Veteran AUS Defender MacDougall Joining REDS
(FREDERICTON, NB) Ross MacDougall is bringing his hockey career back home.
After three years at Acadia University, and two seasons with the Axemen, the veteran defender and St. Stephen, New Brunswick, native is transferring to the University of New Brunswick and joining the defending national champion REDS.
“I decided UNB would be a great fit for me because I’m able to do my MBA in a field that I’m interested in and have the opportunity to be challenged by one of the best hockey university programs in the country,” said MacDougall.
In his two seasons at Acadia, MacDougall played in 56 regular season games, scoring six goals and 16 assists.
Prior to joining the Axemen, he played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, appearing in 182 regular season games with the Quebec Remparts and Cape Breton Eagles. He amassed 109 points, 28 goals and 81 assists, in that time.
“Ross will be a great addition to our program,” said REDS head coach Gardiner MacDougall, no relation. “He’s an experienced, veteran defender and has been one of the most improved players in the AUS. He has great puck-moving skills, is a top-notch skater and he’s got a very high hockey IQ. He’s been one of the top defencemen in our league, and we know that will continue here.”
MacDougall, who has three years of U SPORTS eligibility remaining, admits moving within Atlantic University Sport’s men’s hockey conference wasn’t an easy decision to make.
“I really enjoyed my time at Acadia and was able to meet a lot of great people and make a lot of great memories,” he said. “But I’m extremely excited to be able to play for the university I grew up cheering for. I’m excited for the first time I get to put the UNB jersey on, because playing for UNB is a huge honour.”
“He’s a great story of perseverance and resilience,” said Coach MacDougall. “He was a 13th round pick in the QMJHL draft, out of Rothesay Netherwood, and ended up playing four seasons in the league before becoming one of the top defenders in the AUS. That’s impressive.”
“My main goal for my time at UNB is to help the program to continue to find success at the AUS and national level,” said the younger MacDougall.
Short term, he’s looking forward to November 26th.
That will be UNB’s first trip to Acadia during the 2021-22 AUS regular season.
“Playing as a visitor in Wolfville will be weird, but I’m looking forward to competing against some old friends. I have a lot of respect for the teammates and coaches I had there over the years, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t have that first game in Wolfville circled on my calendar.”
MacDougall will enter UNB’s Sport and Recreation Management MBA program in the fall.
The REDS are scheduled to open the 2021-22 AUS regular season on Wednesday, October 6th, when they host Moncton. Game time is 7:00pm.
PHOTO: James West/for UNB Athletics