Ottawa Gee-Gees men's ice hockey

Last updated
Ottawa Gee-Gees men's ice hockey
University University of Ottawa
Conference OUA
OUA East Division
Head coach Patrick Grandmaître
Since 2016–17 season
Assistant coachesJustin Stevens
Alexandre Ferraton
Ryan Hand
Arena Minto Sports Complex
Ottawa, Ontario
ColorsGarnet and Gray
   
U Sports Tournament championships
2025
U Sports Tournament appearances
1985, 2004, 2020, 2025
Conference Tournament championships
1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1993, 2019

The Ottawa Gee-Gees men's ice hockey team is an ice hockey team representing the Ottawa Gee-Gees athletics program of the University of Ottawa. The team is a member of the Ontario University Athletics conference and compete in U Sports. The Gee-Gees play their home games at the Minto Sports Complex in Ottawa, Ontario. [1]

Contents

History

The first hockey game with students representing the University, then called Ottawa College, against an external opponent was in February of 1890, with the students taking on the 2nd Ottawas on February 13 at the Rideau Rink. [2] The 1889-90 team played a total of eight games, recording three wins, three losses, and two draws. [3] In 1890-91 the team entered a City league which they continued to play in throughout the 1890's.

Exactly when the school first supported an intercollegiate ice hockey team on a regular basis is unclear. Students from Ottawa had been organizing teams since the beginning of the 20th century, however, it's not until 1910 that records indicate a varsity team. Even then, records are spotty, with Ottawa fading in and out of the historical record prior to World War I. What is known is that Ottawa was ranked as the top Canadian college team in 1914 and met Hobey Baker-led Princeton for the first international intercollegiate championship. Ottawa captured the title in overtime 3–2. [4]

References to Ottawa's hockey team don't reappear until the late 20s when they joined the local city junior league. The Gee-Gees remained members of that organization until the mid-50s. During that stretch, Ottawa also played in the city's senor league for about a decade, but its unclear if they did so with the same team or a separate squad.

Ottawa didn't officially return to varsity collegiate play until 1961 when they joined the Ottawa-St. Lawrence Conference (sometimes called Ottawa-St. Lawrence Athletic Association). After seven years in the league, Ottawa joined the Quebec-Ontario Athletic Association and then remained with the Ontario contingent when the three regional conferences were rearranged along provincial lines. In 1979, Ottawa moved to the Quebec Universities Athletic Association, as they were closer geographically to the Quebec colleges than they were several of the Ontario schools. While the change provided Ottawa with the opportunity tot win their first championship in 1985 as well as their first appearance in the national tournament, the league collapsed in 1987 after several schools suspended operation. The remainder of the league was absorbed by the Ontario University Athletic Association, where Ottawa has remained since.

Scandal

In February 2014, the Gee-Gees were in Thunder Bay to take on Lakehead. A woman (referred to as M. S.) met Taylor Collins, one of the Ottawa players, at a bar for a romantic encounter. According to her subsequent statement to the police, after the two met at a bar, Taylor disappeared and she was accosted by two of his teammates, David Foucher and Guillaume Donovan. [5] M. S. alleged that she was sexually assaulted by the two players and the charge brought about a swift reaction. The University of Ottawa suspended its men's team in March and head coach Réal Paiement was fired. Foucher and Donovan were formally charged with sexual assault in August and the university twice extended the program's suspension, cancelling the next two seasons in their entirety.

The trial began more than four years after the reported incident and lasted for approximately two weeks. Justice Chantal M. Brochu heard testimony from seven people including the alleged victim, M. S., as well as Foucher, Donovan and Paiement. During the trial, M. S. was reported to have lied on the witness stand which contributed to Justice Brochu setting her testimony aside. Ultimately, Foucher and Donovan were acquitted of the charges on June 25 and the Crown decided not to appeal the decision.

