RECAP: Gee-Gees clinch best record in OUA following victory over Ridgebacks

With a win over the UOIT Ridgebacks on Saturday night, the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men's hockey team solidified their playoff position — clinching the best record in the entire OUA for the 2018-19 season.

With a record of 20-2-4, and two games still to go on the season, the Gee-Gees will open the Queen's Cup playoffs against the eighth seed in the OUA East. They'll also hold home ice advantage through the entirety of the playoffs.

To clinch the top spot, the offence came fast and furious in a 6-2 win over the Ridgebacks. Defenceman Matt Dunlop led the way with a goal and two assists, while rookie Yvan Mongo notched a trio of assists in the contest.

"Dunny is a very versatile defenceman, we use him in all situations — you name it and he'll do the job," said head coach Patrick Grandmaître. "It's fun for those guys like Dunlop and Mongo to get a couple points, because they're such good players and it's fun to see them get rewarded."

It took just eight minutes for the first goal to find the back of the net. Dunlop took a pass from Mongo and hammered it from the point to open the scoring. Jean-François Plante followed that up with a power play goal 14 seconds into their first man advantage of the night.

Brendan Jacome's 11th goal of the season gave the Gee-Gees a commanding 3-0 lead before the first period even wrapped.

Despite this, Ottawa appeared to take their foot off the gas — giving UOIT a chance to claw back in. Two goals by the Ridgebacks in the second period, including a shorthanded marker, derailed the Gee-Gees' momentum.

"UOIT is a very fundamentally strong team, they have good coaching, work hard and generate a lot with their structure and work ethic," Grandmaître said. "This is the type of team where, if you take a couple shifts off, they'll work and generate offence. It's exactly what they did."

"We were able to stay poised and punch it in on special teams, which was key tonight."

Ottawa picked up the pace in the third period, again making quick work of a power play. Médric Mercier needed just seven seconds to take a pass following a face-off win and send a point shot into the back of the net.

Antoine Pouliot and Quinn O'Brien added insurance markers later in the frame to shut down any hopes of a Ridgebacks comeback.

While Ottawa cannot move in the standings with the results of the final two games — they will serve as a preview of what's to come in the playoffs. The Laurentian Voyageurs and Nipissing Lakers will visit the Minto Sports Complex to wrap the regular season, with both battling for the eighth and final playoff spot.
Earlier this season, the Gee-Gees defeated the Lakers 4-3 in North Bay, then beat the Voyageurs 6-5 in Sudbury. Grab tickets ahead of the game at tickets.geegees.ca 

— Cameron Penney