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(OTTAWA, ONT.) – Record-setting UNB hockey coach Gardiner MacDougall will be honoured by Canadian Interuniversity Sport on Wednesday night in Ottawa.

The awards dinner will be held at the Delta Ottawa City Centre as part of CIS’ annual general meeting.

MacDougall merits the Jean-Marie De Koninck Coaching Excellence Award, which honours since 2007 an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to university sport as demonstrated by long-term commitment and leadership as a coach at the local, provincial, national and/or international levels.

"It is so fitting that Gardiner receive this prestigious national honour,” said UNB President Dr. Eddy Campbell. “He holds such devotion to the sport, to his team and his players. Gardiner's talent and inspirational leadership loom large behind the University of New Brunswick's long run as a top-ranked hockey program.”

MacDougall just completed his 15th season at the helm of the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds, one of Canada’s most successful university hockey programs. The native of Bedeque, PEI, signed a five-year contract last summer to continue his impressive journey at UNB and promptly helped lead a youthful V-Reds squad with 13 new faces to the Atlantic University Sport title and a CIS silver medal in 2014-15.

Since he took over the program in 2000-01, MacDougall has guided UNB to 15 straight AUS semifinals, six conference banners and nine University Cup championship appearances, including four CIS titles (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013) in six trips to the national final. The V-Reds have topped the Atlantic standings in each of the past eight campaigns.

“Gardiner devotes endless hours to the UNB program and its players,” said UNB hockey team captain Cam Critchlow. “He challenges his players to be better on the ice and in the classroom and has taken the UNB hockey program to the next level year after year. His passion and positive attitude are contagious.”

A four-time AUS coach of the year, he has twice been honoured at the CIS level with the Father George Kehoe Memorial Award, including this past season. He has also won a similar award in his home province of PEI on two occasions.

MacDougall became the winningest head coach in team history in only his sixth season at the helm in 2006 and has since become the all-time AUS leader in regular season wins (292) and playoff victories (53). He boasts career records of 448-181-20 overall (.706), 292-110-18 in league play (.717) and 73-39 in post-season action (.652), including a 20-6 mark at the CIS championship (.769), good for third place on the University Cup all-time wins list.

In 2009-10, the V-Reds posted a remarkable 27-1 mark in the regular season, establishing new CIS standards for most conference wins in a single campaign and most consecutive victories from the start of a season (26). Their combined 33 wins in 2007-08 in conference and post-season play are also a CIS record, tied with two other teams.

In recent years, MacDougall has also proved successful at the international level, helping a pair of Canadian teams made up of AUS all-stars capture gold at the Winter Universiade, first as an assistant coach in 2007 at Torino, Italy, and then as a head coach in 2013 at Trentino, Italy.

Aside from a successful on-ice coaching record, his background as an educator has helped UNB student-athletes achieve strong academic standing. Sixty-eight of his players have merited Academic All-Canadian status, including two - Adrian Robertson (2013-14) and Colin Sinclair (2006-07) - who were selected as CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadians.

In April 2007, MacDougall was honoured with the special UNB President’s Citation Award by then University President John McLaughlin. In March 2009, McLaughlin made him the first coach to receive the UNB President’s Medal – the school’s most prestigious recognition. He was then awarded the Paul Harris Rotary Fellowship medallion as recognition for his service in the Fredericton hockey community and, in 2012, received the distinguished Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Upon graduation from St Francis Xavier University (BSc. P-ED) and Saint Mary’s University (B-ED), MacDougall became a full-time teacher in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. That is where his coaching career began, in the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, where he was named coach of the year on four separate occasions and claimed four provincial and league championships.

“Gardiner continuously strives for excellence in everything he does while inspiring those around him to do the same,” says UNB Director of Athletics, John Richard. “His passion for his work and the sport of hockey is infectious, and his dedication to developing the full potential of student-athletes reaches far beyond their performance on the ice. He’s not only reason for the level of success of our men’s hockey program, but he’s the main reason. Gardiner is extremely deserving of this honour, placing his name alongside the tremendous coaching legends who have garnered this award in the past.”

“I’ve known Coach MacDougall for 11 years now and had the privilege of both playing for him and coaching with him,” echoed UNB associate coach Rob Hennigar. “People often ask me what makes UNB Hockey so successful and there is really no secret, it’s Gardiner, his passion, work ethic and commitment to his players is second to none. Not only does he make them better players when they leave UNB, he makes them better people."

