RECAP: #8 Gee-Gees dethrone two-time defending champions in OT shocker

The #8 host University of Ottawa Gee-Gees hit the ice to take on the two-time defending champions, the #1 UNB Reds in the second quarterfinal of the 2025 U SPORTS BioSteel University Cup.

The David and Goliath matchup ended in favour of the hosts. Putting the end to the Reds' dream of a three-peat, the Gee-Gees took a 3-2 win in front of a rowdy TD Place crowd.  

Despite a late 9pm puck drop, both the Gee-Gees and the Reds were physical from start to finish.

The AUS champions outshot the Gee-Gees 43-22, but Ottawa's physicality and effort didn't go unrewarded.

"We knew we would have to survive," Ottawa head coach, Patrick Grandmaitre said. "They're so good with the amount of pressure they put and how hard they work, they're the best for a reason."

Marc-Antoine Seguin logged the first Ottawa goal, tying things up at 1-1 nearing the end of the second period. In the third, a penalty opened the door for the Reds to claim a 2-1 lead.

With only two minutes left in the third, the magic started. Peter Stratis hit the mesh at 18:32 to force overtime.

A perfect centering pass from Mitch Martin to the tape of Seguin at 16:04 made TD Place erupt. The Gee-Gees took down the juggernauts 3-2 in overtime.

"It's really special," Seguin said. "I'm mostly just happy for the team, we put in so much effort. We had our ups and downs, but we managed to make it as a group. I'm not thinking about myself, I'm thinking about the team first."

Gee-Gees' goaltender, Franky Lapenna, stopped 41 of 43 shots against him to earn Player of the Game honours.

"No one believed in us but us," Lapenna said. "It's pretty special to prove everyone wrong and win against a dynasty."

The Gee-Gees advance to the semifinal matchup on Saturday at 1pm where they will meet the TMU Bold to battle for a place in the U CUP championship game.  

Scoring Summary

First period:

UNB: Benjamin Corbeil (Peter Reynolds, Emmett Sproule)- 13:06

Second period:

OTT: Marc-Antoine Seguin (Anthony Poulin)- 15:39

Third period:

UNB: Cody Morgan (Cole MacKay)- PP 8:08

OTT: Peter Stratis (Vincent Labelle)- 18:32

OT:

OTT: Marc-Antoine Seguin (Mitch Martin, Anthony Poulin)- 16:04