PREVIEW CIS men’s hockey: No. 1 UNB leads stacked University Cup field

OTTAWA (CIS) – The top-seeded University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds hope their third time as host will be a lucky charm as they get set for the CIS men’s hockey championship later this week in Fredericton.
 
University Cup website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mice
 
The 49th Cavendish University Cup tournament gets underway on Thursday at the Aitken University Centre with the first of three days of pool play and culminates on Sunday with the national final, live on Rogers Sportsnet at 8 p.m. Atlantic.
 
Rogers Sportsnet will also broadcast Saturday’s two round-robin games, while SSN Canada will have live webcasts of all seven contests.
 
Joining the Atlantic conference champion Varsity Reds at the competition are the second-ranked McGill Redmen (OUA champions), No. 3 Alberta Golden Bears (Canada West champions), No. 4 Western Ontario Mustangs (OUA finalists), No. 5 St. Francis Xavier X-Men (AUS finalists) and No. 6 Calgary Dinos (Canada West finalists).
 
UNB, Western and Calgary will battle in Pool A in the preliminary round, while McGill, Alberta and StFX will skate in Pool B. The first-place finishers from each group advance to the gold medal final.
 
The Redmen and X-Men face off in the tournament opener Thursday at 2 p.m. Atlantic, while the V-Reds and Dinos kick off Pool A action at 7 p.m. Atlantic.
 
The Bears and Mustangs take the ice on Friday against the losing teams from opening day.
 
A new University Cup champion will be crowned on Sunday as the Saint Mary’s Huskies fell to StFX in the semifinal round of the AUS playoffs two weeks ago. Last year, the Huskies captured their first-ever CIS title with a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over Alberta in the gold medal final at Thunder Bay.
 
It marks the second year in a row that the reigning national champs have failed to qualify to defend their title, both times courtesy of StFX. Last March, the X-Men stunned 2009 CIS champion UNB in three straight games in the AUS semis after the V-Reds had posted a stellar 27-1 mark in conference play.
 
The Varsity Reds took their first steps towards avenging that upset last weekend when they edged StFX 5-4 in overtime in the fifth and decisive game of a gruelling AUS championship series.
 
A packed house of 3,650 took in the contest at the Aitken Centre and UNB now hopes to offer their faithful supporters the gift they couldn’t deliver when they last hosted the CIS tourney back in 2003 and 2004, winning the University Cup on home ice.
 
In 2003, the V-Reds let a 3-1 lead slip away in their second game – against UQTR – and saw their hopes of advancing to the final vanish when the Patriotes completed the comeback to win 4-3 on the strength of a 47-save performance by tournament MVP Éric Desjardins. A year later, UNB led 2-0 in the championship match against StFX but the X-Men stormed back to claim the banner with a 3-2 double-overtime win.
 
The V-Reds are currently enjoying another spectacular season with a 35-8 overall record against CIS opposition and have been almost invincible at the Aitken Centre, where they went 21-1 versus CIS rivals. Their lone setback on home ice against a Canadian university foe – a 2-1 double OT loss to StFX – came in Game 2 of the AUS final, on March 12.
 
UNB led the AUS and ranked fourth in the country during the regular season with 114 goals in 28 matches (4.07 goals per game) and had by far the best defensive record in the nation with only 43 goals allowed (1.54 goals-against average), almost one goal a game less than second-place Saint Mary’s, which allowed 65.
 
Last year’s CIS MVP, forward Hunter Tremblay from Timmins, Ont., led the way on offence, winning his second straight AUS scoring title with 44 points (22-22-44), while Travis Fullerton of Riverview, N.B., posted a CIS-best 1.60 GAA and topped the AUS with a .928 save percentage. 
 
“We’re excited and proud to be hosting the University Cup once again,” said UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall, who has guided his troops to six CIS tournament appearances in his 11 seasons at the helm. “It’s a special opportunity for our players and we’re looking forward to leaving everything on the ice in front of capacity crowds at the Aitken Centre.”
 