MacDougall now resides in New Maryland, N.B., with wife Lee and children Taylor, a fourth-year member of the hockey V-Reds, and Madison, a third-year UNB student.

Long-time sports information director Jack Neumann and television reporter Marc Durand will also be honoured by the CIS Wednesday evening.

Neumann will receive the Austin-Matthews Award, presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to interuniversity sport, as demonstrated by long-term commitment and leadership as a coach, director, chairperson and/or executive committee member at the local, provincial and/or national levels.

Durand will take home the Fred Sgambati Media Award, presented to a member of the media in recognition of major contributions to the development and growth of Canadian university sport.

“On behalf of the entire CIS membership, in particular our 11,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches, I wish to congratulate our 2015 award recipients,” said CIS President, Thérèse Quigley. “They have demonstrated a true passion for university sport throughout their distinguished careers, and we wish to extend our sincere appreciation for their remarkable contribution.”

Austin-Matthews Award

Jack Neumann’s extraordinary 34-year career at the University of Calgary touched the lives of countless student-athletes, coaches, alumni and members of the community and cemented his status as a legendary figure in Dinos history.

A native of Saskatoon, Neumann was hired away from the oil and gas industry in 1978. Appointed Sports Information Director, he quickly became a trailblazer in Canadian university athletics. As one of the first full-time SIDs in the country, he pushed sports information forward by building local, national and international contacts in the media and the sports world, building a Rolodex that was the envy of everyone he met.

A tireless supporter and promoter of the Dinos, Neumann was also a champion of the sports information profession. He served as president of the Canadian SID association, moving the profession forward across the country and helping pave the way for standardization in many areas of CIS communications. His encyclopedic memory and his passion for sport and the student-athletes he promoted made him uniquely effective in his position.

For his entire career, Neumann was also an active participant and member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), winning several publication awards for his outstanding work. He remains the only Canadian to have ever served on CoSIDA’s Board of Directors (1990-92), and in 2004 he became the first Canadian SID to be inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame – the highest honour in the profession. That same year, he organized the CoSIDA convention in Calgary – the only time it has ever been held outside the United States.

Preferring to shine a spotlight on the athletes, he always shied away from personal accolades – but nonetheless, there were plenty of those. In 2012, Neumann was presented with CoSIDA’s Warren Berg Award, recognizing his longtime contributions to the profession, at the annual convention in St. Louis. The award joined a long list of other honours, which include the Order of the University of Calgary (2005), the Calgary Italian Sportsman’s Club lifetime achievement award (2005) and the Dinos Football Distinguished Alumni Award (2008) – the first time the award was presented to a non-player.

Neumann was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 as winner of the Achievement Award for his more than three decades of dedication and service to amateur sport in the province.

After moving on from his SID position in 2007, Neumann stayed involved in a fundraising capacity and helped raise more than $1 million towards athletic scholarships for Dinos student-athletes.

“To this day, the first question I get asked in communications circles is ‘Oh, you’re from Calgary – how is Jack Neumann?’ It’s a testament to the impact he had on his profession and the notoriety he was able to generate for our school during his extraordinary career,” says Ben Matchett, U of C Assistant Athletic Director, Operations and Communications. “Jack’s unceasing dedication to promoting student-athletes in CIS moved the sports information profession in this country forward dramatically, and we are thrilled that he has been honoured with the Austin-Matthews Award. He is one of a kind.”

Fred Sgambati Media Award

A sports reporter and television personality since 1993, Marc Durand is truly multi-talented. In addition to hosting TV shows and producing features, he emcees countless conferences, award galas and sporting events.

A native of the Quebec City suburb of Loretteville, Que., Durand began his professional career in 1993 with the TQS network and was the host and director of Hebdo Sports, a weekly show, from 1994 to 2002. Since then, he has served as a reporter for numerous TV shows on Radio-Canada, including Adrénaline, Le revers de la médaille, Au-dessus de la mêlée, Droit au but, Tellement Sport and Objectif Sotchi. From 2011 to 2014, he was the host of weekly university football telecasts on the national Radio-Canada network.

Durand has become known for his biographical features and profiles. Very innovative and creative, his attention to detail, along with a key cinematic eye and an unwavering passion have become his signature.

