Guelph’s Austen Keating and his UNB Reds are breathing rarefied air.
The Canadian men’s university hockey team became the very first to register a perfect 30-0 regular season last week, and the first to run the table since Western University did it in 24 games in 2002-03.
“It’s pretty crazy to think about now, I’ve had a couple days to look back on it, think about the accomplishments that we achieved this year,” Keating, who led the team in scoring, said of the feat.
Keating paced the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) with 23 goals and 50 points.
His goal and point totals were both second in Canada – Connor Bouchard with Mount Royal (Canada West) had 57 PTS on the year and Simon Bouchard scored 25 goals for the OUA’s UQTR Patriotes.
“I think the biggest thing for me is consistency,” Keating said. “I have a lot of great players surrounding me as well. I’ve played with (fellow OHL alum) Brady Gilmour all year, and I think that’s been a big help to me. He’s such a great player, smart in the offensive zone and defensive zone, and I think we really compliment each other.”
He also gave credit to a guy that pushes him on and off the ice, UNB captain and close friend, Kitchener native Jason Willms.
The two of them played spring hockey together for a few years growing up, and worked out together during the summer while playing major junior.
So there was a familiar face when Keating moved east, and a connection that’s stayed strong throughout their university years.
In fact, Keating and Willms moved in together that first year, along with Connor Hall – a Cambridge native and former Kitchener Ranger – and Hamilton Bulldogs alum Isaac Nurse.
Keating’s success didn’t come as a shock to UNB coach Gardiner MacDougall.
He came highly touted with his five years in Ottawa with the 67’s, including a pair of 89 point seasons – he probably would’ve hit 100 points in his overage season, if not for the pandemic.
“Austen’s been a key part of our success here,” MacDougall said of his assistant captain.
He praised Keating’s leadership qualities, from his intensity level, grit and smarts. But the big key, according to coach MacDougall, has been Keating’s work ethic.
“He just brings it,” he said. “I think we’ve had 85 practices so far (this season), he’s the guy that practices the right way, he plays the right way. We had a 30-game, plus five exhibition games – so we’ve been on the ice probably 115 times – and he gives a full 100 per cent, every time he’s on the ice.”
The work ethic is contagious. Intense battles in practices, a close group, the want to get better.
There is a longstanding recipe for success for the program. Keating has been committed to that lifestyle since moving, choosing to stay in New Brunswick during the off-season.
He, and a number of teammates – many of whom are from Ontario – train together. Some have summer jobs, so much of the training takes place early in the morning.
Keating has been through a lot since the move to university.
He spent the first year practicing and dealing with the uncertainty presented by the pandemic.
His second year, a COVID-modified season, the veteran-laden Reds were hit with adversity, losing in the U Sports quarterfinal.
“That was the only thing that was really on everybody’s mind,” Keating said. “How can we not let that happen again.”
It translated into a big 2022-23, going 24-4-1-1 with a dozen new players on the team, capping it off with a national title. The sting of losing, he said, played a big part in motivating the team.
“I think we grew so much as a team, just going through those experiences,” he said.
Now, Keating is in his fourth year. The business major credits himself as a communicator – “you can probably ask a couple of the guys, I like to talk,” he said – and sees himself enjoying sales, or something along those lines.
But it’s not uncommon to see a U Sports athlete parlay that into a pro career in the sport.
So Keating said he still has aspirations of turning pro, whether it’s in North America or overseas.
But for now, he and the rest of the Reds are focused on the tough task at hand, with a big prize at the end of the road.
“You come to UNB for national championships, not the AUS regular season,” Keating said.
“Even though (a 30-0 season is) obviously a great achievement, we’re just getting started.”
