(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS men’s volleyball team is adding heralded blocker Lex Guimond, of Baie-Sainte-Anne, NB, to its recruiting class of 2023.

The 6’8” Guimond has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2023-2024 RSEQ season.

“UNB is a wonderful school where I can see myself thriving, not only as an athlete, but as an individual and academically,” said Guimond. “They provide the same opportunities that the bigger schools provide, while maintaining the small school status.”

The 17-year-old is currently in his Grade 12 year at École Régionale de Baie-Sainte-Anne, where he helped the Predateurs to a bronze medal at the 2022 New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association championship.

Guimond, a member of New Brunswick’s team that competed at the 2022 Canada Summer Games, is a veteran member of the Baie-Sainte-Anne Hounds Volleyball Club. At the 2021 Volleyball New Brunswick club championships, Guimond and the Hounds’ U18 side won a bronze medal.

“Lex is a middle with the size and athleticism that will make him a special player at the next level,” said REDS’ head coach Dan McMorran. “I feel he can make an immediate impact with our program.”

“I believe I can be a contributing factor from my first year,” said Guimond. “I’ll bring energy on and off the court. As a teammate, I hope to bring a good presence to the locker room and push my teammates to become the best version of themselves.”

Coach McMorran says, despite coming from a small community, Guimond has benefitted from good coaching at the school and club levels.

“On the court, he’s a passionate player,” said McMorran. “As he develops physically, Lex has the potential to be a dominant player in U SPORTS.”

Guimond says his short-term goal is to develop his skills further and contribute to the team. Longer-term, he wants to help the REDS compete for a national championship.

Guimond will study Kinesiology while attending UNB.

PHOTOS: Submitted