With his main objective being the promotion and recognition of student-athletes, he has produced a plethora of features on member universities in the Réseau du Sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ). In the past two seasons alone, he has highlighted features on basketball, cheerleading, football, hockey, rugby, track and field, soccer and volleyball.

Based in Quebec City, Durand has covered every major university sporting event in his hometown over the years as Laval University has played host to numerous CIS national championships, including in soccer and basketball in 2014-15. He has also emceed the annual Rouge et Or Awards Gala on at least 10 occasions.

Beyond varsity events, Durand’s passion for amateur sport has taken him to no less than six Olympic Games, including Athens (1996), Turin (2006), Beijing (2008), Vancouver (2010), London (2012) and Sochi (2014), as well as world championships in track and field (Paris & Helsinki), swimming (Barcelona & Montreal), speed skating (Vancouver), mountain biking (Mt. Ste. Anne, Que.), snowboarding (Whistler, B.C., & Stoneham, Que.), freestyle skiing (Salt Lake City) and alpine skiing (Austria).

Over his long career, he has merited a pair of Gémeaux Awards presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, and is a 10-time nominee, including four times in 2014. In 2012, he authored his first book, entitled La Coupe à Québec: Les Bulldogs et la naissance du hockey, which has received rave reviews.

“We are delighted to see Marc honoured. Professional and creative, he puts a personal touch to each of his features and, in the end, the student-athletes and their schools are always the main beneficiaries,” says Stéphane Jobin, sports information officer for the Rouge et Or program. “On behalf of my colleagues from the RSEQ, but also from across the country, I’d like to congratulate Marc for a brilliant career. We all look forward to working with him for many more years.”

All-Time CIS Annual Award Recipients

Austin-Matthews Award

• 2015 Jack Neumann (University of Calgary)
• 2014 Dale Schulha (University of Alberta)
• 2013 Bob Philip (University of British Columbia)
• 2012 Patricia Murray (York University)
• 2011 Major William John ‘Danny’ McLeod (Royal Military College)
• 2010 Francis Clayton (Lakehead University)
• 2009 Robert Dubeau (McGill University)
• 2008 Ross Wilson (University of Saskatchewan)
• 2007 Barb Mullaly (University of Prince Edward Island)
• 2006 Lyle Sanderson (University of Saskatchewan)
• 2005 Aubrey Ferris (University of Winnipeg)
• 2004 Not awarded
• 2003 Val Schneider (University of Saskatchewan)
• 2002 Joyce Fromson (University of Manitoba)
• 2001 Darwin Semotiuk (University of Western Ontario)
• 2000 Jean-François Grenier (University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières)
• 1999 Not awarded
• 1998 Don Wells (Acadia University)
• 1997 Rich Newbrough (Wilfrid Laurier University)
• 1996 Keith Harris (Carleton University)
• 1995 Ken & Donna Fultz (Atlantic Universities Athletic Association)
• 1994 Mary Lyons (York University)
• 1993 Robert Hindmarch (University of British Columbia)
• 1992 Not awarded
• 1991 Not awarded
• 1990 Not awarded
• 1989 Carl Totzke (Wilfrid Laurier University)
• 1988 Not awarded
• 1987 Robert Descheneaux (Laval University)
• 1986 Marilyn Pomfret (University of British Columbia)
• 1985 Ed Zemrau (University of Alberta)
• 1984 Vance Toner (Université de Moncton)
• 1983 Gladys Bean (McGill University)
• 1982 Elizabeth Chard (Saint Mary’s University)
• 1981 Robert Pugh (McGill University & CIAU)

Jean-Marie de Koninck Coaching Excellence Award

• 2015 Gardiner MacDougall (UNB - men’s hockey)
• 2014 Clare Drake (Alberta - men’s hockey & football)
• 2013 Sonny Wolfe (McGill & Acadia - football)
• 2012 Bob Bain (York & Alberta - men’s basketball)
• 2011 Kathy Shields (Victoria - women’s basketball) *
• 2011 Dick Mosher (UBC - men’s & women’s soccer) *
• 2010 Steve Konchalski (St. Francis Xavier - men’s basketball)
• 2009 Larry Haylor (Western Ontario - football)
• 2008 Lou Pero (Lakehead - men’s basketball)
• 2007 Linda Marquis (Laval - women’s basketball)

