NEWS: OUA releases men’s hockey schedule, Gee-Gees open at home against UQTR

A much more varied schedule awaits the Gee-Gees men's hockey team for the 2023-24 season, but a familiar foe will be in town for the home opener.

The OUA released its 2023-24 men's hockey schedule Thursday afternoon. It sees the Gee-Gees return to a schedule that encompasses opponents from across Ontario, not only within the OUA East division as has been the case for the past two seasons.

The action begins at the Minto Sports Complex on Friday, Oct. 6 when the two-time defending conference champions from UQTR visit the Nation's Capital. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. and tickets will be on sale later in the summer.

Ottawa then hits the road for a Kingston doubleheader against Queen's and RMC before returning home to play Laurier and Waterloo the following weekend – the first time the Gee-Gees will play the latter two teams since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In all, Ottawa will play ten opponents from the OUA West that they haven't faced off with since the 2019-20 season; Laurier, Waterloo, Windsor, Western, TMU, York, Brock, Guelph, Lakehead and Toronto. 

The Dec. 2 matchup with Guelph brings particular intrigue. The last time the Garnet and Grey played the Gryphons was in the 2020 Queen's Cup, a game that needed three overtimes to see Guelph eventually emerge victorious.

Ottawa plays their crosstown rivals from Carleton four times, including in the Colonel By Classic at the 10,550-seat TD Place to close out the season on Feb. 8. The Gee-Gees will be looking to avenge a 7-6 overtime loss in last year's game.

The conference playoffs will take their usual four-round format, beginning Feb. 14 and culminating in the Queen's Cup on Mar. 9. The two Queen's Cup finalists will earn spots at the U SPORTS National Championship.

Toronto Metropolitan University is hosting the 2024 U SPORTS Men's Hockey National Championship from Mar. 14-17. The tournament will take place at the converted Maple Leaf Gardens, now a 3,850-seat venue known as Mattamy Athletic Centre.

2023-24 Gee-Gees Men's Hockey Schedule

Oct. 6 vs UQTR (Home/Season Opener)
Oct. 13 @ Queen's
Oct. 14 @ RMC
Oct. 20 vs Laurier
Oct. 21 vs Waterloo
Oct. 27 @ Windsor
Oct. 28 @ Western
Nov. 3 vs Carleton
Nov. 4 @ Carleton
Nov. 10 vs Queen's
Nov. 11 vs RMC
Nov. 16 @ TMU
Nov. 17 @ Nipissing
Nov. 24 @ York
Dec. 1 vs Brock
Dec. 2 vs Guelph
Dec. 6 vs McGill
Jan. 4 @ Carleton
Jan. 7 vs Ontario Tech
Jan. 11 vs Concordia
Jan. 13 @ Ontario Tech
Jan. 19 @ McGill
Jan. 20 vs York
Jan. 26 vs Lakehead
Jan. 27 @ Toronto
Feb. 3 @ Concordia
Feb. 4 @ UQTR
Feb. 8 vs Carleton (Colonel By Classic at TD Place)