UNB’s rivals in Pool A include a surprise guest and a usual suspect.
 
The V-Reds’ first opponent on Thursday evening, the sixth-seeded Calgary Dinos, are returning to the championship for the first time since 2000 after reaching the Canada West final, where they were swept in two games by Alberta.
 
It will mark the third meeting of the season between the two teams as UNB travelled to Calgary and Edmonton last September for two non-conference contests against the Dinos and one versus the Golden Bears. The AUS champs returned from the trip with a perfect 3-0 record, including lopsided 10-2 and 6-1 victories over Calgary (Sept. 15 and 18, respectively) and a convincing 6-2 domination of Alberta (Sept. 17).
 
Goalie Dustin Butler of Calgary and forward Reid Jorgensen of Vancouver, both Canada West first-team all-stars, paced the Dinos in the regular season. Butler led the conference in goals-against average (2.12) and save percentage (.926), while Jorgensen led the team in goals (17), assists (16) and points (33).
 
The other member of the Pool A trio, fourth-seeded Western, returns to the tournament after a one-year hiatus. In their last appearance in 2009, the Mustangs fell 4-2 to UNB in the national final.
 
Western, which lost 6-2 at home to McGill two weekends ago in the 100th edition of the OUA Queen’s Cup championship, hasn’t faced UNB or Calgary this season.
 
Making their sixth trip to the University Cup in 12 years under head coach Clarke Singer, including the lone national title in program history in 2002, the Mustangs sent seven players to the Winter Universiade in February in Turkey, where Canada claimed bronze with Singer at the helm.
 
In Pool B, the No. 2 McGill Redmen, who are guided by their third head coach in as many years, hope their time has finally come. The Montreal-based team are in their 135th season and making their fifth University Cup appearance in six years, but have never managed to come out of their pool.
 
The Redmen registered the best win total in the country, going 24-2-2 in conference play. Their two losses in regulation occurred while three of their star players were away at the world university games and the top sniper in the nation was sidelined by injury.
 
The 24 conference wins are a single-season school record and marks the third time in his career that new bench boss Kelly Nobes has set a new standard for a CIS program. He had previously guided RMC and Laurier to record-setting campaigns, also in his first season at the helm.
 
Led by a seemingly unstoppable first line, the Redmen led the country in scoring for the second straight season with 141 goals (5.04 gpg), 20 more than second-place Western.
 
Centre Alex Picard-Hooper of Boucherville, Que., became the first Redmen player to win the CIS scoring race since current Montreal Canadiens forward Mathieu Darche accomplished the feat in 1999-00. Picard-Hooper racked up an 11-47-58 record in 28 games en route to winning OUA East MVP honours. Linemate Francis Verreault-Paul, a conference all-star from Mashteuiatsh, Que., scored 28 goals, six more than any other player in the nation, despite missing nine games due to an injury, and still managed to finished fourth in OUA scoring with 44 points. The other member of the high-flying trio, Andrew Wright of Toronto chipped in with 12-21-33 in 24 contests, finishing 13th in the conference scoring race.
 
The loaded Redmen roster also features the highest-scoring rearguard in the country, for the second straight year, in all-star Marc-André Dorion. The St-Hubert, Que., who received the inaugural CIS top defenceman award in 2009-10, tallied eight goals and 37 points in 25 outings.
 
Each member of the dynamic foursome is in his third campaign with McGill.
 
“There are six solid teams at this year’s championship and our pool features two teams of different but effective styles of play,” says OUA East coach of the year Kelly Nobes, who spent nine seasons behind the bench at Laurier and RMC before returning to his alma mater this year. “Alberta is a perennial contender and StFX went the distance in the AUS final. There is no easy route to winning a national championship and this year will be no exception.”
 
“For us the year has been a process of getting better every day. We’re a relentless, hard-working, fast-skating team that plays disciplined hockey. We’ve grown this season and gone from being the third most penalized team in the CIS last year to the 17th most penalized team this year. We had a solid season defensively to go with our explosive offence.”
 