* co-recipients

Fred Sgambati Media Award

• 
2015 Marc Durand (Radio-Canada – Quebec City)
• 2014 Darren Zary (The StarPhoenix – Saskatoon)
• 2013 Richard Boutin (Journal de Québec)
• 2012 Mary Caton (The Windsor Star)
• 2011 Monty Mosher (The Chronicle Herald - Halifax)
• 2010 Tim Micallef (The Score Television Network)
• 2009 Howard Tsumura (The Province - Vancouver)
• 2008 Pierre Durivage (Productions Rivage - Montreal)
• 2007 Bill Sturrup (CHML Radio - Hamilton)
• 2006 Serge Vleminckx (Journal de Montréal)
• 2005 Ian Hamilton (Leader-Post - Regina)
• 2004 Jean-Paul Ricard (La Tribune - Sherbrooke)
• 2003 John Short (Edmonton Journal & CJCA Radio)
• 2002 Wayne Kondro (The Ottawa Citizen & Southam News)
• 2001 Phil Lachapelle & Ken Welch (CHTV - Hamilton)
• 2000 CHRW Radio (University of Western Ontario - London)
• 1999 Christine Rivet (Kitchener-Waterloo Record)
• 1998 Robert MacLeod (The Globe and Mail)
• 1997 Paul Hendrick (ONtv - Hamilton)
• 1996 Ken Newans (CFCN-TV - Calgary)
• 1995 Not awarded
• 1994 Bruce Perrin (TSN)
• 1993 Not awarded
• 1992 Serge Vleminckx (Journal de Montréal)
• 1991 Not awarded
• 1990 Ken Fathers (The Windsor Star)
• 1989 Ken Newans (CFCN-TV - Calgary)
• 1988 Norm Marshall (CHCH-TV – Hamilton)
• 1987 Peter Watts (TSN) *
• 1987 Don Lovegrove (The Hamilton Spectator) *
• 1986 Pete James (CFPL TV – London)
• 1985 Scott Mathews (Atlantic Television Network)
• 1984 John Hancock (CBC Radio - Montreal)
• 1983 Al Ryan (The Toronto Star)
• 1982 Scott Taylor (Winnipeg Free Press) *
• 1982 Normand Légère (L’Évangéline – Moncton) *
• 1981 Mike Murray (The Hockey News) *
• 1981 Henry Pasila (CHCH-TV – Hamilton) *
• 1980 Wally Sears (Sackville Tribune Post)
• 1979 Henry Viney (CFCN-TV – Calgary)
• 1978 Not awarded
• 1977 Randy Phillips (The Gazette - Montreal)
• 1976 Bill Johns (Kitchener-Waterloo Record)
• 1975 Jim Crerar (Victoria Daily Times)
• 1974 Hugh Townsend (The Chronicle Herald – Halifax)
• 1973 Jim Vipond (The Globe and Mail)
• 1972 Bob Gage (The London Free Press)

* co-recipients

L.B. "Mike" Pearson Award

• 2015 Not awarded
• 2014 Not awarded
• 2013 Not awarded
• 2012 The Honourable R. Roy McMurtry
• 2011 Not awarded
• 2010 Not awarded
• 2009 Not awarded
• 2008 Not awarded
• 2007 Not awarded
• 2006 Dr. Jean-Marie De Koninck
• 2005 Sylvia Fedoruk
• 2004 Not awarded
• 2003 Ed Zemrau
• 2002 Dr. Robert Brodrick
• 2001 Dick Pound
• 2000 Paul Giannelia
• 1999 Dr. Sean Riley
• 1998 Not awarded
• 1997 Carol Anne Letheren
• 1996 Doug Mitchell
• 1995 John Cleghorn
• 1994 Senator Trevor Eyton
• 1993 Not awarded
• 1992 Not awarded
• 1991 Not awarded
• 1990 Not awarded
• 1989 Not awarded
• 1988 Not awarded
• 1987 Not awarded
• 1986 Not awarded
• 1985 George Springate
• 1984 Dr. Hugh Noble
• 1983 Not awarded
• 1982 Not awarded
• 1981 Not awarded
• 1980 The Right Honourable Roland Michener
• 1979 Not awarded
• 1978 Not awarded
• 1977 Not awarded
• 1976 Not awarded
• 1975 Angus Duncan McLachlin
• 1974 Not awarded
• 1973 Not awarded
• 1972 The Right Honourable L.B. “Mike” Pearson