(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS women’s hockey team is adding respected goalie coach Kyle MacDonald as a full-time assistant coach for the 2022-2023 Atlantic University Sport season.
MacDonald, a native of Rothesay, New Brunswick, has been hired on an eight-month contract and assumes his new position immediately.
“We’re thrilled to add Kyle as a full-time member of our coaching staff,” said REDS’ head coach Sarah Hilworth. “He’s been with our program since the rebirth of women’s hockey here and has been a key contributor to our growth and success over that time.”
MacDonald has served as a goaltending coach for the REDS since 2018 and with UNB’s men’s hockey team in various roles since 2016.
He’ll now focus his attention on the women’s team.
“I’m truly grateful for this opportunity,” said MacDonald. “UNB and hockey go hand in hand and that’s because of the great culture we have here. It means so much to receive this show of faith and commitment from the university and the women’s hockey program.”
MacDonald has worked extensively in coaching and consulting roles with Hockey Canada and Hockey New Brunswick.
Prior to joining UNB, he worked closely with elite youth teams, including the Saint John Vito’s U18 AAA, the girls prep team at Rothesay Netherwood School, and the former St. Stephen Aces, of the Maritime Hockey League.
He currently works as a private goaltending coach for Jake Allen, of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, and serves a scout for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
“I want to make a significant difference,” he said. “There are so many incredible people who contribute to the success of this team, on and off the ice. It’ll be a privilege to be that much more involved with them.”
“Working with Sarah is a great chance for me to learn and grow as a coach,” said MacDonald. “We have had very productive discussions regarding the ways I can best contribute to the group. With 2021-2022 having been such a rewarding year, it’s a very exciting time to be a part of UNB women’s hockey.”
MacDonald will continue to work with the REDS goaltending trio of Kendra Woodland, Hailey Martens and Cassie McCallum, and will expand his roles with the team’s forwards and defenders.
“I have a lot of respect for the players in that room and I think it’s mutual,” he said. “This is a resilient and hard-working team with an abundance of leaders. You can really sense how passionate everyone is about reaching the next level.”
“Kyle has given a lot to the hockey programs here at UNB, so I’m happy for him to take on a larger role with our team,” said Paige Grenier, captain of the REDS’ women’s hockey team.
She was a member of the hiring committee that chose MacDonald from a large group of applicants.
“He’s earned it,” she said. “He’s already established relationships with all the players. This will help us hit the ground running. Kyle adds a lot of value and experience to our program, and that extends far beyond his knowledge of goaltending. I can’t wait to see how he’ll help push our program to new heights. We’re very fortunate to add someone like him to our coaching staff.”
The REDS, 2021-2022 AUS champions, begin defence of their conference title on October 7th, at St. Thomas. They host their home-opener the next night, October 8th, against Moncton.
“I’m thrilled to work with Kyle more on a day-to-day basis,” said Hilworth. “I know adding him to our staff full time will help us continue building champions of academic and athletic excellence here at UNB.”
STORY AND PHOTOS BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics