St. Patrick's Day Perfection: Top Line Presence Lead The UNB Reds To Winning The 2024 University Cup
Written by Blake Hanlin
Even when donning green, the luck of the Irish wasn't on UQTR's side as the UNB Reds finished their perfect season by winning the University Cup 4-0.
Headed into the championship game, Head Coach Marc-Étienne Hubert emphasized to his team that this may be the most difficult challenge in the history of U SPORTS. The UNB Reds are a team that can't seem to lose, and it was going to take everything out of the Patriotes to end their undefeated season.
A historic matchup started by a historic player. Hockey Hall of Famer Eric Lindros kicked off the gold medal festivities with the ceremonial puck drop with captains David Noёl and Jason Willms.
Once again, loud cheering outbursts ignited the Reds' offence in the first. Brady Gilmour continued his on-ice dominance. On a breakaway, he flicked it past Patriots goaltender Alexis Gravel to give UNB the first goal of the game again. Later in the period, Gilmour's line found success again, with Cody Morgan earning his second of the tournament.
"We wanted to go out and have a great game, and have an impact on it." Gilmour said about his line.
Certainly, an early takeaway is that this was the most formidable opponent UNB had faced in all of Nationals. There was no one-sided reign; UQTR matched them in every aspect of the game throughout the preliminary period.
Heading into the second, Trois-Rivières needed a jolt, some sort of life, to give them any fighting chance to come up on top. There was not a charge but a form of security, with Gravel upping his focus between the pipes and making a group of phenomenal saves in the first 10 minutes. UQTR had a momentum-shifting chance with a power play late in the middle frame, but their penalty kill and stability from netminder Samuel Richard left no damage done.
"This might be the best U SPORTS team ever." Richard stated.
The Patriotes had to leave it all on the ice in the final twenty minutes to keep their aspirations alive. However, the game's narrative of the Reds' top-line production continued with just under five minutes in the third period. Austin Keating snuck one by, increasing the lead by 3 and swallowing the dreams from UQTR.
At the sound of the regulation buzzer, the Reds achieved eternal glory, putting together the most incredible season that we have ever seen in U SPORTS. The players produced the points, and the defence and goaltending held opponents without a goal in the entire tournament, but this was UNB Head Coach Gardiner MacDougall conducting. He may have to change his motto, as it's no longer survive and advance; it's now survive and win.
"This is the reason you come to UNB." Keating said. "You come here to play in these types of moments and win National Championships."
Evidence in post-national awards shows the legacy that this Reds' team left in 2024. With 3 players on the tournament all-star team, Cody Morgan winning game MVP, Brady Gilmour taking home University Cup MVP, this group was special, perfect, one can say.
UNB entered Nationals as the favourite and left with gold around their neck, with history etched in their locker room for the program's eternity.
