RECRUIT PROFILES: Men’s hockey adds six players for 2020-21 season

The 2020-21 edition of the Gee-Gees men's hockey team is set to undergo the most significant turnover so far under the leadership of head coach Patrick Grandmaître.

With 17 players on the roster currently in their fourth season, the graduates of Grandmaître's first recruit class in 2016 will leave several holes throughout the line-up.

In the midst of coaching the team to a 12-4-1 record through the first half of 2019-20, Grandmaître and his staff have been busy recruiting the next generation of Gee-Gees.

Here's a closer look at the first six players that have committed to the program for next season:

ANAND OBEROI

Joining the Garnet and Grey represents an opportunity for the Kanata, Ont. goaltender to continue his career closer to home.

After spending his first junior hockey season with the Kanata Lasers, Oberoi moved up to the OHL's Erie Otters in 2017.

Now in his second season with the OJHL's Trenton Golden Hawks, the 6-4, 190-pound goaltender is an intimidating presence in the crease.

"I'm big, but I'm pretty athletic. I like to move around and make saves like smaller goalies do, but also be able to take up the net," Oberoi explained.

Oberoi was also a teammate of Liam Markhauser's on the Lasers and is looking forward to reuniting on the Gee-Gees.

"I've been away for a few years now. I've been around the area my whole life so it will be cool to go back to school in Ottawa" Oberoi enthused. "Liam and I, we've grown up together since we started hockey."

"We started our junior careers together, now to go to University and start that one together. It's a pretty cool feeling to have one of your good buddies playing on the team with you," he said.

Off the ice, Oberoi hopes to enroll in either the criminology or communication program.

Associate coach Brent Sullivan on the addition of Oberoi:

"Local kid. Academically driven kid. He's big, he's athletic, especially with those big goalies, with proper coaching it's a good opportunity to find a gem here. He's got some major junior experience in Erie and he's done well in Trenton the last two years."

LIAM MARKHAUSER

Another local player joining the program, defenceman Liam Markhauser is currently in his fourth season with his hometown Kanata Lasers, and is in his third season serving as captain.

"I'm more of a puck moving, fast, offensive type of defenceman," Markhauser said. "I like to jump in on the play. A big power play guy too. That's how I would describe my on-ice game."

"Ottawa being one of the best programs to go to made it pretty easy," he added. "It'll be nice to be close to home." 

In addition to his friendship with Oberoi, Markhauser is also very familiar with Konnor MacCormick. The duo frequently go head-to-head in the CCHL, and were teammates on the CCHL all-star team that travelled to Russia for the Junior Club Sirius World Cup in August 2018.

"It for sure makes it a lot easier, making the transition into university hockey," he enthused. 

"Anand is a really good friend of mine, I'm glad we're going to be able to do this together."

"[Konnor and I], we had a pretty good bond in Russia. We messaged each other when we both committed to uOttawa. He's also a really good friend of mine."

Associate coach Brent Sullivan on the addition of Markhauser:

"Wonderful kid, absolute top-notch individual. Puck mover, he has elite offensive ability. Again, nice to get a local kid involved in the program."

KONNOR MacCORMICK

A bruising forward from Ingleside, ON, MacCormick joins the Gee-Gees following four full seasons with the Cornwall Colts, before being recently dealt to the Brockville Braves this season.

"I'd say I'm a two-way forward, I like to throw my weight around, get mixed up in a little bit of stuff I shouldn't sometimes, the physical side," MacCormick explained. "I also think I can contribute offensively. I like to show some skills sometimes too."

Joining the Gee-Gees gives MacCormick the opportunity to continue his playing career close to home.

"I grew up hearing about how good of a program uOttawa. I know people that have went that had nothing but good things to say about it. My cousin Ryan Gove [2007-10] played for the team," MacCormick said.

"I told him I was talking to uOttawa, he told me 'you need to take it right away.' He had nothing but good things to say. It's also a great academic university, so I know coming out of there I'll have no problem finding a job with the degree I have."

Having crossed paths with fellow recruits Anand Oberoi, Liam Markhauser and Justin McRae throughout his hockey career, MacCormick is excited to get started in Garnet and Grey.

