UNB Alumni
Telling our #ProudlyUNB stories

What began as a marketing project in the BBA program became much more for UNB young alumnus, Andrew Brewer (BBA '08). As Assistant Coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brewer works on and off the ice in a hockey career he has always dreamed of. From the Aitken Centre, to the Olympic stage and now the NHL, the Fredericton native is making his mark on the sport. Brewer joined the Leafs in June of 2015, alongside Coach Mike Babcock, where he brings an eye for detail to the team.

Analyzing their opponents’ players, managing statistics and video, logging events and providing post-game review are just some of his many responsibilities as Assistant Coach.

However it wasn't long before his career with the NHL that Brewer was a UNB student with a school assignment  in hand and a passion for the sport.

As part of a marketing project, Brewer created a promotional video commemorating the 2007 National Championship team. His wife Patricia showed the video to her boss, who then passed it on to the Varsity Reds Hockey Coach Gardiner MacDougall.

"He asked if I could make a video for the start of the season for the hockey team,” says Brewer. “While I was doing the project, he gave me the opportunity to become the first video coach for UNB Hockey."

During his first year with the team,  UNB won the 2009 CIS National Championship. Brewer says he was even able to take the University Cup to his wedding that same summer. In 2011 UNB hosted, and won, the CIS championships, another great highlight of his time with the V-Reds.

"To win on home ice with my family there and to take my infant son on the ice to get the gold medal is something I'll never forget."

During his three years with the UNB hockey team, Brewer also worked as a an assistant coach on the ice, coached the 1999 Prospect team and served as a member of the steering committee for the 2011 and 2012 CIS Championships.

"Working with UNB was special,” he says. "It was  my first job in hockey and we had great success."

Once leaving the V-Reds, Brewer landed a position with Hockey Canada as their video coach. After representing Hockey Canada at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, he joined the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings as an assistant coach to Mike Babcock.

With the support of his wife and family, Brewer took a leap of faith and turned his dreams into a reality when he transferred with Babcock to the Toronto Maple Leafs the following year.

"Every new experience has been huge. My first World Juniors, my first World Championship, walking in the opening ceremony of the Olympics for Canada, my first game in the NHL, my first playoff game - each have been incredible in their own rights."