RECAP: #8 Men’s hockey beat Lakehead in OT, cap off weekend with win in Toronto

The Gee-Gees men's hockey team bolstered their claim to first place in the OUA East with back-to-back wins in another thrilling weekend.

Friday night's matchup a physical one as Ottawa hosted Lakehead for the first time since 2017. The game saw 20 minor penalties be assigned in the second half of the contest.

Quarrels aside, the Gee-Gees edged out the nailbiter with a 4-3 overtime victory courtesy of a nice backhand finish by Luka Verreault.

The rookie forward credited the performance to great coaching.

"Coach Grandmaître was able to calm us down after a tumultuous second period," Verreault said. "He urged us to keep the play simple and that's what led to better execution in the third and overtime periods."

The squad followed up with another win the following day, heading to Varsity Arena for a battle with the Varsity Blues.

Gee-Gees' goaltender, Franky Lapenna, was outstanding in the 4-1 effort, stopping 33 of 34 shots against him.

Max Grondin logged an impressive weekend for Ottawa, scoring two goals each night.

Ottawa head coach, Patrick Grandmaître, noted the team's effort.

"No matter the quality of our execution, our depth and effort give us an edge in every matchup. This group has an extreme amount of confidence and maintains its swagger and effectiveness even in high-pressure situations," Grandmaître said. "The heart of this team is what makes it so strong and difficult to play against."

The Gee-Gees have won 11 of their last 13 games and sit tied for first place in the OUA East with the McGill Redbirds. The team has three regular season games remaining, all of which are on enemy soil. Their final game will be in Ottawa though, as they take on Carleton in the Colonel By Classic at TD Place on Feb. 8.