Reds Name First 2021-22 Recruit

EDITORS NOTE: After signing her Letter of Offer in June, the Reds would like to add that Lauren has also signed her U SPORTS Letter of Intent.

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB Reds women’s hockey team is getting a jump on their recruiting for the 2021-22 season.

Forward Lauren Carter, of Milton, Ontario, has signed a Letter of Offer and has committed to joining the Reds ahead of the 2021-22 Atlantic University Sport season.

“I’m thrilled to know I’ll be a Red and continue my career at the University of New Brunswick,” said the 17-year-old Carter. “I can’t wait for what the future holds.”

Entering her Grade 12 year at Milton’s Craig Kielburger Secondary School, Carter was a standout first-year player with the Oakville Jr. Hornets, of Ontario’s Provincial Women’s Hockey League, in 2019-20.

She scored seven goals and nine assists in 38 games with the Hornets, helping Oakville reach the quarter-finals before the PWHL ended play due to the current pandemic.

“We’re thrilled that Lauren has verbally committed to be a Red after her Grade 12 year,” said Reds head coach Sarah Hilworth. “Lauren is an elite hockey player with a ton of valuable experience. We know it’ll compliment our program. She comes from an excellent junior team and has a great hockey family to support her. Lauren is a tenacious and aggressive player who is not afraid of the physical side of the game and loves creating offence. We expect her to come in and be a factor for us from day one.”

In 2018-19, Carter was a member of the Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres team, along with 2020-21 Reds recruit Marisa Valla, that won the bronze medal at the Esso Cup, the national U18 women’s hockey championship.

In 2016 and 2017, Carter was chosen to represent Canada at World Selects Invitational tournaments. In 2016, in an event played in Sweden and Finland, she helped the Canadian U13 entry to a silver medal. In 2017, in Italy, she was part of Canada’s U15 bronze medal winning team.

“I chose UNB because of the countless opportunities available to me as a student and an athlete,” said Carter. “I felt at home there, on my visit, and feel it’s a great place for my post-secondary education and to continue my hockey career.”

Carter will pursue a degree in Recreation and Sport Studies while attending UNB.