UNB, UQTR advance to gold medal game

Curtis Martin/TMU Bold Athletics

It'll be a classic gold medal matchup between university hockey powerhouses at the 2024 University Cup.

The No.1 seeded UNB Reds and the No. 2 seeded UQTR Patriotes will meet at 6 p.m. Atlantic in the national championship game in Toronto. UNB won last year's University Cup title while UQTR won in 2022.

The Reds will be looking for their 10th national championship while the Patriotes will be looking for their sixth.

The game can be streamed on CBC Gem.

NEW: UNB has been great before, but they're setting a new standard in 2024.

After today's 7-0 win v TMU, they're just a game away from perfection.

With 100 practices and lessons learned, they might just be the best-ever U SPORTS MHKY team.

My latest:https://t.co/zDH8qJ4hZI

— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) March 16, 2024

After going 30-0 in regular season play and sweeping their way through the Atlantic University Sport playoffs, it's been a smooth ride at nationals for the Reds. UNB beat Brock 4-0 in Thursday's quarterfinal and then hammered the host TMU Bold 7-0 in Saturday afternoon's semifinal.

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Kale McCallum had a goal in UNB's win over TMU. The Reds also feature former Sea Dogs forward Nick Blagden and head coach Gardiner MacDougall.

MHKY: @UNBMHockey goes up 2-0 on @tmubold on a goal by Kale McCallum at 6:58 of the opening period.#goredsgo
pic.twitter.com/67g4QLju6U

— UNB Reds (@UNBAthletics) March 16, 2024

A win by UNB on Sunday — which would complete the perfect season — would certainly put this year's team in the conversation (if they're not there already) for the best in U Sports history.

UQTR, this year's OUA champions, beat UdeM 5-1 in the quarterfinals and then edged McGill 5-4 in a close semifinal contest. 

Sunday morning/afternoon's bronze medal game will feature former Sea Dogs William Poirier and McGill taking on Kevin Gursoy and TMU.