UNB Reds women's ice hockey

UNB Reds women's ice hockey
UNB Reds women's ice hockey
University	University of New Brunswick
Conference	AUS
Governing Body	U Sports
Head coach	Kyle MacDonald (Interim); Since 2023-24 season
Assistant coaches	Cassidy Hilworth
Arena	Aitken University Centre ; Fredericton, New Brunswick
Colors	Red and Black;
U Sports Tournament appearances
	2022, 2023
Conference Tournament championships
	2022, 2023

Last updated November 08, 2024

The UNB Reds women's ice hockey program represents the University of New Brunswick in the Atlantic University Sport conference of U Sports.

History

Return to AUS hockey

Former UNB Reds skater had filed a human rights complaint following the decision to downgrade the women’s hockey team from varsity to club status following the 2007-08 season. ^[1] In mid-March 2008, the UNB Reds athletic department announced that five sports would become competitive club status.^[2] In addition to women’s ice hockey, men’s swimming, cross country, along with men’s and women’s wrestling were casualties of this decision.

The program would return to varsity status for the 2018-19 Atlantic University Sport season. With an official introduction taking place on October 12, 2018, including a jersey ceremony held at Long Hall, in the Richard J. Currie Center, the captains for the new era of Reds hockey were also announced. Sydney DesRochers, a native of Woodstock, New Brunswick was named Team Captain, while Hayley Hallihan and Jennifer Bell, both from Miramichi, New Brunswick, were named assistant captains. Paige Grenier, from Olds, Alberta, became the first Red, extended an offer by head coach Sarah Hilworth, late in the summer of 2017.^[3] Ashley Stratton, from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, became the first Atlantic Canadian recruited to the Reds, having won the Atlantic Challenge Cup in 2015.^[4]

Inaugural season

The Reds first game, which was also their Atlantic University Sport season opener took place versus the Mount Allison Mounties on October 13, 2018. The game was the Reds first women's ice hockey game since an 8-1 loss to Mount Allison in the AUS Quarterfinals on February 22, 2008.^[5] As a side note, it was also the Reds first home opener since October 27, 2007. Jennifer Bell scored unassisted, 21 seconds into the second period, on Mounties goaltender Kaitlin Mowbray, capitalizing on a power play for the first goal of the new era. The game would go into double overtime, with Mounties skater Maddy Koughan scoring the game-winning tally. Of note, Kendra Woodland would be recognized as the Second Star of the Game,^[6] recording 32 saves.

Woodland would emerge among the team's star players in the landmark season. Participating in 23 regular season games, she would capture a trio of honours, including the Atlantic University Sport Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Star honours, plus a spot on the AUS All-Rookie Team. Winning nine games, including three shutouts, she paced all goaltenders in conference play with a sparkling .945 save percentage, ranking eighth overall in U Sports play.

Statistically, Tamina Kehler would finish as the Reds leading scorer, amassing 16 points, on the strength of 10 assists. Jennifer Bell and Lillian George would tie for the team lead in goals scored with 7. Between the pipes, Kendra Woodland amassed 23 appearances, recording a Goals Against Average of 1.73 and a save percentage of .945.

Qualifying for the playoffs in the first season of their return, the Reds faced off against the UPEI Panthers program in the Subway Atlantic University Sport quarter-final series. Enjoying a 3-0 lead in Game One, the Reds would prevail in a 3-2 final, to win the first playoff game of the new era. Goals were scored by Lillian George, Ashley Stratton and Paige Grenier.^[7]

Roster

^[8]

