RECAP: Gee-Gees close out season with game three loss to the Patriotes

The Gee-Gees men's hockey team met the UQTR Patriotes in for an OUA semi-final battle that went the distance.

Falling 4-1 in the opening game, the Gee-Gees welcomed the Patriotes to Minto Sports Complex for a thrilling game two. 

Max Grondin logged the opening goal only a minute into play, but UQTR were quick to the tie things up. Charged with a roughing penalty, Ottawa were shorthanded partway through the first twenty minutes. 

Captain Anthony Poulin didn't shy away from the offensive pressure put on by the Patriotes and managed to strip the puck from the visitors. Sending the puck across the centre, Mathieu Desgagnés finished the play for a shorthanded goal. 

The Gee-Gees carried the 2-1 lead until the Patriotes tied things up. Locked at 2-2, overtime was needed. With the season on the line, Ottawa kicked it into high gear. Mathieu Desgagnés put away the game winner.

"I'm just playing for my teammates, it feels good to contribute," Desgagnes said.

The overtime win forced a third and final game in the OUA East semifinal series with UQTR as the hosts.

Ottawa head coach, Patrick Grandmaître, acknowledged the team's regular season losses to UQTR. 

"It's a tough place to play, they have their strengths in that rink, so we have to bring our best game of the year to beat the defending champions, they're not going to back down," Grandmaître said. "We're going to need nothing else but our best game."

Like the rest of the series, the game was physical, though it lacked the scoring seen in the previous battles. UQTR logged one in the second period, and that lone goal was enough to seal the deal. 

Despite the season cut short, the Gee-Gees will head to the offseason with plenty to look forward to in the coming year as they host the 2024-25 U SPORTS Men's hockey national championship tournament. Keep an eye on @GeeGeesMHKY for updates.