Toronto, ON – According to UNB Reds head coach Gardiner MacDougall, his team has had a “target on their backs since game one” of the 2023-24 U Sports men’s hockey season. After a remarkable undefeated campaign, the Reds entered the National Championship with the target still there, untouched.
UNB, predictably the No. 1 seed, were challenged by the Brock Badgers in the opening game of the championship. The New Brunswickers simply flexed their muscles in a 4-0 win.
Brock netminder Connor Ungar, holder of a .932 save percentage in the OUA, did pose a threat to UNB. However, not even Ungar could keep the Reds off the scoreboard for long. Austin Keating and Cody Morgan were connecting early on the AUS champions’ first line, eventually striking. Brock clogged the slot, but the tactic led to their own demise, as a deflected pass by Keating found Morgan, who had plenty of open ice and a clear shot. Ungar was sliding across the crease as the wrist shot rippled the net cords.
Then, in the very same spot of the rink, defenseman Kade Landry found himself all alone and sent a bullseye of a shot towards the goal to make it 2-0. The junior turned in quite a solid performance on the blue line, helping prevent breakouts, and at the other end, recording a block.
“This date has been marked in my calendar since September,” Landry said. “Anytime you can contribute and help the team win that feels really good.”
By comparison, the second period was much more dormant. Part of that came down to Brock holding onto possession for longer stretches of the game. UNB goaltender Samuel Richard made six saves in the middle frame, including two on a promising breakaway from Jordan Stock.
It was refreshing seeing Richard in action during the second because Ungar had already made 30 saves in 40 minutes.
“We had chances early, we had two or three posts with two open nets,” explained MacDougall. “Could be maybe three right off the bat, but we recovered very well… but at this tournament, every goal is going to be like a high caliber goaltender.”
It was a similar story in the third: for every shot Brock managed, UNB had twice as many. At least the Badgers were impressive, though, making it difficult for UNB to raise the tempo. Some heavy hits were handed out as the Reds grew frustrated.
Ben Corbeil broke the silence by notching two goals, one off the post and one empty-netter, to seal the deal. He won Player of the Game for his efforts.
“It feels good [to be named Player of the Game],” says Corbeil. “It’s a good start, and I feel like it’s a team award for me… so I take credit but it’s a great team effort.”
Anything other than winning a second straight U Cup would be a failure to the Reds players and fans, a good number of which made the trip to Toronto. The journey to the pursuit of happiness got started on a positive note.
“You want to get that first game out of the way,” added MacDougall. “We use a mentality of survive and advance and the last three times at this tournament the first team to score has won.”
The UNB Reds certainly seem destined to continue that trend.