The 22 players who were not charged with sexual assault filed a class-action lawsuit against both the university and its president, Allan Rock, for defamation in January 2015. The initial filling claimed that the plaintiffs were more concerned with the image and reputation of the university than the damage that would be caused by cancelling a season and alleging implicitly that the players who were not charged had been involved in criminal activity. [6] While the initial demand was for $6 million, the two sides eventually settled for $350,000 in compensation. [7]

Aftermath

The school decided to restart the team in 2016 and hired Patrick Grandmaître to rebuild the program. Ottawa would remain dogged by the scandal for several years with opposing players and fans chanting slogans like "No means no" even when they weren't on the ice. [8] The team was able to play through the difficult times and swiftly returned to prominence. Ottawa managed to earn an appearance in the 2020 national tournament for just the third time in program history, however, their first match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [9]

Season-by-season results

Senior and collegiate play

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points

Extra-League Champion U Sports SemifinalistConference regular season championsConference Division ChampionsConference Playoff Champions
SeasonConferenceRegular SeasonConference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results
ConferenceOverall
GPWLTPts*FinishGPWLT%
Senior and Collegiate Hockey
1910–11CIAU20200??????
1911–12CIAU21102T–2nd?????Lost Championship series, 5–25 (McGill)
1912–13Independent???????????
1913–14Independent???????????
1914–15Independent???????????
Program suspended
1928–29OCJL8530103rd?????
Program suspended
1934–35OCJL12660123rd?????Lost Semifinal series, 5–16 (Ottawa Rideaus)
1935–36OCJL111100221st?????Won Semifinal series, 6–4 (Ottawa Rideaus)
Won Championship series, 2–0 (Ottawa Primrose)
Won Ottawa City Championship series, 16–1 (Ottawa Lindenlea)
Lost Ontario Regional Final series, 6–7 (Pembroke Lumber Kings)
1936–37OCJL151221251st?????Lost Semifinal series, 6–7 (Ottawa Senators)
1937–38OCJL15852183rd?????Won Semifinal series, 3–1 (Hull Volants)
Lost Championship series 0–2 (Ottawa Primrose)
OSIL1026266th
1938–39OSIL816135th?????
1939–40OSIL1054111T–3rd?????Lost Semifinal series, 0–6 (Ottawa Technical High School)
1940–41OCJL1264214T–2nd?????Lost Semifinal series, 7–12 (Ottawa Canadiens)
OSIL1119136th
1941–42OCJL633062nd?????Won Semifinal series, 13–11 (Hull Volants)
Won Championship series, 2–1 (Ottawa Senators)
Lost Regional Semifinal series, 0–2 (Ottawa St. Patricks)
1942–43OCJL532063rd?????Lost Championship series, 1–2 (Ottawa New Edinburghs)
OSIL505006th
1943–44OSIL111100221st?????Won Championship series, 2–0 (Ottawa St. Patricks)Won Regional Final series, 2–0 (Inkerman Rockets)
Lost Memorial Cup Eastern semifinal, 0–2 (Oshawa Generals)
1944–45OSIL12822182nd?????Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Ottawa Technical High School)
Lost Championship series, 1–2 (Ottawa St. Patricks)
1945–46OSIL651010T–1st?????Lost Semifinal series, 9–15 (Ottawa Technical High School)
1946–47OSIL121020201st?????Lost Semifinal series, 1–2–1 (Ottawa St. Patricks)
1947–48OSIL171511311st?????Won Semifinal series, 2–0 (Ottawa Commerce)
Won Championship series, 3–0 (Ottawa Technical High School)
Lost District Final series, 0–2 (Ottawa Senators)
1948–49OCJL181332282nd?????Won Quarterfinal series, 3–2 (Ottawa Montagnards)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–3 (Ottawa St. Patricks)
1949–50OCJL18312397th?????
1950–51OCJL186120125th?????Won Quarterfinal series, 3–2 (Ottawa St. Patricks)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–3 (Ottawa Montagnards)
1951–52OCJL15780144th?????Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–3 (Ottawa St. Patricks)
1952–53OCJL204115134th?????Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–3 (Ottawa St. Patricks)
1953–54OCJL20019116th?????
1954–55OCJL201262261st?????Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–3 (Ottawa St. Jeans)
1955–56OCJL12210044th?????Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–3 (Ottawa Shamrocks)
1956–57OCJL15211263rd?????Lost Quarterfinal series, 0–3 (Ottawa Shamrocks)
TotalsGPWLT %Championships
Regular Season ? ? ? ? ?2 OCJL Championships, 4 OSIL Championships
Conference Post-season ? ? ? ? ?2 OCJL Championships, 2 OSIL Championships
Regular Season and Postseason Record ? ? ? ? ?1 Quebec Senior League Championship, 2 Quebec Senior Championships