"We're going to have a good hockey team going forward, and I want to be a part of it," MacCormick enthused.

Associate coach Brent Sullivan on the addition of MacCormick:

"He can play the game either way, no matter what you throw at him. He has good offensive ability, he's rugged, he's physical, he's good down low. Last time I watched him play, he was running the power play from the point. That's impressive for a forward."

TRISTAN BERUBE

Joining Oberoi in the crease next season is Tristan Berube, a goaltender currently with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

So far this season the 20-year-old has posted a .903 save percentage and a 3.45 goals-against-average, impressive numbers on a rebuilding QMJHL squad.

"I use my speed; I think I'm a fast goalie," Berube said. "I've got a good read of the game and I think it's one of my biggest assets, the way I see the game can compensate for my size and get square on every play."

Berube is familiar with the area, as he minded the net for the Gatineau Olympiques for two and a half seasons from 2016 to 2019.

You may have even seen him on TSN. In January 2018, he became the eight goaltender in QMJHL history to score a goal.

"It's not the main thing you want to do, you want to stop the pucks for sure," Berube recalled. "I saw some goaltenders, like Martin Brodeur, scoring and I always said I'd like to do that for sure.

"I had the chance, that was two years ago, I was 18 in Gatineau. That's probably one of my biggest highlights in my career for sure, it's something I will always remember.

Head coach Patrick Grandmaître on the addition of Berube:

"Tristan is an athletic goalie that never gives up on the play. A pro-like mentality, very hard worker. He comes here with raving reviews from the coaching staff in Bathurst and his former coaches here in Gatineau that we know quite well. We know we're bringing in a really good individual that should backstop a good team for us for the next three or four years."

NICOLAS OUELLET

Currently in his fourth and final season in the QMJHL, Nicolas Ouellet has spent the entirety of his career with the Val d'Or Foreurs. The talented forward has plenty of offensive flair in his game. After scoring 22 goals in 55 games a year ago, he already has 15 goals in just 19 games this season.

"I'm a player that works hard at both ends of the ice," Ouellet said. "I can bring speed to the game and I think that's one of my strengths."

Ouellet is from Mascouche, QC, an off-island suburb of Montreal. Joining the Gee-Gees will give him the chance to continue his hockey career close to home.

"I picked uOttawa because it's close to home and I already know some people who have been to this university. I was really impressed by the hockey program and I know this is the right choice," he explained.

From earlier in his career, Ouellet recalls going head-to-head with a pair of players that went on to don Garnet and Grey: Yvan Mongo and Dominic Cormier.

"They are two amazing players and I've only heard good things about them, so I am very excited to play with them," Ouellet enthused. "I played against them in the past and Dominic has already reached out to welcome me."

Head coach Patrick Grandmaître on the addition of Ouellet:

"Nick is going to add some scoring to our line-up next year. Everywhere he's been, he's been able to put the puck into the net. People who will see Nick next year will recognize his great work ethic and his hunger to put pucks on net, even though he's not the biggest guy. He represents well our identity of being a fast paced, energetic team and he's going to fit right in and hopefully chip in for us with some goals."

JUSTIN McRAE

The Peterborough, ON, product is the latest to commit the Gee-Gees. McRae will join current Brockville Braves teammate Konnor MacCormick in Garnet and Grey next year.

"I would describe my play on the ice as a 200-foot player who likes to finish checks but can also score some goals," McRae said.

The bruising forward is in the midst of a career year with the Braves. He leads his team with 39 points so far this season, and is currently the only player in the CCHL to rank within the Top 10 in both points and penalty minutes.

Familiar faces on the team are just one of the many factors that led McRae to committing to the Gee-Gees.

"I choose uOttawa because it's a top school for hockey and the education is outstanding," he stressed.

Associate coach Brent Sullivan on the addition of McRae:

"Justin is a big, right shot forward with skill. He can play in all situations and is showing some goal-scoring punch this season. And he's being relied on heavily along with fellow Gee-Gee recruit Konnor MacCormick in Brockville in his final season"