UNB Varsity Reds Thread (Part 4)

[Drummer]

Having seen all the above teams, the only one I'd place on the same level as this Concordia team is the '13 Patriotes. UNB is absolutely the favourite, but here is what I believe:

- York would have been a much more significant underdog than Concordia.
- This year's Concordia team would be a significant favourite over last year's Queen's team.
- The 2018 Stingers are a much better team than the 2012 Mustangs.
- I'd slot a Concordia upset as the second-most likely upset of the first round (IMO, Acadia over Alberta and Brock over St FX would both be "bigger" upsets).

Again, UNB is the favourite, and with good reason - but make no mistake, this is a much tougher matchup for UNB than York would have been.

UNB 8-1 with a 52-17 shot count. I think we can close the book on this discussion.

UNB is 16-2 vs OUA at Nationals and 57-3 vs OUA (all games) since 2000

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

Two 5-on-3 power plays in the same period/game....did UNB even have two 5-on-3 power plays all year?? I thought I was imagining things...

 

[Habs76]

Well.

That was something else.

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

UNB’s discipline was questionable all year, but they were able to overcome it with a great PK. It may have caught up to them a bit today.

 

[Rob]

UNB’s discipline was questionable all year, but they were able to overcome it with a great PK. It may have caught up to them a bit today.

Yep. I hope a reporter asked coach Mac about his team’s undisciplined play.

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

I may be wrong on this...but I believe MacDougall is going into the last year of his contract next season. It will be interesting to see how things play out...

 

[Drummer]

I may be wrong on this...but I believe MacDougall is going into the last year of his contract next season. It will be interesting to see how things play out...

You are correct - he signed a 5 year deal June 2014, so it should end June 2019. This coming season (2018-19) is his last one under this contract ... and then we wait and see (and hold our breath).

He's done everything you can think of in the position - staying means he just increases already crazy numbers.
- Coached Games: 645
- Coaching Wins: 456 (most in the AUS, closing in on 2nd all-time for USPORTS)
- Career Win%: .707
- Eleven(11) AUS Pennants
- Seven(7) AUS Titles
- Twelve(12) National Appearances
- Six(6) National Titles (Gold)
- One(1) National Title defense (Back-2-Back)
- Three(3) National Runner-ups (Silver)
- One(1) National 3rd Place (Bronze)
- Two(2) FISU Hockey Golds (Head Coach & Asst. Coach)
- Five(5) AUS Coach of the Year awards
- Two(2) USPORTS (Hockey) Coach of the Year awards
and the CIS Jean-Marie De Koninck Coaching Excellence Award

 

[AUS Fan]

You are correct - he signed a 5 year deal June 2014, so it should end June 2019. This coming season (2018-19) is his last one under this contract ... and then we wait and see (and hold our breath).

He's done everything you can think of in the position - staying means he just increases already crazy numbers.
- Coached Games: 645
- Coaching Wins: 456 (most in the AUS, closing in on 2nd all-time for USPORTS)
- Career Win%: .707
- Eleven(11) AUS Pennants
- Seven(7) AUS Titles
- Twelve(12) National Appearances
- Six(6) National Titles (Gold)
- One(1) National Title defense (Back-2-Back)
- Three(3) National Runner-ups (Silver)
- One(1) National 3rd Place (Bronze)
- Two(2) FISU Hockey Golds (Head Coach & Asst. Coach)
- Five(5) AUS Coach of the Year awards
- Two(2) USPORTS (Hockey) Coach of the Year awards
and the CIS Jean-Marie De Koninck Coaching Excellence Award

Where else can he go? Don't say Pro......

 

[Rob]

Reading the post game interview in the Gleaner I was disappointed that coach Mac wasn't asked about his team's overly aggressive play? The sin bin is why they lost on Saturday.

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

Reading Bruce Hallihan’s latest column online, he offers some great perspective on UNB’s season....says if anything, they overachieved in going 36-3-5 (their fewest number of regulation losses in a season ever) and winning the bronze, despite it being a “rebuilding” year, isn’t “too shabby”.

 

[AUS Fan]

Reading the post game interview in the Gleaner I was disappointed that coach Mac wasn't asked about his team's overly aggressive play? The sin bin is why they lost on Saturday.

Because if you ask hard questions, you don't get any more interviews.

