Here are five reasons you should come out and support the Gee-Gees in their quest for the national title!
As the 2024–25 U Sports hockey season comes to an end, the buzz around the national championship tournament — known as the David Johnston University Cup — is getting loud.
From March 20 to 23, eight of the best teams in Canadian university hockey are coming to Ottawa for the first time to compete for the coveted Cup!
1. A chance to see the Gee-Gees win it at home
Plain and simple: the Gee-Gees are playing to win. Home crowd support in the stands will be like having a seventh player on the ice. Hosting the championship is a unique experience for the team and a dream come true for the players.
Who doesn’t love a good underdog story?! News flash: Against the odds, the Gee-Gees won the quarterfinal March 20 in overtime and will now play in the semifinals Saturday, March 22 at 1 p.m. At the very least, they’ll have a chance to win a medal by playing on Sunday, March 23 as well.
Despite the fact the Gee-Gees were seeded eighth going into the tournament, they beat the top ranked team, the University of New Brunswick, 3–2.
All it takes is two more wins at home to become national champions.
2. It’s the “best kept secret” in hockey
U Sports hockey is widely regarded by hockey fans and media alike as the “best kept secret” in hockey, largely due to the quality of play.
Players enter university after finishing their Major Junior (OHL, QMJHL, etc.) or Junior A careers at 20 years of age. The quality of the game is comparable to pro hockey because the players have big game experience at the junior level and are more mature as athletes. There’s not as much attention paid to U Sports hockey given the popularity of the NHL, Major Junior leagues and other pro hockey.
Watching a U Sports game is the best bang for your buck!
3. A champion of Indigenous representation in hockey
Gee-Gees defenceman Anson McMaster, originally from Siksika Nation in Alberta, is in his second year with the Gee-Gees. Anson, a second-year student in management, grew up playing hockey and other sports in a close-knit Indigenous community. Representation is something he takes seriously, carrying it through his career and giving back to ensure that more Indigenous kids have the chance to enjoy the possibilities of the game.
“Growing up playing hockey with my cousins, it was very close. Right from the get-go, you’re always outside playing. Sports are a very big thing, and it’s something we take very seriously back home. Now, switching to running some camps back home and giving back to the community and ingraining it in kids now, it’s definitely something we take a lot of pride in.”
4. The Sudbury connection
From the Nickel City to the Capital: The Gee-Gees feature a dynamite trio from Sudbury. Veteran forward Brad Chenier is in his fourth year for the Gee-Gees and it’s his most productive season yet. Brad, a third-year student in health sciences, has been named an OUA all-star after logging 20 points in 23 games, scoring 13 goals and adding 7 assists.
A duo of rookies has also been lighting it up for the Gee-Gees. First-year interdisciplinary studies student Zach Giroux was named to the OUA all-rookie team after an outstanding first season where he scored 10 goals and tallied 16 assists for 26 points in 23 games.
Finally, first-year marketing student Mitch Martin has been a key addition. After recovering from surgery in the first term, Martin burst onto the scene with six goals and two assists in 12 games, playing on the same line as fellow Sudburian Chenier.
There must be something in the water that makes great players there!
5. A chance to see the next generation of pros
The Gee-Gees, like all other teams competing in the tournament, have several players who’ll move on to professional hockey after their time at university is over. In the past few seasons, the team has consistently seen a handful of players move on to pro leagues across North America and around the world.
Just last year, Gee-Gees alum Nicolas Mattinen was named MVP of Germany’s top league, which led to a two-way contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. Mattinen played in the preseason for the Leafs and has spent this past season in the AHL (one step below the NHL) with the Toronto Marlies.
Get your men’s hockey championship tickets.
The puck will drop on the 2025 BioSteel University Cup at TD Place March 20, with the first quarterfinal game at 1 p.m., and the Gee-Gees’ first game following at 7 p.m.
