19 OHL alumni set to battle for Queen’s Cup
The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees and University of Guelph Gryphons are headed to the 109th Queen’s Cup Final with a total 12 former OHL skaters suiting up for the one game showdown.
The nationally-ranked fourth place Gryphons’ playoff run began with a West Quarter-Final matchup against the Laurier Golden Hawks, where they crawled back from a 3-1 loss to defeat Laurier in the three-game series. They’d sweep the Semi-Finals against the Brock Badgers before defeating the Western Mustangs in three games to claim the OUA West Final.
The Gee-Gees, who are ranked third in the country, kicked off their postseason against the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, taking the series in three games. Down 1-0, they’d win the next two games over the UQTR Patriotes in the semis and take down the Concordia Stingers in just two games to own the OUA East Final.
And then there were ✌️.
Just one more step in the path to the #QueensCup ???? and a the right for a team to call themselves champions! ????????#WeAreONE | #QuestForTheCup pic.twitter.com/ATZyJChylv
— Ontario University Athletics (@OUAsport) March 2, 2020
The Gryphons boast a sizeable crop of alumni talent with 15 OHL grads on the roster. Up front are Ryan Valentini (Sudbury Wolves), Zach Poirier (Owen Sound Attack), Ted Nichol (Kingston Frontenacs), Ryan O’Bonsawin (Sudbury Wolves), Marc Stevens (Guelph Storm), Mikkel Aagaard (Sudbury Wolves), Luke Kutkevicius (Windsor Spitfires), Zach Roberts (Guelph Storm), Bobby Dow (Peterborough Petes) and Giordano Finoro (Barrie Colts). On the backend are defenders Cole Cameron (Kitchener Rangers), Jesse Saban (North Bay Battalion), Zach McFadden (Sudbury Wolves), Justin Lemcke (Hamilton Bulldogs) and Matthew Timms (London Knights). The team’s head coach is Shawn Camp, who coached the Guelph Storm to a 2004 OHL Championship before stints with the Sarnia Sting and Saginaw Spirit.
Connor Sills (Flint Firebirds) and Marc Beckstead (Kingston Frontenacs) bring some former OHL experience to the Ottawa lineup, as do defenders Medric Mercier (Oshawa Generals) and Nicolas Mattinen (Oshawa Generals). Behind the bench are assistant coaches Brent Sullivan (Sarnia Sting) and Patrick White (Ottawa 67’s), and Director of Development Evan Brownrigg splits his duties with the nearby 67’s as their Assistant Player Development & Performance coach.
????MHKY RECAP: Gryphons Off to Second Straight Queen’s Cup With Game 3 Win Over Mustangs
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????➡️ @gar_pic pic.twitter.com/rXBE0zVgnt— Guelph Gryphons (@guelph_gryphons) March 2, 2020
The two squads met on October 19th for their only matchup of the regular season. The Gee-Gees came out on top with a 5-4 comeback overtime victory.
The Gryphons will be looking for their seventh OUA title and will host the big game in their own barn, having earned home ice advantage upon finishing the season with 39 points, just one ahead of Ottawa’s 38. They’ll be hungry to claim what was almost theirs a year ago when they fell to the Queen’s Gaels at the 108th Queen’s Cup Final in Kingston. Ottawa will be battling for their shot at hoisting the trophy for the first time.
Puck drop is set for this Saturday at 7pm from the Gryphon Centre Arena. Both teams will also be gearing up for the 2020 U SPORTS National Championship from March 12-15 in Halifax.
“It’s hard to put into words. This is something we’ve been trying for since year one and now it’s finally happening. It’s exceptional.” — Captain Quinn O’Brien (@Q_OBrien22)
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????: @robertgreeleyy pic.twitter.com/7LYWSHIho9— ???? – #HorseHockey???? (@GeeGeesMHKY) March 1, 2020
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