No.	Player	Class	Pos	Height	DoB	Hometown	Previous team
11	Julia Spitzig	Freshman	F	5' 8" (1.73 m)	2000-09-12	Kitchener, Ontario	Cambridge Rivulettes (PWHL)
12	Hanna Matchett	Junior	F	5' 3" (1.6 m)		Nanton, Alberta	Olds College (ACAC)
14	Sage McElroy-Scott	Freshman	F	5' 4" (1.63 m)	2000-04-04	Morden, Manitoba	Pembina Valley Hawks
15	Emma Borbandy	Freshman	D	5' 7" (1.7 m)		Langdon, Alberta	Rocky Mountain Raiders MAAA (AFHL MAAA)
16	Hayley Hallihan ( A )	Junior	F	5' 5" (1.65 m)		Miramichi, New Brunswick	Saint Mary's Huskies (AUS)
17	Hannah Green	Freshman	D	5' 5" (1.65 m)	2000-04-11	Richmond, British Columbia	Greater Vancouver Comets (FMAAA)
18	Ashley Stratton	Freshman	F	5' 5" (1.65 m)		Mount Pearl, Newfoundland	Ontario Hockey Academy (EWHC)
19	Alayna Wagstaff	Freshman	F	5' 4" (1.63 m)		Olds, Alberta	Red Deer Chiefs (MAAA)
27	Sydney DesRochers ( C )	Senior	F	5' 5" (1.65 m)		Woodstock, New Brunswick	Moncton Aigles Bleues (AUS)
31	Jaclyn Purcell	Sophomore	G	5' 5" (1.65 m)		Saint John, New Brunswick	St. Thomas Tommies (AUS)
35	Hailey Martens	Freshman	G	5' 7" (1.7 m)	2000-03-12	Ladysmith, British Columbia	Pacific Steelers (JWHL)
47	Jenna MacLean	Freshman	D	5' 7" (1.7 m)	2000-04-06	Wilcox, Saskatchewan	Notre Dame Hounds AAA (SFMAAAHL)
70	Kendra Woodland	Freshman	G	5' 8" (1.73 m)	2000-02-18	Kamloops, British Columbia	Canada U18 OMAHA Thompson AA (BC Zone U18)
77	Myah Bowal	Freshman	F	5' 6" (1.68 m)	2000-04-04	Terrace, British Columbia	Toronto Leaside Jr Wildcats (PWHL)
91	Jennifer Bell ( A )	Senior	F	5' 7" (1.7 m)		Miramichi, New Brunswick	Mount Allison University (AUS)
94	Katherine Chadwick	Freshman	F	5' 5" (1.65 m)	1999-06-12	Kanata, Ontario	Ottawa Lady Senators (PWHL)

2020s

Among the first key departures in the new era involved the resignation of Brittany Esposito from the coaching staff in April 2020. Having won the Clarkson Cup in 2016 with the Calgary Inferno, Esposito, a former CWHL All-Star, was part of Hilworth’s staff for the Reds first two seasons.^[9]

Season-by-season Record

Won Championship	Lost Championship	Conference Champions	League Leader

Year	Coach	W	L	OTL	Conf	GF	GA	Pts	Finish	Conference Tournament
2020–21	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019–20	Sarah Hilworth	18	9	1		73	51	37	4th, AUS	Lost, Semi-finals vs. Saint Mary's Huskies
2018–19	Sarah Hilworth	13	11	4		53	56	30	4th, AUS	Lost, Semi-finals vs. St. Thomas Tommies

Team captains

2018-19: Sydney DesRochers (assistants: Hayley Hallihan and Jennifer Bell)
2019-20: Sydney DesRochers
2021-22: Paige Grenier ^[10](assistants: Jenna MacLean, Ashley Stratton, Frederike Cyr, Amanda Desrochers and Katherine Chadwick)
2022-23: Paige Grenier (assistants: Jenna MacLean, Ashley Stratton, Frederike Cyr and Lillian George)
2023-24: Payton Hargreaves (assistants: Lillian George, Lauren Carter, Reagan Minor and Kendra Woodland)

Season team scoring champion

Year	Player	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	AUS rank
2019–20^[11]	Ashley Stratton	28	13	17	30	2	2nd
2018–19^[12]	Tamina Kehler	28	6	10	16	4	15th (tied)

Rivalries

Mount Allison University

UNB Reds victories	Mount Allison victories	Tie games

No.	Date	Location	Winning team		Losing team
1	October 13, 2018	Fredericton	Mount Allison	2	UNB Reds	1 (OT)
2	October 27, 2018	Sackville	UNB Reds	2	Mount Allison	0
3	January 13, 2019	Sackville	UNB Reds	3	Mount Allison	2
4	February 2, 2019	Fredericton	UNB Reds	2	Mount Allison	1
5	October 27, 2019	Fredericton	UNB Reds	2	Mount Allison	1 (OT)
6	November 24, 2019	Fredericton	UNB Reds	3	Mount Allison	1
7	December 1, 2019	Sackville	UNB Reds	3	Mount Allison	0
8	January 10, 2020	Sackville	UNB Reds	3	Mount Allison	2 (OT)
Series: UNB Reds leads 7–1