Note: the OCJL is the Ottawa City Junior League and the OSIL is the Ottawa Senior Interscholastic League.

Collegiate only

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points

U Sports Champion U Sports SemifinalistConference regular season championsConference Division ChampionsConference Playoff Champions
SeasonConferenceRegular SeasonConference Tournament ResultsNational Tournament Results
ConferenceOverall
GPWLTOTLSOLPts*FinishGPWLT%
1960–61OSLC?????1st?????
1961–62OSLC10910181st11920.818Lost Championship, 2–4 (Sir George Williams)
1962–63OSLC141220241st161330.813Won Semifinal, 5–3 (Sir George Williams)
Lost Championship, 5–6 (Sherbrooke)
1963–64OSLC14104020T–1st151050.667Lost Semifinal, 3–4 (Sir George Williams)
1964–65OSLC141211251st161321.844Lost Semifinal, 6–7 (Loyola)
Won Consolation Game, 7–3 (Carleton)
1965–66OSLC161141233rd171151.676Lost Semifinal, 6–7 (Loyola)
1966–67QOAA183141710th183141.194
1967–68QOAA1641119T–7th164111.281
1968–69 QOAA 151140212th151140.067
1969–70QOAA151041213rd161051.656Lost Semifinal, 3–7 (Waterloo)
1970–71QOAA152130412th152130.133
1971–72OUAA18117022T–4th181170.611Lost Quarterfinal, 1–10 (Toronto)
1972–73OUAA17773179th17773.500
1973–74OUAA19892189th19892.474
1974–75OUAA14851178th15861.567Lost Quarterfinal, 2–9 (York)
1975–76OUAA161123514th161123.156
1976–77OUAA1881001610th188100.444
1977–78OUAA203161714th203161.175
1978–79OUAA165921210th16592.375
1979–80 QUAA 221471293rd241491.604Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Concordia)
1980–81QUAA241572322nd2917102.621Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Laval)
Lost Championship series, 0–2 (Concordia)
1981–82QUAA241392283rd2613112.538Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1982–83QUAA301018222T–5th3010182.367
1983–84QUAA24910523T–2nd3112145.468Won Semifinal series, 3–1 (McGill)
Lost Championship series, 0–3 (Concordia)
1984–85QUAA201082222nd3117122.581Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Won Championship series, 3–1 (Quebec–Chicoutimi)
Won Eastern Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Prince Edward Island)
Lost Semifinal series, 8–11 (York)
1985–86QUAA201190222nd2714130.519Won Semifinal series, 2–1 (McGill)
Lost Championship series, 1–3 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1986–87QUAA181341.7502nd211461.690Lost Semifinal series, 1–2 (McGill)
1987–88OUAA25121212510th2712141.463Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1988–89OUAA2681801614th268180.308
1989–90OUAA22138127T–4th2514101.580Lost Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (York)
1990–91OUAA2281221812th238132.391Lost First Round, 3–4 (Toronto)
1991–92OUAA2210102229th2210102.500
1992–93OUAA221750341st261970.731Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (McGill)
Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Toronto)
1993–94OUAA241653353rd261673.673Won Division Semifinal, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1994–95OUAA241210226T–8th2412102.542
1995–96OUAA261410230T–7th3016122.567Won Division Semifinal, 5–3 (McGill)
Lost Division Final series, 1–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
1996–97OUAA26131212710th2713131.500Lost Division Semifinal, 2–7 (McGill)
1997–98OUA2613121279th2613121.519
1998–99OUA261790344th2817110.607Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Concordia)
1999–00OUA26814420T–12th268144.385
2000–01OUA24616214T–12th246162.292
2001–02OUA24158131T–3rd2615101.596Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2002–03OUA241392287th2815112.571Won Division Semifinal series, 2–0 (Concordia)
Lost Division Final series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2003–04OUA241733138T–2nd312083.694Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Won Division Final, 4–2 (Toronto)
Lost Queen's Cup Final, 2–3 (York)
Lost Pool A Round-Robin, 3–7 (Alberta), 2–5 (New Brunswick)
