Plante: I’m still a Gee-Gee
The fifth-year Gee-Gees forward pens a message reflecting on his first and final season at the University of Ottawa.
Someone once told me: If something scares you and makes you uncomfortable you should probably do it. As I look back on my U SPORTS career coming to an end, this advice is the one that sticks out for me.
When I committed to uOttawa I did not know what to expect. I had one year left to play and I was going to join a rebuilding program with 20 guys I did not know, and a city I knew close to nothing about. To top it all I was going to do graduate studies while playing hockey.
When August finally arrived, I packed my hockey gear, grabbed my school books, took a deep breath and told myself: Let's do it. One last time. Little did I know it was going to be the time of my life.
The group we had this year was special. Teams like that don't come around too often. They made my last year one to remember. I enjoyed every single moment and the memories I'm bringing home will last forever.
For this, I will be forever grateful to have had such extraordinary teammates that were willing to fight until the end. I have no doubt that everyone on this team will achieve success in their life. Special groups like this require special people.
Pat had a vision of bringing this program to the top by recruiting good players but also good individuals. He is on the way to achieving this vision. Thank you for letting me be part of that.
The end of our season marks the end of a chapter, but the story is far from over. This program is in good hands, Pat is a great coach and an even better person.
In less than eight months, a city became home, and strangers became family.
I might not be able to wear the jersey anymore but I'm still a Gee-Gee and no one can take that away from me. I have never been so proud to say it: I'm a Gee-Gee.
The decision to come to Ottawa was the best I could ever made. If something scares you and makes you uncomfortable, you should probably do it because truly amazing things can come out of it.
Now, one last time: Can I get a two-clap and some Ric Flair?
Jean-François Plante is a Master of Science in Human Kinetics student and a graduating athlete on the University of Ottawa men's hockey team