NEWS : Mattinen leads Gee-Gees as OUA East MVP, Mongo and Ouellet recognized

Ontario University Athletics released its All-Stars and Award Winners for the 2021-2022 Men's Hockey season on Tuesday afternoon, including three Gee-Gees who earned recognition. 

Nicolas Mattinen was named the OUA East/Far East Most Valuable Player and Defenceman of the Year. Joining Mattinen on the OUA Far East All-Stars is Yvan Mongo, while Nicolas Ouellet was named to the OUA East/Far East All-Rookie Team.

Mattinen earns the dual honours after his second season of play in Garnet and Grey, having joined the squad before the 2019-2020 season. This year, the 6-foot-5 blueliner from Ottawa tied for the Gee-Gees team lead in goals with six and was second on the team in points with 13 in 18 games played. 

"He started delivering right away when he got here," says Gee-Gees head coach Patrick Grandmaître. "This shows the respect that he got quickly in this league. A big guy like that who moves well and defends well really stands out. I'm really happy for him that he gets that recognition." 

"He's hard to play against and really good in all situations, but what really stands out is what he does with the puck," continues Grandmaître. "Whether it's breaking out the puck, his poise, his confidence, his shot….he's a threat in all three zones. He's so valuable all around the ice."

Mattinen, a Human Kinetics student, is wrapping up his career in Garnet and Grey following this season. "He'll be extremely hard to replace but we're definitely happy that he was part of this program," notes Grandmaître. 

Mongo, who was an OUA East All-Rookie Team member in 2018-19, was named to the Far East All-Star Team following his season of excellent all-around play. Mongo led the Gee-Gees in points with 14, and logged just two penalty minutes in 18 games played.

"For Yvan it's about the energy and the effort and the respect that he generates throughout our league and our conference," says Grandmaître of his team captain. "He's such a competitor and a hard player to play against - an energy driver. He generates the attention through effort and by being a two-way player who plays a smart, clean game. "

Mongo, a Finance student from Gatineau, is also a graduating player for the Gee-Gees this season.

Nicolas Ouellet's late-season debut didn't deter him from being selected as an OUA East/Far East All-Rookie Team member. In a season with many talented rookie forwards around the league, Ouellet stood out. He scored five goals and two assists in his eight regular season games, including points in his first five games played.

"[Ouellet]'s been impactful, even when he started practicing with us it elevated the level of speed and execution at practices. He's always dialled in and he was able to surmount a significant injury. For him to come in and produce right away and have that impact on our team tells you what kind of player he is and what kind of person he is too," concludes Grandmaître. 

A marketing student from Mascouche, Que., Ouellet came to the Gee-Gees from the Val-d'Or Foreurs of the QMJHL.

The OUA men's hockey schedule for 2021-2022 split the conference into four divisions rather than the traditional two (East/West). As such, major awards and All-Rookie teams were awarded based on East/Far East and West/Far West, while All-Star teams were selected in each division, rather than the previous First and Second teams for the East and West divisions.

Mattinen's selection as Most Valuable Player is the first for Ottawa since 1995-96 when goaltender and Gee-Gees Hall of Fame inductee Jean-François Rivard took home the honour. He is also the first defenceman from Ottawa to win a conference MVP; Ottawa's other previous winners were forward Alain Tardif in 1993-94 and goalkeeper Phil Comtois in 1992-93.

The OUA first awarded the Defenceman of the Year Award in 2009-10, and Mattinen is the first Gee-Gee to win it.