2004–05OUA241382129T–8th2915122.552Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Concordia)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (McGill)
2005–06OUA241382129T–5th3016122.567Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Concordia)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (McGill)
2006–07OUA281112322710th3314163.470Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Queen's)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2007–08OUA28141202309th3317142.545Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Toronto)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
2008–09OUA281211322912th3113162.452Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 1–2 (McGill)
2009–10OUA28620201419th286220.214
2010–11OUA281114122516th3011172.400Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (McGill)
2011–12OUA281413012911th3216151.516Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Nipissing)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (McGill)
2012–13OUA281682236T–6th3419132.588Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Toronto)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Carleton)
2013–14OUA28171001357th3017121.583Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Queen's)
Program suspended
2016–17OUA281584135T–6th3015141.517Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Queen's)
2017–18OUA2816831366th382981.776Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Carleton)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (McGill)
2018–19OUA2822213461st332553.803Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Laurentian)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 1–2 (Queen's)
2019–20OUA2817722386th3723122.649Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Ontario Tech)
Won Division Semifinal series, 2–1 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
Won Division Final series, 2–0 (Concordia)
Lost Queen's Cup Final, 1–2 (3OT) (Guelph)
Tournament cancelled
2020–21Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22OUA189810.5289th199100.474Lost Division Quarterfinal, 0–4 (Nipissing)
2022–23OUA261311202811th2813150.464Lost Division Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (McGill)
2023–24OUA282062042T–3rd3222100.688Won Division Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Ontario Tech)
Lost Division Semifinal series, 0–2 (Quebec–Trois-Rivières)
TotalsGPWLT/SOL %Championships
Regular Season133667158283.5334 Far East Division Titles, 2 East Division Titles, 5 OSLC Championships, 1 OUAA Championship, 1 OUA Championships
Conference Post-season14367760.4691 QUAA Championship
U Sports Postseason6240.3333 National tournament appearances
Regular Season and Postseason Record148574066283.526

Note: Totals include results from 1961–62 onward.

See also

Ottawa Gee-Gees women's ice hockey

References

  1. "Minto Sports Complex". University of Ottawa. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  2. "The Evening Journal". February 14, 1890.
  3. "The owl : Vol. 3, no. 10/11 (June/July 1890) - Canadiana". Canadiana.
  4. "Volume 38, Number 1". The Princeton Daily. March 2, 1914. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  5. "The remarkably unremarkable 'Gee-Gees case' and what it means". Ottawa Citizen. August 9, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  6. "University of Ottawa men's hockey players to file class-action lawsuit". CBC. January 13, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  7. "U of O settles men's hockey lawsuit for nearly $350K". CBC. March 31, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  8. "How University of Ottawa's rebuilt men's hockey team became U Sports contender". Sports Net. March 6, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  9. Hockey Canada statement in response to coronavirus https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2020-news-hockey-canada-ends-season