St. Thomas Tommies

UNB Reds victories	St. Thomas victories	Tie games

No.	Date	Location	Winning team		Losing team
1	October 14, 2018	Fredericton	St. Thomas	2	UNB Reds	1 (OT)
2	November 7, 2018	Fredericton	St. Thomas	2	UNB Reds	1
3	November 28, 2018	Fredericton	St. Thomas	2	UNB Reds	1
4	January 9, 2019	Fredericton	UNB Reds	3	St. Thomas	1
5	October 5, 2019	Fredericton	UNB Reds	3	St. Thomas	0
6	October 23, 2019	Fredericton	St. Thomas	2	UNB Reds	1
7	November 27, 2019	Fredericton	St. Thomas	2	UNB Reds	1
8	January 4, 2020	Fredericton	St. Thomas	3	UNB Reds	2
9	January 15, 2020	Fredericton	UNB Reds	5	St. Thomas	1
Series: St. Thomas leads 6–3

Awards and honours

AUS Awards

Kendra Woodland, 2018-19 AUS Rookie of the Year^[13]
Ashley Stratton, 2019-20 AUS Most Sportsmanlike Player^[14]
Ashley Stratton, 2021-22 AUS Most Sportsmanlike Player
Sarah Hilworth, 2021-22 AUS Coach of the Year
Jana Headrick, 2021-22 AUS Community Service Award
Jenna MacLean, 2021-22 AUS Defensive Player of the Year
Kendra Woodland, 2022-23 AUS Most Valuable Player

AUS All-Stars

Kendra Woodland, Goaltender: 2018-19 AUS First Team All-Star
Jenna MacLean, Defence: 2018-19 AUS Second Team All-Star
Kendra Woodland, Goaltender: 2019-20 AUS Second Team All-Star
Jenna MacLean, Defence: 2021-22 AUS First Team All-Star
Kendra Woodland, Goaltender: 2021-22 AUS First Team All-Star
Jenna MacLean, Defence: 2022-23 AUS First Team All-Star
Kendra Woodland, Goaltender: 2022-23 AUS First Team All-Star

AUS All-Rookies

Kendra Woodland: 2018-19 AUS All-Rookie Team
Jenna MacLean, 2018-19 AUS All-Rookie Team
Payton Hargreaves: 2021-2022 AUS All-Rookie Team

Pre 2008 awards

2000-01: Lynda Robinson, Forward, AUS Rookie of the Year
2001-02: Emily Hobbs, Goaltender, AUS Rookie of the Year
2005-06: Terri Ryerson, Goaltender, AUS Rookie of the Year
2005-06: Meghan Ward, AUS Most Sportsmanlike Player
2005-06: Terri Ryerson, Goaltender, CIS All-Rookie Team

U Sports Awards

Jana Headrick, 2022 Marion Hilliard Award
Kendra Woodland, 2023 Brodrick Trophy^[15]

All-Canadians

Jenna MacLean, Defence, 2018-19 All-Rookie Team
Kendra Woodland, Goaltender, 2018-19 All-Rookie Team
Ashley Stratton, Forward, 2019-20 Second Team
Kendra Woodland, Goaltender, 2022-23 First Team

