The most unique rivalry in the CHL: the Ottawa 67’s and Gatineau Olympiques

By Frankie Benvenuti/Ottawa67s.com

When you think of the Ottawa 67’s biggest rivals, your mind is often drawn to teams like the Kingston Frontenacs, Peterborough Petes, or Oshawa Generals, but there’s still a bigger one out there. Civic pride is on the line in a matchup unlike any other in the Canadian Hockey League, as the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s take on the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques for the right to call themselves Alexandra Cup champions.

Separated by a measly 13.2 kilometres on the road, these two historic junior hockey franchises seldom meet, but when they do, it’s often can’t-miss hockey.

The first regular season meetings didn’t come until the 1999-00 season, beginning the annual tradition of the home-and-home series. Ottawa dominated the first-ever series, beating the then Hull Olympiques both times, winning 10-3 on aggregate. Famed 67’s such as Lance Galbraith, Dan Tessier, Matt Zultek, and Mark Bell added their names to the scoresheet, but henceforth, the rivalry tightened up.

In the next three seasons, the 67’s won the series twice, but only boasted a record of 3-2-1, with each of the series’ being decided by a single goal. Although it provided fans with entertaining hockey, games were played with a rough-and-tumble style, and after the 2002-03 season, the interleague rivalry was cancelled, with the Olympiques earning the last laugh.

The teams moved in their own directions. The Olympiques continued their dynasty, winning the QMJHL in 2003, 2004, and 2008, and the Barber Poles made an unlikely run to the Memorial Cup in 2005, but neither team was able to bring the ultimate prize back to the National Capital Region.

Legends came and went; Brian Kilrea, Logan Couture, and Tyler Toffoli for the 67’s, and David Krejčí, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Claude Giroux for the Olympiques. Only a short bike ride away, Ottawa and Gatineau were like ships passing in the night, only ever meeting for pre-season action on occasion, but that soon changed, and with a spectacular bang.

In the 2017-18 season, the stage was set, and that stage was massive. For the first time, Ontario was the host of a junior hockey outdoor game, marking the return of the historic matchup. In front of 11,671 fans outside in the freezing cold, les ‘Piques got the better of the Barber Poles, but the series wasn’t yet over.

Ahead of the outdoor game, another twist was added to the rivalry: the introduction of the Alexandra Cup. After the two-game series draws to a close, the team with the most points takes it home. In a scenario where both teams have the same number of points, an aggregate score system would be used, and the cup would be awarded to the team who scored more goals. If that still doesn’t decide things, the team with the more away goals is the winner.

With the first-ever Alexandra Cup on the line, the Barber Poles headed for the unfriendly confines of the Robert Guertin Arena. Needing a win, Ottawa battered the Olympiques to the tune of five goals, robbing the trophy straight from under the nose of ‘Piques fans.

The next season, both teams were headed in wildly different directions; Gatineau hobbled to a 15th-place finish, while the Barber Poles topped the OHL, but it never mattered. When rivals meet, the standings become irrelevant, and it comes down to whoever wants it the most, and in the opening game of the 2018-19 series, Gatineau wanted it more.

The Olympiques stunned the Barber Poles, snapping Ottawa’s three-game win streak. Once again, the 67’s were on the backfoot of the series, needing a win in regulation to take home the cup. In the return leg, Ottawa outclassed the Olympiques, running away with a 5-1 win in the nationally televised game. For the second-consecutive season, the Barber Poles won the Alexandra Cup.

In 2019-20, the story was much the same: Ottawa finished at the top of the league, while Gatineau struggled and finished 16th. This time, however, it wasn’t as close, as Ottawa won 4-0 on the road, before finishing the job with a 5-1 win to close, capturing yet another Alexandra Cup.

In another cruel twist in the fate of the rivalry, COVID-19 forced the end. Without a season in the OHL in 2020-21, Gatineau continued on their merry way, and with the series still not returning in 2021-22, it seemed like there was a possibility they would once again return to distant foes by technicality only.

The cancellation proved to be temporary, and ahead of the 2022-23 season, Ottawa’s closest geographical rival returned to the schedule. This time, with both teams toward the top of their respective league’s standings – Ottawa in first, and Gatineau in fourth – the anticipation is unrivalled.

Like the previous stars for both franchises had the chance to do, the current generation of talent has the opportunity to leave their mark on the region. The only thing left to see now is who wants it more, and who will rise to the occasion to help their team win the most unique rivalry in the CHL.