 

[rethinking]

I think to be fair to UNB and Coach Mac, penalties were miscalled and called against UNB ( Pomerleau's hit, 5 min call on LeBlanc, iffy Clapperton snow job and a penalty shot ) that were not called against St FX, especially after the Simpson goal and into OT.
I think a much better and appropriate question would have been, "Coach, were you happy with the level of officiating in your National Semi Final game?"

 

[AUS Fan]

I think to be fair to UNB and Coach Mac, penalties were miscalled and called against UNB ( Pomerleau's hit, 5 min call on LeBlanc, iffy Clapperton snow job and a penalty shot ) that were not called against St FX, especially after the Simpson goal and into OT.
I think a much better and appropriate question would have been, "Coach, were you happy with the level of officiating in your National Semi Final game?"

To your point on penalties called and not called....Pomerleau was a "loud" hit and is a coin toss, IMO. So I'm not concerned with it not being called either. The knee by LeBlanc - People who saw the game on SN and saw the replay said that it was definitely a knee-on-thigh. Worthy of 5? I can't say. Penalty shot - Bad call. Clapperton - he's a better player than to need to do that. Any other player could have avoided that. Dumb penalty on his part. Simpson should not have been in the game after the hit-to-the-head non-call. Right after it happened, I got 2 texts from an AUS and a non-AUS coach who both said "100% blown call. Should be 5 and a game". But, I don't wear Red and Black.

Overall, I thought the reffing in that game left a bit to be desired.

 

[Drummer]

I think a much better and appropriate question would have been, "Coach, were you happy with the level of officiating in your National Semi Final game?"

It's not worth asking that question - they don't want to be fined and they dance around it so it's a non-starter, not to mention the look you would get if he thought you should have known better.

He did allude to his thoughts after the Bronze game. I don't recall the exact quote, I didn't record it and it was cut from the USPORTS post game video that is on the internet (it was at the end of the presser and the video ends a bit early), but it was something like 'this event was 95% professional'. After he left, some of us looked around and wondered - what the 5% could be . It was a great quote.

 

[Rob]

I really hope they learn to become more disciplined next year.

 

[Rob]

Article in the Brunswickan on recruit Patrick Watling who was a red shirt this season.

The Redshirt Dilemma

 

[RED ARMY EAST]

I really hope they learn to become more disciplined next year.

At Nationals, at least!

 

[Rob]

At Nationals, at least!

Exactly! That style of play only benefited X.

Look how disciplined Alberta and Saskatchewan were in their game.

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

According to Victor Findlay, both UNB and SMU in on Peterborough captain Logan DeNoble.

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

Bill Hunt has an article in the Gleaner where he talks to Moncton forward James Phelan. According to Phelan UNB has approached him (which makes sense given he played with Goulet/Pomerleau in Victoriaville), but his primary goal is to play pro/in the AHL next year.

Also, noticed at the Senior Recognition Night today they honoured Suellentrop and Caissy in addition to Willick/Thomas so I am guessing those two will also be moving on.

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

Nice article from Bruce Hallihan (online now, probably in print tomorrow) where he talks to a number of players.

He confirms Suellentrop and Caissy are indeed moving on. I think Suellentrop will be a very underrated loss. Didn’t put up a lot of points but his +/- was ridiculous and will be missed on the PK. They will no doubt miss his steady defensive play.

Hallihan also says all of the other 4th year guys (Gazzola/Brace/Boudens/Trainor/Lewis) are planning on being back. I thought for sure Gazzola would be done but apparently didn’t get the pro offers he was looking for...very excited he will be back. No real surprise the others are returning.

Also saw a quote from MacDougall saying something along of the lines that they have a good core and next year they will be faster and more skilled. Kinda hoping with the how this season ended the motivation this summer and into next year to avenge that will be through the roof.

Is it September yet?

 

[SuperSquirrel]

So how many roster spots will the team have available to fill next season?

 

[freddy123]

So how many roster spots will the team have available to fill next season?

They should have six open roster sports if the info above is true.

2 open spots from last year and the 4 leaving players (Suellentrop, Caissy, Willick, and Thomas)

 

[UNB Bruins Fan]

As of this moment it is 5.

They ended the year with 20 skaters (2 below the cap) and have lost Willick/Thomas/Caissy/Suellentrop. They have added Patrick Watling.

 

[freddy123]

As of this moment it is 5.

They ended the year with 20 skaters (2 below the cap) and have lost Willick/Thomas/Caissy/Suellentrop. They have added Patrick Watling.

Right, forgot about Watling.