PREVIEW: Crunch time for men’s hockey in key matchups with UQTR, Queen’s

January 27, 2023

• The Matchup: Ottawa Gee-Gees (11-9-2, 6^th in OUA East) at #3 UQTR Patriotes (18-4-0, 1^st in OUA East)
• Location: Le Colisée Jean-Guy Talbot (Trois-Rivières, Que.)
• Puck drop: 7:00 p.m.
• Last meeting: Ottawa 1, UQTR 3 – Jan. 14, 2023, at the Minto Sports Complex
• Broadcast: OUA.tv

OTTAWA GAME NOTES

• Major stat leaders
  • Goals: Mathieu Desgagnés – 13
  • Assists: Anthony Poulin – 16
  • Points: Mathieu Desgagnés – 24
  • Wins: Jean-Philippe Tourigny – 6

• The Gee-Gees offence exploded last week, putting up six goals on the Nipissing Lakers and seven on the Carleton Ravens in a thrilling Colonel By Classic. Liam Markhauser recorded six points (one goal, five assists) across the two games, more than doubling his point total on the season.
• Playoff positioning is on the line for the Gee-Gees this weekend. The top six teams in the division qualify for the postseason, and the top four in the OUA East appear to be solidified (UQTR, Concordia, McGill, Ontario Tech). That might leave Carleton (25 points in 22 games), Ottawa (24 in 22) and Queen's (22 in 22) battling for the final two spots.
• The Gee-Gees could still realistically finish as high as second in the division, and it's too early to dissect various playoff scenarios.
• That said, the final two weeks won't be a cake walk for any of the teams vying for playoff spots. Ottawa's remaining opponents have a combined record of 54-27-5, Queen's opponents are 45-36-6 and Carleton' are 46-32-8.

UQTR GAME NOTES 

• Major stat leaders
  • Goals: Félix Lafrance – 13
  • Assists: Julien Tessier – 18
  • Points: Simon Lafrance – 28
  • Wins: Alexis Gravel – 13

• UQTR dropped their first game of the 2023 calendar year on Saturday, losing to McGill 4-2. They are nevertheless 9-1 in their last ten games.
• Simon Lafrance continues to lead the team in points despite missing the last two weeks while with the Canadian men's FISU team.
• Friday's game will take place at the Colisée Jean-Guy Talbot, and the arena's namesake has an Ottawa connection. Talbot coached the ill-fated Ottawa Civics of the WHA during the 1975-76 season. In typical WHA fashion, club started the campaign Denver, moved to Ottawa on Jan. 4, played two home games, and folded.

January 29, 2023

• The Matchup: Ottawa Gee-Gees (11-9-2, 6^th in OUA East) versus Queen's Gaels (10-10-2, 7^th in OUA East)
• Location: Minto Sports Complex
• Puck drop: 3:00 p.m.
• Tickets: tickets.geegees.ca
• Last meeting: Ottawa 2, Queen's 5 – Nov. 25, 2022, at Kingston Memorial Centre
• Broadcast: OUA.tv

QUEEN'S GAME NOTES

• Major stat leaders
  • Goals: Nolan Hutcheson – 9
  • Assists: Hayden Fowler – 14
  • Points: Hayden Fowler – 20
  • Wins: Luke Richardson – 9

• The Gaels were the hottest team in the conference to start the year, riding a five-game winning streak.
• Queen's have struggled offensively this year. Their 60 goals scored are third fewest in the OUA.
• Sunday's game will be the Gee-Gees final home regular season game of 2022-23, and the team will be honouring their seniors before puck drop. 

Tickets for Sunday's home game are on sale at tickets.geegees.ca. Both games will be streamed on OUA.tv.