Hilworth To Face Mentor As REDS Host Pandas
(FREDERICTON, NB) It may be a pre-season game, but it’s one that holds significant meaning for Sarah Hilworth.
On Friday, September 19th, at 7:00pm, Hilworth, head coach of the UNB REDS’ women’s hockey team, will lead her charges against the visiting University of Alberta Pandas and head coach Howie Draper.
“It’s going to be special, for sure,” said Hilworth, a standout forward for Draper’s Pandas between 2008-09 and 2012-13. “Alberta is such a big part of my hockey story, as a player, as a coach, and as a person. I have so many great memories from my time there, so to have them here in Fredericton, in our rink, is going to be special. Obviously, once the puck drops, it’s game on, but there’s definitely a lot of pride and nostalgia that comes with facing a program that’s been such a big part of my life.”
As a student-athlete Hilworth averaged a point a game during 100 regular season games and helped the Pandas to the 2009-10 Canada West and national women’s hockey championships.
After her playing career ended, Hilworth joined the Pandas’ coaching staff as an assistant, working two seasons with Draper and helping the team add another national championship.
She then, she spent two seasons as head coach of the Olds College Broncos of the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference before taking on the head coaching duties with the REDS in 2017.
“Howie’s been one of the most influential people in my life, not just my career,” said Hilworth. “As a player, he believed in me and gave me the space to grow into the leader I wanted to be. As a coach, he was patient, he challenged me, and he modeled what it means to build a winning culture while genuinely caring about your student-athletes as people first. I don’t think I’d be the coach I am today without his mentorship.”
“She always displayed a passion for the game and demonstrated a coaching mind, always looking for new and better ways to approach the game,” said Draper, who’s not surprised to see Hilworth and the REDS flourishing. “She has shown that she has a strong ability to not just build a strong program from within, but also a strong community around it where the give and take between the team and broader community support each other.”
In her seven seasons leading the REDS, Hilworth has guided UNB to a 111-36-8-6(W-L-OTL-SOL) record, three Atlantic University Sport championships, and four consecutive appearances in the national championship tournament. In 2021-22 she was named AUS Coach of the Year.
“She was a fearless competitor that laid everything on the line to help her team succeed,” said Draper. “She is the same way as a coach. The time and energy that she puts in to helping her players find success is tangible.”
Friday’s exhibition game won’t be the first time Hilworth and Draper have faced off against each other.
Hilworth took the REDS to Edmonton in December of 2022 for an exhibition tournament.
Draper’s Pandas prevailed 1-0 in a competitive New Year’s Eve tilt.
“I have so much respect for him,” said Hilworth. “But I’m also competitive and I know he is too. I think it’ll be fun to be on opposite benches, trying to out-coach each other, while still knowing, at the end of the day, there’s a huge amount of mutual respect there.”
“It’s like facing off against your own team,” said Draper. “You know there are going to be similar traits demonstrated by both sides. I'm not sure that I can ever "lose,” regardless of the game's outcome. If our team pulls out a win, I'm happy for our success. If Sarah's team pulls out a win, I'll be happy for her and what she's building.”
Both coaches say the game will provide them with a good idea of where they stand as they prepare their teams for the coming season.
“Alberta’s a powerhouse program and for our group to go against them in the pre-season is a great measuring stick,” said Hilworth. “I want our student-athletes to embrace the challenge, to see it as an opportunity to sharpen our game, and to understand that these are the kinds of teams we need to beat if we want to reach our goals.”
“A huge benefit lies in crossing over to play teams from different conferences,” added Draper. “Stepping outside of the bubble of Canada West creates opportunities to perhaps bring something new back. As well, should we have an opportunity to return to the national championship again this season, I'm sure we'll see Sarah and her team there, so getting a little intel at the start of the year might help should our teams get matched-up in March.”
A pre-season game, yes. But one with significant meaning for the two coaches and both team involved.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS
PHOTOS BY: UNB REDS/U of Alta. Pandas