REDS Adding Transfer Serpa
(FREDERICTON, NB) The eight-time, defending Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey champions, the UNB REDS, are adding veteran forward Joe Serpa to their recruiting class of 2026.
The 24-year-old centre, from Cambridge, Ontario, will join the REDS as a transfer ahead of the 2026-2027 AUS season.
“This is an opportunity to grow as a player and a person,” said Serpa. “I’ll be surrounded by talented players in a competitive environment. Additionally, I’m excited to play for a championship, which is a great opportunity and one that is hard to come by.”
Serpa spent the 2025-2026 season with the now defunct Mercyhurst University Lakers, of the NCAA, but did not play due to injury.
After a major junior career that saw him play 184 regular season Ontario Hockey League games with the Kitchener Rangers and Oshawa Generals, Serpa joined the Dalhousie Tigers for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
“Joe is a big addition to the UNB family,” said REDS’ head coach Rob Hennigar. “His speed, competitiveness, and desire to win will be a big help to our program. He’s a player who is dangerous all over the ice and will give us some offence up front.”
During his OHL career, he registered 40 goals and 78 assists in 184 games, including 20 goals and 49 assists in a breakout 2021-22 season.
With the Tigers, he scored 12 goals and 16 assists in 51 regular season games.
Serpa considered other options before deciding on the REDS and says UNB’s legacy of winning and producing high level hockey players set the REDS apart. He describes himself as a highly skilled player with the ability to produce.
“I think Coach Hennigar wants me because I’m an older, experienced player who has had success at different levels and could be a big piece in helping the team win another national championship,” he said.
Serpa is not only returning to the AUS, he’s reuniting with former Rangers teammates Michael Petizian and Justin Nolet. In fact, he says Petizian reached out to him and helped guide him through the recruitment process.
“He’s played with a couple of our guys and will fit in seamlessly,” said Hennigar. “He knows how the AUS works and is excited to get started.”
Winless against UNB in his two seasons with Dal, Serpa is happy to be joining the other side of the rivalry.
“Playing against UNB wasn’t very much fun,” he admits. “I could see first-hand the way they played and how everyone bought in, and that was part of the reason why I wanted to join the program. I could see why the team and players were so successful.”
Serpa will continue his Business studies while attending UNB.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS
PHOTO: Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club