Student-athletes have a busy year ahead. See what’s on the horizon for the coming year.
Women’s sports
The defending Ontario University Athletics (OUA) champions started the 2007 season with a 7-0 record thanks to strong coaching from Steve Johnson. It has achieved number one ranking in Canada giving uOttawa its best start in 10 years. The biggest surprise in 2007 may have come through the outstanding play of second-year defender Amanda Robinson. The team will seek its second Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship in the 14-season history of the women’s soccer program.
The Gee-Gees are mixing a little bit of old and new in 2007, hoping for a return to the OUA playoffs. On the heels of a 9-13 regular season finish in 2006 and playoff loss to Toronto, uOttawa welcomed back guards Hillary Foster and Moriah Trowell, who last played in 2004-05. Among the newcomers is shooting guard Danielle Ranger.
Women’s hockey
Eleven rookies and 12 veterans make up the 2007-08 Gee-Gees. “We are expecting our returning athletes and Quebec Student Sports Federation All-Stars Kim Kerr, Kayla Hottot, Danika Smith, Christine Allen and Melissa DiPetta to once again lead by example,” says Gee-Gees coach Shelley Coolidge. “We have been extremely happy with our rookies that have come into camp.”
An already promising future now glistens with the additions of CIS gold medalist Jessika Audet and rookie forward Cassandra Breukelman.
Football
The defending Yates Cup (Ontario) champions kept the momentum going following its first Ontario championship in 30 years in 2006. The Gee-Gees are being led by fourth-year quarterback Josh Sacobie, who was the Canadian Interuniversity Sport leader in touchdowns after the first half of the season. The team will seek its third Vanier Cup, in November, after victories in 1975 and 2000.
Guard Josh Gibson-Bascombe returns from a bronze medal performance at the 2007 Summer Universiade – the first time a Gee-Gees player has ever played for Canada – to pair with his brother Jacob, a team newcomer, to form a potentially lethal backcourt. The team finished second to cross-town rival Carleton University Ravens in the OUA East division, losing in both the conference and CIS semifinals route to the Ravens. The pieces are in place for a changing of the guard.
Hockey
The Gee-Gees are banking on eight new players meshing with the 18 veterans to make a bigger dent in the OUA playoffs. The team finished fourth in the regular season last year and beat Queen’s University in the first playoff round before losing to UQTR in the second round of the playoffs. Forwards Yanick Charron and Dylan Garrioch, along with goaltender Riley Whitlock, are among the new recruits expected to make a noticeable contribution.
For more information on the season, visit http://Gee-gees.ca. Tickets for all events are available by calling 613-562-5800, ext. 4337.
