Gilmour And Willms Return To REDS
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS men’s hockey team got a major boost Thursday as head coach Gardiner MacDougall announced that forwards Jason Willms and Brady Gilmour will be returning for the 2023-24 season.
The veteran student-athletes have provided leadership and depth to the program during their time with the REDS and have been relied heavily upon as leaders for Coach MacDougall the past few seasons.
“Sometimes your most valuable recruits come from in house,” said MacDougall. “In Atlantic University Sport, experience is so valuable to success and we’re fortunate to get two great leaders in Jason and Brady back for another season. Both have been high performers on the ice, and both are Academic All-Canadians.”
“They’re both coming off career years with us,” said MacDougall. “We’re really excited to get them both back at UNB, but also into a renowned program at UNB with the Sport and Recreation MBA program that will benefit them long after their playing careers are finished.”
An AUS Second Team All-Star last season, Willms scored 15 goals and 14 assists while serving as the REDS team captain.
The “heart and soul of the REDS,” according to MacDougall, also played a crucial role in last season’s University Cup campaign, adding four goals and five assists during the AUS playoffs as well as a goal and an assist during the U Cup tournament. Willms also represented UNB and the AUS as a member of the conference all-star team that took Canada’s world junior team hopefuls in Moncton last year.
“It’s very exciting, both academically and to obviously be returning to the hockey program,” said Willms. “It was a decision that really excited me, and I can’t wait to be back with the guys and start the journey towards a national title again this fall.”
Gilmour, a former AUS All-Rookie Team selection in 2019-2020, led the REDS in points last season, notching five goals and 25 assists in 26 regular season games, good for fourth in AUS scoring.
A draft pick of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, he helped Canada win gold at the 2023 FISU World Winter University Games in Lake Placid, NY.
“I’m extremely excited to be back for another year here in Fredericton,” said Gilmour. “It’s been a home for me for the last four years and I’m excited to begin my pursuit of an MBA in Sport and Recreation Management while trying to win another national championship.”
While pursuing their MBA studies at UNB, both student-athletes are aware of the demanding academic requirements awaiting them.
“I take a lot of pride in that area of my life,” said Willms. “I think, to a certain extent, it reflects the life habits I try to exhibit every day, of being productive with each hour of the day and finding solutions to problems or tasks put in front of me. Whether that problem be a grueling 70-minute practice on the ice or studying for an up-and-coming mid-term, I strive to be my best for all the challenges I’m faced with daily.”
“Time management is key during the hockey season as I will need to make sure I’m on top of my schoolwork,” said Gilmour. “Being organized at the beginning of the year will be essential so that we can have a good start to the semester and hockey season. Going through the program with Jason will be nice too.”
The REDS get their season underway with exhibition play starting Friday, September 15th, when they travel to Charlottetown to face the UPEI Panthers.
UNB will welcome Toronto Metropolitan University, the hosts of the 2024 University Cup, September 29th and 30th.
The game on Friday, the 29th, will be played at Fredericton’s Willie O’Ree Place at 7:00pm.
Saturday’s game will be contested at UNB’s Aitken Centre at 5:00pm.
“My goal on the ice is to help bring another national championship to UNB and Fredericton,” said Wilms. “It’s going to be a long journey, but I can’t wait to go through the daily battles with my teammates as we work towards it.”
STORY BY: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics
FILE PHOTOS: James West/for UNB Athletics