UNB Varsity Reds

History

The name "Varsity Reds" was only adopted circa 1993. Prior to this, every varsity sport, including football, hockey, women's basketball, men's basketball and men's wrestling had a different name: the Red Bombers, Red Devils, Red Bloomers, Red Raiders and Black Bears respectively.

National championships

Men's Soccer (1)

Men's Ice Hockey (6)

Men's hockey

While the details were not recorded, inter-class and inter-club hockey games at the University of New Brunswick were played as early as 1880. The first recorded competitive UNB hockey game was Feb. 5, 1897 against the local detachment of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Infantry (now the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment). The game was played in downtown Fredericton at the George Street outdoor rink and UNB lost 3-2.

In January 1902, the “Red and Black” defeated a team of local bank employees 2-1 in their inaugural season in the Fredericton City League. In the early era, “home ice” was a flooded field borrowed from the local garrison and the players cleared the ice. The team captain doubled as coach and the seven-man starting line-up was the entire team.

UNB was a founding member of the Maritime Intercollegiate Hockey League and their first varsity game saw UNB defeat Mount Allison 3-2 in January 1906. After a dispute in 1908, UNB, along with Mount Allison, King’s, and Acadia, created their own collegiate league the New Brunswick-Nova Scotia League, in parallel with the MIHL (also referred to as the Maritime Interuniversity Inter-scholastic Hockey League). UNB played in both leagues and was the first team to win the NB-NS league title five times, and thus retainedownership of the Summer Trophy.

In 1910 the Maritimes Intercollegiate Athletic Association was formed. UNB acquired its first paid coach, Sandy Staples, in 1911. The MIAA evolved into the AUAA in 1974 and the current AUS in 1999. UNB won their first conference title in 1925. UNB won their next title in 1934 and then not again until 1960. In 1964, UNB won their third title in five years and advanced to the 2nd annual CIAU championship in Kingston, Ontario. UNB won the bronze medal game versus the University of Montreal after losing their first game to eventual champions Alberta.

The UNB Red Devils lost in the 1984 CIAU Eastern-Canadian Regional playoffs to powerhouse Toronto(two games to none), and they did not return to the national stage until 1997 when the Varsity Reds (the team name changed starting in 1992/93 season) lost the championship game to Guelph.

UNB won their first CIS Championship the following year (1998) in Saskatoon and since have won in 2007 (Moncton), 2009 (Thunder Bay), 2011 (Fredericton), 2013 (Saskatoon) 2016 (Halifax) and 2017(Fredericton). The V-Reds have also won silver medals in 1997 (Toronto), 2000 (Saskatoon), 2004 (Fredericton), 2008 (Moncton) and 2015 (Halifax). UNB has won 15 AUS conference championship banners, including three of the last five.

Men's soccer

Men's cross country running and track & field

The UNB Track and Field team was established during the 2011-2012 school year. Athletes from both the UNB Fredericton and the UNB Saint John campuses participate. The UNB track and field team attends the McGill Team Challenge track and field meet at McGill university in Montreal each year.

Women's cross country running and track & field

The UNB Track and Field team was established during the 2011-2012 school year. Athletes from both the UNB Fredericton and the UNB Saint John campuses participate. The UNB track and field team attends the McGill Team Challenge track and field meet at McGill university in Montreal each year.

Women's rugby

The University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds Women's Rugby established in 2015 claimed the 2015 Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association women’s rugby championship with a 14-5 win over the St. Thomas University Tommies, on November 1 at Scotiabank Park South. Johanna Reid scored the Varsity Reds’ lone try, while Julija Rans converted on three penalty goals.

After an undefeated season in 2016, the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds Women's Rugby once again are the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association women’s rugby championship with a 24-0 win over the St. Thomas University Tommies, on November 5.

Baseball

The UNB Cougars baseball team competes in the Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association.

Cricket

In 2005, the UNB Cricket Club organized the initial UNB Cricket Cup, which took place in October. Featuring teams from several Residences on campus, it is believed that it is the first of its kind to take place at UNB. The tournament was won by Harrison House who chased a target of over 150 to beat McLeod by a margin of 1 wicket. All games, of innings comprising 10 overs, took place at Queen's Square Ball Field in Fredericton. The trophy is proudly displayed in the Harrison lounge. In 2007, UNBCC grew to almost 40 members making it arguably the biggest cricket club in the Atlantic Provinces.

Fencing

The UNB Fencing Club has been in operation since 1966, competing in the Atlantic Fencing League and the Canadian Fencing Federation. Teams from the club have captured the Alfred Knappe Trophy for Maritime Mixed weapon competition 7 times (1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1998, 2001 and 2013) as well as the Atlantic University Mixed Weapon Championship in 2009 (one of only two years it was run), defeating Memorial University for the title.

Football

The UNB Red Bombers football team first began play in 1948 in exhibition play before playing in the first intercollegiate Canadian football game played in New Brunswick in 1949. The program was in continuous operation until it was dropped after the 1980 season, with the school making the announcement in June 1981. In their history, the Red Bombers won two Jewett Trophy conference championships in 1969 and 1970, but lost in the following Atlantic Bowls to the McGill Redmen and Ottawa Gee-Gees respectively. In 2008, the University made the announcement that the Red Bombers were to be reborn in 2009 in the Atlantic Football League, along with University of New Brunswick Saint John, Dalhouse University, and Holland College. In 2009 (the inaugural season for the Atlantic Football League) the Red Bombers defeated the UNB SJ Seawolves to capture the Moosehead Cup. In 2011, the team lost to the Holland College Hurricanes in the finals, while beating them 14-7 in 2012 to capture their second Moosehead Cup. The Red Bombers team competes as a competitive sport club as of present day.

Wrestling

The UNB wrestling team is known as the Black Bears, and they have produced several CIAU/CIS medals, as well as a record 15 consecutive AUAA titles from 1987-2002. The AUAA title was retired in 2002 ending the run of consecutive titles.

Men's rugby

The UNB men's rugby team is known as the Ironmen, and they boast numerous New Brunswick and Maritime championships at the 'A' and 'B' levels of competition.