The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees are getting closer and closer to the end of the regular season with each game, making every matchup more vital. Following a 6-3 loss to the Université de Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR ) Patriotes, the Gee-Gees were looking to avenge that loss and earn a vital two points. The Gees came into the game with a 11-8-4 record good enough for sixth place in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA).
The first period did not start the way the Gees wanted, at 10:14 they were scored on off a tipped shot from the point that beat Anthony Brodeur. However, Brodeur would play a huge role in the game for the Garnet and Grey. He made a big save on a two on one with just over eight minutes remaining in the first period to hold the UQTR advantage to one goal. Less than a minute later, Brodeur’s heroics paid off as Connor Sills scored a goal on the doorstep after he received a great pass from John Deacon.
Minutes later, the Gees took their first lead of the game with 4:04 left to play in the first 20 when Gibson buried a quick shot on the power-play. Brodeur came up big again in the first saving a breakaway when there was a turnover at the UQTR blue line while the Gee-Gees had a man advantage.
UQTR came out with a lot of fire, but could not beat Brodeur in the first eight minutes of play in the second. The Gees looked to build on their lead with 8:43 remaining, but Quinn O’Brien put a puck high and wide after he received a perfect pass on a two on one.
The Gees were buzzing around the net, but could not convert as they missed another open cage with four minutes remaining. UQTR tied the game up with a shot from the slot with 1:51 left to play in the middle frame. The only goal of the middle period tied the game up going into the last 20 of the game.
Médric Mercier broke the deadlock five minutes into the third on an absolute cannon of a one-timer from the high-slot Brendan Jacome was the distributor and did a great job at finding the hard-shooting defender. Less than three minutes later, the O’Brien finished from in close after a great forecheck, defender Michael Poirier did well to keep the puck in the zone.
Mercier with his second of the night basically put the game out of reach with less than nine minutes to play. He received a great pass from Adam Beveridge and put the puck just under the crossbar on a one-timer to bring the Gee-Gees fans to their feet. The score would remain the same at the final buzzer, the Gee-Gees got their revenge against a highly skilled UQTR team.
Defenseman Mike Poirier talked about the Gee-Gees tough schedule following their big win at home “Those are good programs that we play against, and it’s just on us that we got to make sure that we come out with a good game plan to counter those fast-efficient teams”.
The Gee-Gees were very fortunate to receive a donation from a former Gee-Gee Kevin Reid who donated $55,000 dollars on giving Tuesday. Assistant Video Coach Remi Robichaud who has been known to perform many tasks for the Gees talked about the program going forward “We have good alumni support, we’ve seen that on giving Tuesday, a really generous donation.”, said Robichaud. “It’s also really good for student-athletes to be able to live in the Nation’s Capital.”
The next home game for the Gee-Gees will take place on Sunday Feb. 4 at the Minto Sports Complex, puck drop is slated for 2 p.m.
