brought us Christopher Schmit in 2021.
“Chris said a lot of positive things about UNB and I had a good call with Coach Morrison,” said MacGowan.
From New Westminster, BC, MacGowan spent nine years living in Australia, where he and his brothers had to transition from playing hockey to playing soccer.
“I saw and played a more diverse game there,” he said. “I have the benefit of having played in some very different situations and that may translate into an advantage for me.”
MacGowan will study Kinesiology.
Francois Maurice has made the cross-country journey too, coming to UNB from North Vancouver.
A veteran centre back who played in the North Vancouver FC and Mountain United FC systems, Maurice will offer the REDS coaching staff some versatility.
“I think they like the fact I can play multiple positions,” he said. “I was originally a holding mid and Barry says he sees me as a centre back. I can definitely play those two positions, and I’ve also played a lot of outside back.”
Maurice will study Kinesiology.
20-year-old Angad Panesar joins the REDS after a red-shirt year at Canisius College, in Buffalo, New York.
The centre midfielder, from Brampton, Ontario, had a couple other U SPORTS options, but felt UNB was the best place for him, both academically and athletically.
“I have some experience playing and training with some good players at the NCAA Division 1 level. Players from Germany, France, Italy and the United States,” he said.
“I’ll work hard,” he added. “I want to grow. I want to learn. I want to be a consistent starter and help this team any way I can.”
Panesar will study Business.
“We’ve got four or five players that will see time and, maybe, significant roles this fall,” said Coach Morrison. “We’ve got two players that will fight to find a spot and some field time, and we’ve got a couple that we know are going to be a year or two away. It’s good spread. We’re happy with how this will play out over the next two or three years.”
As happy as he is with his 2022 recruiting class, Morrison admits there were some misses.
“We’ve got a couple places where we were trying to fill gaps that didn’t fully materialize,” he said. “But with the dynamic group we’ve brought in, we should be able to find creative solutions to what might’ve been problems for us last year.”
Morrison’s nine recruits and those REDS returning from the 2021 side begin their Atlantic University Sport regular season schedule on September 11th, when they visit Moncton.
The REDS home opener will follow less than a week later, on September 17th, when the Dalhousie Tigers visit UNB.
STORY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTOS: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics