U SPORTS Report: Dec. 6, 2023
A total of 228 OHL alumni are playing in the U SPORTS men’s hockey ranks this season. Throughout the year the U SPORTS Report will keep tabs on former OHL names doing great things in the OUA, AUS and Canada West ranks on the road to the 2024 U SPORTS University Cup to be held from March 14-17 in Toronto, Ont.
OHL ALUMNI TO REPRESENT U SPORTS AT TEAM CANADA’S WORLD JUNIORS SELECTION CAMP
Former Ottawa 67’s and current UNB REDS forward Austen Keating headlines the 2023 men’s hockey All-Star roster, set to compete at Canada’s National Junior Team Selection camp in Oakville, Ont. from Dec. 10-13. StFX’s Matthew Struthers (Owen Sound Attack), Ottawa U’s Max Grondin, TMU’s Kai Edmonds (Mississauga Steelheads) and UNB’s Brady Gilmour (Saginaw Spirit) also join Queen’s Dalton Duhart (Saginaw Spirit), Jonathan Yantsis (Kitchener Rangers), and Jacob Paquette (Peterborough Petes) on the U SPORTS roster. Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team has faced various U SPORTS competition on a regular basis since 1988. U SPORTS began its current All-Star team format in 2015 and in eight previous camps has a 6-8-1 record.
🏒 UNB’s Austen Keating headlines roster for 2023 U SPORTS Men’s Hockey All-Star Series
🏒 Austen Keating de l’UNB en tête d’affiche de la formation pour la Série des étoiles du hockey masculin de U SPORTS
EN: https://t.co/fgfr4jXPWq
FR: https://t.co/EAiWY4MK2R pic.twitter.com/u8Y1dxwS96— U SPORTS Hockey (@USPORTS_Hockey) December 5, 2023
REDS OFF TO BEST START IN UNB HISTORY
The 2023-24 UNB Reds men’s hockey team is off to the best start in program history as the only remaining undefeated team in the country. Playing to a season record of 18-0-0-0, the east coast powerhouse continues to be fueled by OHL alumni. Ottawa 67’s graduate Austen Keating recorded a hat trick and an assist on Friday night as former Peterborough Petes forward Emmett Sproule contributed a pair of helpers to a 5-3 win over StFX. The Reds earned their 18th straight victory on Saturday as Saginaw Spirit alumnus Brady Gilmour had a three-point showing with a goal and two assists, while Soo greyhounds graduate Cole MacKay tallied a pair of goals as UNB defeated the Dalhousie Tigers 9-2.
With one game left in the first half of the season, UNB’s Keating ranks second among all U SPORTS point-getters recording 13 goals, 18 assists, and 31 points (13-18–31) in 18 games played.
What a start‼️
The 23-24 team is off to the best start in UNB hockey history‼️
2023-24: 18-0-0-0 for 36pts
2018-19: 15-0-0-3 for 33pts
2017-18: 15-0-0-3 for 33pts
2021-22: 16-2-0-0 for 32pts
2022-23: 15-2-0-1 for 31pts
2009-10: 15-0-0-0 for 30pts
1997-98: 13-1-0 for 26pts— UNB Men’s Hockey (@UNBMHockey) December 3, 2023
MUSTANGS CONTINUE WINNING STREAK
The Western Mustang built off their winnings last week, earning another four points over the weekend. North Bay Battalion graduate Shane Bulitka recorded a goal and an assist on Friday as the Mustangs defeated the Windsor Lancers 5-2. Western travelled to York on Saturday as Bulitka, Peterborough Petes alumnus Jack York and former London Knights forward Tye McSorley each found the back of the net in a 6-1 win over the Lions to increase their winning streak to four straight victories.
M🏒 MUSTANGS GOAL
Western gets their second short-handed goal of the period with Andrew Bruder sliding a cross-ice pass to Jack York who re-directs it into the York net.🚨York (2) from Bruder at 14:52 (SH)
WES l 5
YRK l 0#RunWithUs #WesternMustangs #WESvsYRK pic.twitter.com/nZrtlTfznE— Western Mustangs (@WesternMustangs) December 2, 2023
JACK WISMER LEADS UBC TO VICTORY
Flint Firebirds alumnus Jack Wismer led the UBC Thunderbirds to victory over the weekend, recording four points over two games played last weekend. The Stoney Creek, Ont. native recorded an assist on Friday as UBC bested the University of Regina Cougars 4-0. Wismer was back on the ice Saturday, tallying a goal and a pair of helpers as the Thunderbirds closed out the Cougars 7-1 for a perfect weekend. The Thunderbirds enter the new year with a 14-4-0 record, good for second in Canada West.
🏒 MHKY | Scott Atkinson, Chris Douglas and Jack Wismer combined for 11 points as @UBCMHKY closed out 2023 with a 7-1 win over Regina Saturday afternoon, sweeping the season serieshttps://t.co/dOWwZFXmVE
— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) December 3, 2023
BOLD BLANK LAKEHEAD
The University of Toronto Metropolitan Bold blanked the Lakehead University Thunderwolves over the weekend, improving to third in the OUA West. Friday night’s 4-3 win saw a strong contribution from Kyle Bollers, as the Oshawa Generals graduate recording three assists in the win. The two teams faced off again on Saturday as Bollers and former Windsor Spitfires blueline Joe Rupoli each registered a goal and an assist in the 7-0 win.
Just how we drew It up – sort of 😅
Kyle Bollers doubles our lead over the Thunderwolves here in the first period!
TMU 2 | LKH 0
P1 | 9:24 pic.twitter.com/Rq9oyBjDVC— TMU Bold Men's Hockey (@tmuboldmhky) December 3, 2023