McGill’s first opponents on Thursday have already defeated the OUA champs once this season. StFX won a non-conference matchup 6-5 in overtime on Dec. 29, in Antigonish, N.S.
 
The X-Men, who captured their lone University Cup in 2004 at the Aitken Centre, return to the tournament for the first time since 2007, when they went 0-2 in pool play.
 
StFX has been one of the busiest team in the country this season with 47 games against CIS opposition, including no less than 12 post-season contests. After sweeping Dalhousie in two straight during the AUS quarter-finals, the X-Men went the distance against both Saint Mary’s and UNB in back-to-back best-of-five series. Four of their last six outings were decided in overtime.
 
Completing the Pool B roster is a team than needs no introduction, the Canada West champion Alberta Golden Bears, who hold a plethora of University Cup records, including most titles (13), appearances (35), appearances in the final (18), games played (91), wins (61), losses (28), goals for (415) and goals against (272).   
 
After an uncharacteristic stretch that saw them lose six of eight conference games from Jan. 8 to Feb. 11, the Bears got back on track and have won eight of nine heading into the CIS tournament, including a 3-0, 8-1 sweep of Calgary for their 10th Canada West banner in 11 years.
 
Alberta’s top three forwards rival McGill’s in terms of productivity.
 
Derek Ryan of Spokane, Wash., the first American to be named Canada West MVP, won the conference scoring crown with 47 points (17-30-47). Chad Klassen of Saskatoon, who was the league MVP a year ago, finished only one point behind (15-31-46), while Sean Ringrose of Edmonton placed fifth out West with 27 points (14-13-27).
 
Each suited up for all 28 conference games.  
 
“We have a very young team so we are excited to be going back to the University Cup,” said six-year Alberta head coach Eric Thurston, whose team has advanced to the dance for the 14th time in 15 years. “We are playing well lately, but we will need to raise our level in Fredericton. It’s a very difficult tournament to win so we have to be ready right from puck drop.”
 
TEAM PROFILES
 
No. 1 UNB Varsity Reds
Media Guide (PDF 2.84 MB) 
Head Coach: Gardiner MacDougall (11th season)
Regular season record: 23-5-0
Regular season standing: 1st AUS
Playoff record: 6-3
Playoff finish: AUS champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 35-8
Overall record vs. No. 2 McGill: 1-0 (W 7-1, Dec. 30, Fredericton)
Overall record vs. No. 3 Alberta: 1-0 (W 6-2, Sept. 17, Edmonton)
Overall record vs. No. 4 Western: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 5 StFX: 7-2 (4-0 regular season / 3-2 playoffs)
Overall record vs. No. 6 Calgary: 2-0 (W 10-2, Sept. 15, Calgary / W 6-1, Sept. 18, Calgary)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 19): No. 1
Best Top 10 ranking (19 weeks): No. 1 (11 weeks: Last 11 polls)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (19 weeks): 19
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1st team all-stars: Hunter Tremblay (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Bretton Stamler (D), Chris Culligan (F)
Conference all-rookie team: Nick MacNeil (F)
Season leader (points): Hunter Tremblay, 44 (27 GP, 22-22-44)
Season leader (goals): Hunter Tremblay, 22 (27 GP)
Season leader (assists): Chris Culligan, 25 (27 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Jonathan Harty, 19 (28 GP, 5-14-19)
Season leader (No. 1 goalie): Travis Fullerton (20 GP, 15-4, 5 SO, 1.60 GAA, .928 SV%)
University Cup appearances (including 2011): 11   
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 1964
University Cup last appearance: 2009 (champions)
University Cup all-time record: 18-9 (.666)
University Cup titles: 3 (2009, 2007, 1998)
University Cup finals: 7 (2009, 2008, 2007, 2004, 2000, 1998, 1997)
University Cup best result: 3-time champions (2009, 2007, 1998)
University Cup sequence: 4th appearance in 5 years (missed 2010)
University Cup appearances Coach MacDougall (including 2011): 6
University Cup record Coach MacDougall: 11-4 (.733)
University Cup titles Coach MacDougall: 2 (2009, 2007)

