What�s in store for Gee-Gees in 2005-2006?

For student-athletes, back to school also means a return to the playing field. Here�s a look at what is in store for the coming year:

High expectations for football team

Football
The Gee-Gees football squad enters the 2005 season with high expectations after posting a 5-3 record last year and an opening round playoff victory over Guelph. Second-year quarterback Josh Sacobie will lead Ottawa into battle this season. Last year, the Garnet and Grey was one of the top ten defensive teams, led by linebackers Cheelor Lindor and Joe Barnes. The addition of linebacker Mike Cornell and defensive lineman Zachary Elkaim will provide plenty of trouble for opposing squads.

Men�s Basketball
The Gee-Gees men�s team played in the national championship last season, and 12 members of that team, including OUA All-Star Jermaine Campbell and guard Marko Jovic, are returning. Coach Dave DeAveiro believes the arrival of rookie guard Josh Gibson-Bascombe will be the final cog in the Gee-Gees run at the national championship. �When you throw him and Willy Manigat [another freshman] out there, they're going to cause a lot of havoc for our opponents,� says DeAveiro.

Women�s Basketball
Coach Carlos Brown enters his second full-season as head coach of the Gee-Gees women�s basketball team. He will be looking for the team to return to the national championship for the third consecutive season, after winning the consolation final in 2005. With the addition of transfer student Sarah van Hooydonk from the University of Alberta and Cornwall recruit Karine Lukenda, the Gee-Gees should be able to fill the gaps left by the graduation of Kristen Moyle and Julie Rodrigue.

Men�s Hockey
The Gee-Gees men�s hockey team is gearing up for another run at the University Cup with the addition of five former junior hockey players, including a trio of forwards and a pair of defensemen. The top recruit is Dominic Deblois, who played four seasons with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Joining him are centre Kevin Golde and winger Danny McDonald, along with defencemen Mike Barrett and Craig Baxter.

Women's hockey team among the best

Women�s Hockey
Over the past two years the women�s hockey team has established itself as one of the premier teams in the Quebec Student Sports Federation. Two years ago, the Gee-Gees surprised the entire nation by winning the silver medal at the CIS championships. They added two more honours this past year. Last December, the University of Ottawa was awarded the 2007 and 2008 CIS Championships and, in March, defenceman Kim Kerr became the first member of the squad to be named an All-Canadian.

Women�s Soccer
Coach Steve Johnson was general manager for Canada�s national team during the 23rd World University Summer Games in Izmir, Turkey. Gee-Gees Krista Power and Stacey Warren, who were also part of the national squad, are returning this year along with veteran Dominik Bertrand. Together they should lead the team in another successful season.