PREVIEW: Men’s hockey set to close out 2023 with three game home stand

Photo: Tim Austen
Photo: Tim Austen
November 29, 2023

Friday, December 1

  • The Matchup: Ottawa Gee-Gees (9-5) vs #3 Brock Badgers (14-2)
  • Location: Minto Sports Complex
  • Puck drop: 7:00 p.m.
  • Last meeting: Ottawa 3, Brock 4 (Shootout) – Oct. 26, 2018 at Seymour-Hannah centre

OTTAWA GAME NOTES

  • Major stat leaders
  • The Gee-Gees get to finish out the opening half of the season with three games on home ice. During these games, Ottawa faces a pair of strong OUA West teams including the 14-2 #3 Brock Badgers and 8-7 Guelph Gryphons. To close out 2023, Ottawa welcomes McGill, who currently share a 9-5 record to tie for third in the OUA East.
  • Franky Lapenna has climbed the rankings and now leads the OUA with a 1.69 goal-against average and a save percentage of .944.

BROCK GAME NOTES

  • Major stat leaders
    • Goals: Jacob Roach – 12
    • Assists: Jacob Roach – 14
    • Points: Jacob Roach – 26
  • The Badgers just had their eight-game winning streak broken by Laurier on Nov. 25. The 5-2 loss is their second of the season, the only other a loss to McGill 4-1 in October.
  • Brock took on the second place OUA East team, the Queen's Gaels on Oct. 20, shutting them out with a 6-0 score.

Saturday, December 2

  • The Matchup: Ottawa Gee-Gees (9-5) vs Guelph Gryphons (8-7)
  • Location: Minto Sports Complex
  • Puck drop: 3:00 p.m.
  • Last meeting:  Ottawa 3, Guelph 1 – Oct. 27, 2018 at Gryphon Centre Arena

GUELPH GAME NOTES

  • Major stat leaders
    • Goals: Luke Kutkevicius, Jacob Winterton – 8
    • Assists: Anthony Tabak – 14
    • Points: Anthony Tabak – 19
    • Wins: Tanner Wickware – 7
  • The Gryphons recently suffered an 8-1 loss to Toronto on Nov. 25, their biggest deficit of the season.
  • Anthony Tabak ranks fourth in the OUA in assists, tied with Brock's Jacob Roach.

Tuesday, December 5

  • The Matchup: Ottawa Gee-Gees (9-5) vs McGill Redbirds (9-5)
  • Location: Minto Sports Complex
  • Puck drop: 7:00 p.m.
  • Last meeting:  Ottawa 2, McGill 8 (OUA Playoffs, round one, game two) – Feb. 17, 2023 at Minto Sports Complex

MCGILL GAME NOTES

  • Major stat leaders
    • Goals: Eric Uba – 9
    • Assists: William Rouleau – 13
    • Points: William Rouleau – 18
  • This is the first meeting between the Redbirds and the Gee-Gees this season. The OUA East teams last met during the 2022-23 playoffs, where McGill swept the Gee-Gees in two games.
  • Both the Gee-Gees and Redbirds will be playing to get ahead of the other in the OUA East rankings. McGill struggled in their last meeting with UQTR, who leads the OUA East, falling 11-5 but has collecting wins over UQTR and Queen's earlier in the season.