Remembering Joe Glenn

(FREDERICTON, NB) His sense of humour and his, at times, brutal honesty. Those are the things Matt Boudens (BRSS, BEd ’19) remembers about Joe Glenn.

Glenn, the long-time athletic therapist with the UNB REDS men’s hockey team passed away earlier this week after a long illness. He was 75.

“Although quiet and laid back, once you spent a little time in ‘Joe’s Room’ you quickly realized how funny and honest he could be,” said Boudens, who spent five seasons as a member of the REDS (2014-15 through 2018-19). “He never stepped foot on the ice, but he was such an integral part of the UNB men’s hockey program. Joe always had the pulse of our team and would provide input when he felt it was necessary.”

Holding degrees from the University of Manitoba, Glenn joined UNB’s Faculty of Kinesiology and spent more than 25 years as an educator and mentor.

It was during that time that he took on the role of Athletic Therapist for all UNB teams before, eventually, focusing his efforts with the men’s hockey team.

“Joe had an unbelievable impact on our program,” said Gardiner MacDougall, head coach of UNB’s men’s hockey team. “He has the University Cup record, as a trainer, with eight national championships and made a difference in each, finding ways to keep players healthy or get them back to playing condition faster and more efficiently.”

MacDougall notes that Glenn’s influence extended beyond UNB’s men’s hockey program, adding that he was part of teams that won FISU World Winter University Games gold medals in 2007 and 2012.

“Joe was an institution, combining his time with hockey, for many years, with all of UNB’s teams,” said MacDougall. “He was a popular professor in Kinesiology and his knowledge of the human body was at a savant level.”

In Kinesiology, Glenn taught courses related to the prevention and care of athletic injuries, or the ‘tear and care’ courses. He was also responsible for the practicum experience for Kinesiology students, assigning each to a UNB team and providing oversight of that experience.

“Joe was a quiet educator,” said Dr. Wayne Albert, Dean of UNB’s Faculty of Kinesiology. “He would teach by showing rather than being a verbal communicator.”

“He was happiest when working with student-athletes,” added Albert. “He’d also get excited by the latest biomechanics research he’d read about or a new modality of treatment that included a biomechanical rationale. He wanted to make sure students understood how the kinesiology concepts were tied to athletic therapy.”

Boudens says Glenn’s focus was the physical health of student-athletes but remembers the complete nature of Glenn’s abilities.

“His job ranged from physio to team shrink to everything in between,” said Boudens. “He was always there to lend an ear. I’m grateful to have spent five seasons with Joe. He loved his family, his dogs and UNB men’s hockey.”

“Joe meant so much to me,” said Tyson Stewart, the Registered Massage Therapist with the REDS men’s hockey team. “He was a mentor, colleague, and teacher, but above all, he was a friend.”

Stewart joined the men’s hockey team in 2008 after learning from Glenn, among others, in the pursuit of his Kinesiology degree at UNB.

“Joe is the reason I’m with the program,” said Stewart. “He took a chance on me and asked me to start coming to practices and games to help. Our friendship and bond took off from there.”

Stewart will remember what he calls Glenn’s “infectious laugh,” as well as his love of his family.

“I’ll never forget the times we shared in rinks across this country. The practices, the wins, even the losses,” said Stewart. “He was a true professional. He taught me never to panic, to trust my instincts and to do what I think is best for the student-athlete.”

“I took Joe’s ‘tear and care’ course, going back 30 years ago,” said John Richard, REDS Executive Director. “Joe’s contributions cannot be understated. He gave so much to UNB and our athletics program over the years. He helped produce a generation of therapy and care professionals and he put his skills to work for the benefit of thousands of student-athletes over the years. Joe’s impact here has been significant, and his legacy will live on for a long time.”

Coach MacDougall says Glenn’s contributions have been a “foundational part” of the success of the country’s top men’s hockey program.

“He’s left an amazing legacy of knowledge, mentorship and connection with our student-athletes,” said MacDougall. “His spirit will live on for many years here.”

STORY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTO: Brian Smith/for UNB Men’s Hockey