 
No. 2 McGill Redmen
Media Guide (PDF 902 KB) 
Head Coach: Kelly Nobes (1st season)
Regular season record: 24-2-2
Regular season standing: 1st OUA East (1st OUA overall)
Playoff record: 7-1
Playoff finish: OUA champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 36-4-3
Overall record vs. No. 1 UNB: 0-1 (L 7-1, Dec. 30, Fredericton)
Overall record vs. No. 3 Alberta: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 4 Western: 2-0 (W 6-3 non-conference, Sept. 25, London / W 6-2 OUA final, March 12, London)
Overall record vs. No. 5 StFX: 0-0-1 (L 6-5 OT, Dec. 29, Antigonish, N.S.)
Overall record vs. No. 6 Calgary: 0-0
Final Top 10 ranking (March 19): No. 2
Best Top 10 ranking (19 weeks): No. 2 (16 weeks: All polls except polls 6-8-9)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (19 weeks): 19
Conference award winners (OUA East): Alexandre Picard-Hooper (MVP), Marc-André Dorion (best defenceman), Hubert Morin (best goalie), Evan Vossen (most sportsmanlike), Kelly Nobes (coach)
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA East): Marc-André Dorion (D), Alexandre Picard-Hooper (F), Francis Verreault-Paul (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA East): Hubert Morin (G)
Conference all-rookie team (OUA East): None
Season leader (points): Alexandre Picard-Hooper, 58 (28 GP, 11-47-58)
Season leader (goals): Francis Verreault-Paul, 28 (19 GP)
Season leader (assists): Alexandre Picard-Hooper, 47 (28 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Marc André-Dorion, 37 (25 GP, 8-29-37)
Season leader (No. 1 goalie): Hubert Morin (18 GP, 16-2, 1 SO, 2.18 GAA, .915 SV%)
University Cup appearances (including 2011): 5   
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 2006
University Cup last appearance: 2010 (3rd in Pool B)
University Cup all-time record: 3-5 (.375)
University Cup titles: 0
University Cup finals: 0
University Cup best result: 2nd in pool play (2009, 2008, 2006)
University Cup sequence: 4th straight appearance (5th in 6 years & in history)
University Cup appearances Coach Nobes (including 2011): 2
University Cup record Coach Nobes (with Laurier in 2007): 1-1 (.500)
University Cup titles Coach Nobes: 0

 
No. 3 Alberta Golden Bears
Media Guide (PDF  573 KB)
Head Coach: Eric Thurston (6th season)
Regular season record: 19-6-3
Regular season standing: 1st Canada West
Playoff record: 4-0
Playoff finish: Canada West champions
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 26-7-3
Overall record vs. No. 1 UNB: 0-1 (L 6-2, Sept. 17, Edmonton)
Overall record vs. No. 2 McGill: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 4 Western: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 5 StFX: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 6 Calgary: 7-2 (1-0 non-conference, 4-2 regular season, 2-0 playoffs)
Final Top 10 ranking (March 19): No. 3
Best Top 10 ranking (19 weeks): No. 1 (8 weeks: First 8 polls)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (19 weeks): 19
Conference award winners: Derek Ryan (MVP), Kyle Fecho (best defenceman), Sean Ringrose (most sportsmanlike), Eric Hunter (Randy Gregg Award nominee)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Kyle Fecho (D), Chad Klassen (F), Derek Ryan (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: None
Conference all-rookie team: No all-rookie team in Canada West
Season leader (points): Derek Ryan, 47 (28 GP, 17-30-47)
Season leader (goals): Derek Ryan, 17 (28 GP)
Season leader (assists): Chad Klassen, 31 (28 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Jesse Craige, 17 (28 GP, 4-13-17)
Season leader (No. 1 goalie): Kurtis Mucha (18 GP, 13-4, 3 SO, 2.45 GAA, .911 SV%)
University Cup appearances (including 2011): 35
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 1964
University Cup last appearance: 2010 (finalists)
University Cup all-time record: 61 wins, 28 losses, 2 ties (.681) 
University Cup titles: 13 (2008, ‘06, ‘05, ‘00, ‘99, ’92, ‘86, ‘80, ‘79, ‘78, ‘75, ‘68, ‘64)
University Cup finals: 18 (13 titles plus 2010, 1991, 1985, 1977, 1966)
University Cup best result: 13-time champions (see years above)
University Cup sequence: 14th appearance in 15 years (missed 2007)
University Cup appearances Coach Thurston (including 2011): 5
University Cup record Coach Thurston: 8-3 (.727)
University Cup titles Coach Thurston: 2 (2008, 2006)

