The University of Ottawa football program and the Gee-Gees Football Hall of Fame committee are pleased to announce the 2015 class of inductees. Joining the hall of fame will be Denis Piché and the 1975 Vanier Cup winning team. The induction ceremony will take place during the annual Touchdown Dinner on May 2, 2015.
Born and raised in Montreal Nord, Denis Piché was a starting receiver for the Gee-Gees from 1987 to 1990. Denis started coaching the Gee-Gees in 1994, contributing to three OQIFC championships and two Vanier Cup appearances including with the championship-winning team of 2000. Hired as head coach in 2002, he led the team to a 44-20 record, reaching the playoffs every year. Highlights during his coaching career were Yates Cup appearances in 2006 and 2007 including a 2006 Yates Cup win. He also received a Frank Tindall Trophy in 2006 as the CIS Coach of the Year, a Mitchell Bowl appearance in 2006 and an undefeated regular season in 2007. In all, Piché coached four provincial championship teams and had one Vanier Cup win in two appearances (1997 and 2000) over a 16-year coaching career with the Gee-Gees. Denis resigned from full-time coaching in 2009 and is co-founder of Fitness Equipment of Ottawa. Denis will be inducted into the Gee-Gees Football Hall of Fame under the builder category.
Led by Head Coach Don Gilbert, a former CFL great, the 1975 Gee-Gees amassed a perfect 11-0 record. The crowning achievement came on November 21, 1975 when they became the first undefeated team in Vanier Cup history. Today, 40 years later, the '75 team still holds several Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) and OUAA team and individual records. Players from the 1975 team were selected to the CIS All-Canadian team 13 times, and as OUAA All-Stars 42 times during their college careers. In all, 21 players from the 1975 Vanier Cup Championship team would go on to be selected in the Canadian Football League (CFL) draft, a CIS record. The 1975 Vanier Cup win remains the first of two in the history of the program, with the second national championship won in 2000. Fourteen members of the 1975 team (11 players, 3 coaches) have been inducted into the Gee-Gees Football Hall of Fame as individuals in the player, coach and builder categories, but this is the first time that they are inducted as a team.
The Touchdown Dinner is an annual fundraising reception benefitting the Gee-Gees football program. The 2015 event is taking place on Saturday May 2, 2015 in the historic Ballroom of the Ch®teau Laurier. Tickets are $150 each or $1,200 for a table of eight. Tickets will be on sale starting mid-March and can be purchased through the Gee-Gees website.
For more information on the 1975 Gee-Gees, please visit www.75geegees.com. Please note that this is an external website.
