“Being able to get exposure at the professional level and being able to compete with big names and pro players is such an exciting experience and I can’t wait to see how I’ll do,” said Guillaume Pépin after being drafted into the CEBL by the Ottawa BlackJacks.
“I threw my cleats in my backpack, clueless to the reality that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to compete against another team for over a year- and counting.”
Do you ever find yourself replaying your favourite memories in your head? Well, so do many of U of O’s student-athletes.
Dylan St. Pierre, who just closed out his final season as a Gee-Gee, is looking forward to participating in the CFL combine despite the change to a virtual format.
The University of Ottawa Rocket League team took down the Sault Cougars in a 4-2 series win to earn themselves the OPSE championship after a strong 10-2 regular season record.
There are plenty of faces that make up the University of Ottawa track and field and cross country teams. Nathan Meraw and Nathan Hay are two accomplished athletes who represent the Gee-Gees.
If you enjoy comparing music, here are some of the University of Ottawa’s athletes album picks.
Made up of various athletes on campus, the Black Student-Athletes Advocacy Council began as an initiative by players on the women’s rugby team to create a safe and inclusive environment, before spreading to other teams on campus.
In November, Yvan Mongo was named the captain of the Gee-Gees men’s hockey team. Since then, Mongo has become the face of many initiatives on campus, and has continued to make an impact throughout the university.
There are plenty of recruits throughout the university’s various teams that are sure to make an impact on the athletics program.
“Time flies when you’re having fun, and streaming on Twitch is probably the most fun thing I can think of,” says the Fulcrum’s sports editor, Jasmine McKnight.
For Black History Month, the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees football program has taken a creative approach to honour it’s Black community. For every day of February, the program is highlighting an athlete, coach, or support staff from the program who has been successful on the field, in the classroom, or in the workforce.
University of Ottawa Hall of Famer Fabienne Perrin-Blizzard has entered the Canada Elite Basketball League (CEBL) as the assistant coach for the Ottawa BlackJacks. Perrin-Blizzard is currently the only woman to coach professional sports in Ottawa.
Growing up, every athlete has someone they look up to — a professional player, a coach, maybe even an older brother or sister. Here are athletes some of the Gee-Gees have idolized.
How did you spend your Super Sunday? This is how the Fulcrum’s sports editor spent hers.
“The entire basketball community finds a way to get to that game and that’s what makes it just so awesome,” added Derouin. [On] a special night, we were able to get a win.”
This year, U Sports announced the campaign would be taking place online from Feb. 1 to 7. But even with the shift, various teams throughout Canada have stepped up to make the weeklong digital event the best it can be.
In this new role, Derouin will “provide leadership not only to the BlackJacks coaching staff, but also to the front office” by using his knowledge in basketball analytics.
With the anniversary mark quickly approaching, the Fulcrum sat down with Varsity Athletics director, Sue Hylland, to discuss how the department is using their down-time as the 2021 winter semester kicks off.
Despite being the most well established collegiate riding program in Canada, and the success the team has seen in both Canadian and American competition, the University of Ottawa equestrian team still faces misconceptions about their sport.
“The biggest thing I would get from Steph, I wouldn’t even say growth as a player — I’d say it’s growth as a person. She’s really helped me mold into a man rather than a boy,” said men’s rugby player James Flemming.
There have been plenty of obstacles throughout 2020. Through all of it, what has the University of Ottawa’s Varsity Athletics been up to?
Heading into his third year with the team, Pépin’s experience has been a bit different as the team will not have the opportunity to wear their garnet and grey on the court for the 2020-2021 season.
“This is a great way for people to deal with the mental aspect … we think of a lot of young people aren’t having as much socialization as they once had because there’s no school, there’s no university,” said Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng.
Former University of Ottawa student Rachel McBride has been a professional triathlete for 10 years and has already established themselves as a force in the sports world.