 
No. 4 Western Ontario Mustangs
Media Guide (PDF 9.41 MB)
Head Coach: Clarke Singer (12th season)
Regular season record: 20-3-5
Regular season standing: 1st OUA West (2nd OUA overall)
Playoff record: 6-2
Playoff finish: OUA finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 27-7-5
Overall record vs. No. 1 UNB: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 2 McGill: 0-2 (L 6-3 non-conference, Sept. 25, London / L 6-2 OUA final, March 12, London)
Overall record vs. No. 3 Alberta: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 5 StFX: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 6 Calgary: 0-0
Final Top 10 ranking (March 19): No. 5
Best Top 10 ranking (19 weeks): No. 3 (2 weeks: Polls 11-12)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (19 weeks): 19
Conference award winners (OUA West): Clarke Singer (coach)
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA West): None
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA West): Anthony Grieco (G), Scott Aarssen (D), Kevin Baker (F), Keaton Turkiewicz (F)
Conference all-rookie team (OUA West): Steve Reese (F)
Season leader (points): Kevin Baker, 32 (25 GP, 11-21-32)
Season leader (goals): Steve Reese, 15 (28 GP)
Season leader (assists): Kevin Baker, 21 (25 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Scott Aarssen, 19 (23 GP, 3-16-19)
Season leader (No. 1 goalie): Anthony Grieco (15 GP, 12-3, 1 SO, 2.57 GAA, .921 SV%)
University Cup appearances (including 2011): 10
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 1987
University Cup last appearance: 2009 (finalists)
University Cup all-time record: 6-12 (.333)
University Cup titles: 1 (2002)
University Cup finals: 3 (2009, 2002, 1988)
University Cup best result: 1-time champions (2002)
University Cup sequence: 2nd appearance in 3 years
University Cup appearances Coach Singer (including 2011): 6
University Cup record Coach Singer: 5-7 (.417)
University Cup titles Coach Singer: 1 (2002)

 
No. 5 StFX X-Men
Media Guide (PDF 2.02 MB) 
Head Coach: Brad Peddle (6th season)
Regular season record: 17-10-1
Regular season standing: 3rd AUS
Playoff record: 7-5
Playoff finish: AUS finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 29-17-1
Overall record vs. No. 1 UNB: 2-7 (0-4 regular season / 2-3 playoffs)
Overall record vs. No. 2 McGill: 1-0 (W 6-5 OT, Dec. 29, Antigonish, N.S.)
Overall record vs. No. 3 Alberta: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 4 Western: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 6 Calgary: 0-0
Final Top 10 ranking (March 19): No. 4
Best Top 10 ranking (19 weeks): No. 4 (4 weeks: Polls 1-2-18-19)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (19 weeks): 12
Conference award winners: Jason Bast (best rookie)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Spencer McAvoy (D)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Joseph Perricone (G), Chris Hulit (F)
Conference all-rookie team: Jason Bast (F)
Season leader (points): Chris Hulit, 31 (26 GP, 15-16-31)
Season leader (goals): Bryce Swan, 19 (28 GP)
Season leader (assists): Brett Morrison, 25 (28 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Spencer McAvoy, 22 (28 GP, 6-16-22)
Season leader (No. 1 goalie): Joseph Perricone (19 GP, 14-4, 2 SO, 2.37 GAA, .925 SV%)
CIS championship appearances (including 2011): 11
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 1987
CIS championship last appearance: 2007 (3rd in Pool A)
University Cup all-time record: 13-11 (.542)
University Cup titles: 1 (2004)
University Cup finals: 3 (2004, 2003, 2001)
University Cup best result: 1-time champions (2004)
University Cup sequence: 2nd appearance in 5 years
University Cup appearances Coach Peddle (including 2011): 2
University Cup record Coach Peddle: 0-2 (.000)
University Cup titles Coach Peddle: 0