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References

↑ "Reds Women's Team Introduced". goredsgo.ca. October 12, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
↑ "Women's hockey exploding - still UNB cuts Varsity Reds". The Spec. 29 March 2008.
↑ "Reds Women Ready For Return". goredsgo.ca. October 11, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
↑ "Varsity Reds Name First Atlantic Canadian Recruit". goredsgo.ca. December 6, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
↑ "Mounties earn double OT victory over UNB". mountiepride.ca. October 13, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
↑ "Mount Allison at UNB". goredsgo.ca. October 13, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
↑ "Reds Score Playoff Win". goredsgo.ca. February 14, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
↑ "2018–19 UNB Reds Women's Ice Hockey Roster". University of New Brunswick Reds. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
↑ "Esposito Leaving Reds". goredsgo.ca. April 14, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
↑ "Grenier Named REDS Captain". goredsgo.ca. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
↑ "2019-20 AUS Women's Hockey - Individual Statistics". atlanticuniversitysport.com. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
↑ "2018-19 AUS Women's Hockey - Individual Statistics". atlanticuniversitysport.com. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
↑ "Woodland Named AUS Rookie Of The Yeard". goredsgo.ca. February 21, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
↑ "2019-20 AUS women's hockey major awards and all-stars announced". atlanticuniversitysport.com. February 19, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
↑ "Kendra Woodland named U SPORTS women's hockey player of the year". usports.ca. March 15, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.

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[1] "Reds Women's Team Introduced". goredsgo.ca. October 12, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

[2] "Women's hockey exploding - still UNB cuts Varsity Reds". The Spec. 29 March 2008.

[3] "Reds Women Ready For Return". goredsgo.ca. October 11, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

[4] "Varsity Reds Name First Atlantic Canadian Recruit". goredsgo.ca. December 6, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2021.

[5] "Mounties earn double OT victory over UNB". mountiepride.ca. October 13, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2021.

[6] "Mount Allison at UNB". goredsgo.ca. October 13, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2021.

[7] "Reds Score Playoff Win". goredsgo.ca. February 14, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2021.

[8] "2018–19 UNB Reds Women's Ice Hockey Roster". University of New Brunswick Reds. Retrieved 11 June 2021.

[9] "Esposito Leaving Reds". goredsgo.ca. April 14, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.

[10] "Grenier Named REDS Captain". goredsgo.ca. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.

[11] "2019-20 AUS Women's Hockey - Individual Statistics". atlanticuniversitysport.com. Retrieved 2021-06-07.

[12] "2018-19 AUS Women's Hockey - Individual Statistics". atlanticuniversitysport.com. Retrieved 2021-05-06.

[13] "Woodland Named AUS Rookie Of The Yeard". goredsgo.ca. February 21, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

[14] "2019-20 AUS women's hockey major awards and all-stars announced". atlanticuniversitysport.com. February 19, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2021.

[15] "Kendra Woodland named U SPORTS women's hockey player of the year". usports.ca. March 15, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.

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v t e U Sports women's ice hockey
Atlantic University Sport	Dalhousie Tigers Moncton Aigles Bleues Mount Allison Mounties Saint Mary's Huskies St. Thomas Tommies St. Francis Xavier X-Women UNB Reds UPEI Panthers
Canada West	Alberta Pandas Calgary Dinos MacEwan Griffins Manitoba Bisons Mount Royal Cougars Regina Cougars Saskatchewan Huskies UBC Thunderbirds Trinity Western Spartans
Ontario University Athletics	Brock Badgers Guelph Gryphons Laurier Golden Hawks Nipissing Lakers Queen's Gaels TMU Bold Toronto Varsity Blues Ontario Tech Ridgebacks Waterloo Warriors Western Mustangs Windsor Lancers York Lions
Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec	Bishop's Gaiters Carleton Ravens Concordia Stingers McGill Martlets Montreal Carabins Ottawa Gee-Gees
Former teams	Laurentian Voyageurs Lethbridge Pronghorns
Championships	U Sports championship 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
Seasons	2006–07 2009–10 2010–11 (Dinos) 2011–12
Awards	Championship MVP Brodrick Trophy Rookie of the year Marion Hillard Award Coach of the Year Lois and Doug Mitchell Awards

v t e Atlantic University Sport
Full members	Acadia Axemen and Axewomen CBU Capers Dalhousie Tigers Memorial Sea-Hawks Mount Allison Mounties Moncton Aigles Bleus and Aigles Bleues UNB Reds UPEI Panthers Saint Mary's Huskies St. Francis Xavier X-Men and X-Women St. Thomas Tommies
Football-only member	Bishop's Gaiters
See also	U Sports U Sports football (Loney Bowl) U Sports men's ice hockey (Conference championship) U Sports women's ice hockey U Sports men's soccer U Sports women's soccer U Sports women's volleyball U Sports curling championships (Conference championship)