 
No. 6 Calgary Dinos
Media Guide (PDF 6.93 MB) 
Head Coach: Mark Howell (2nd season)
Regular season record: 17-8-3
Regular season standing: 2nd Canada West
Playoff record: 2-3
Playoff finish: Canada West finalists
Overall record vs. CIS teams: 21-15-5
Overall record vs. No. 1 UNB: 0-2 (L 10-2, Sept. 15, Calgary / L 6-1, Sept. 18, Calgary)
Overall record vs. No. 2 McGill: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 3 Alberta: 2-7 (0-1 non-conference, 2-4 regular season, 0-2 playoffs)
Overall record vs. No. 4 Western: 0-0
Overall record vs. No. 5 StFX: 0-0
Final Top 10 ranking (March 19): No. 6
Best Top 10 ranking (19 weeks): No. 6 (3 weeks: Last 3 polls)
Number of weeks in Top 10 (19 weeks): 13
Conference award winners: Mark Howell (coach)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Dustin Butler (G), Cory Pritz (D), Reid Jorgensen (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: None
Conference all-rookie team: No all-rookie team in Canada West
Season leader (points): Reid Jorgenson, 33 (28 GP, 17-16-33)
Season leader (goals): Reid Jorgenson, 17 (28 GP)
Season leader (assists): Reid Jorgenson, 16 (28 GP)
Season leader (points by defenceman): Cory Pritz, 18 (26 GP, 5-13-18)
Season leader (No. 1 goalie): Dustin Butler (21 GP, 13-7, 2 SO, 2.12 GAA, .926 SV%)
University Cup appearances (including 2011): 11 
University Cup first appearance (inaugural championship 1963): 1974
University Cup last appearance: 2000 (3rd in Pool B)
University Cup all-time record: 7-13 (.350)
University Cup titles: 0
University Cup finals: 0
University Cup best result: 3rd (1996, 1995, 1990, 1988, 1981, 1980, 1976, 1974)
University Cup sequence: 1st appearance in 11 years
University Cup appearances Coach Howell (including 2011): 1
University Cup record Coach Howell: 0-0
University Cup titles Coach Howell: 0

 
TOURNAMENT POOLS & SCHEDULE (Atlantic Time)
 
Pool A
1. UNB
4. Western
6. Calgary
 
Pool B
2. McGill
3. Alberta
5. StFX
 
Wednesday, March 23
12:45 Meet The Coaches Media Conference (Aitken University Centre)
19:00 All-Canadian Awards Ceremony (The Playhouse)
 
Thursday, March 24
14:00 Pool B #1: StFX vs. McGill (SSN Canada webcast)  
19:00 Pool A #1: Calgary vs. UNB (SSN Canada webcast)  
 
Friday, March 25
14:00 Pool B #2: Loser Pool B #1 vs. Alberta (SSN Canada webcast)     
19:00 Pool A #2: Loser Pool A #1 vs. Western (SSN Canada webcast)      
 
Saturday, March 26
14:30 Pool B #3: Winner Pool B #1 vs. Alberta (Rogers Sportsnet / SSN Canada webcast) 
19:30 Pool A #3: Winner Pool A #1 vs. Western (Rogers Sportsnet / SSN Canada webcast)  
 
Sunday, March 27
20:00 University Cup Final (Rogers Sportsnet / SSN Canada webcast) 
 
-CIS-