Ottawa Gee Gees
Encyclopedia
The Ottawa Gee-Gees football team have appeared in five Vanier Cup
championships, losing in 1970, 1980 and 1997, and winning the national title in 1975 and 2000. The team practises on campus but play their home games at Frank Clair Stadium at Lansdowne Park where only the north stands are open to the public. The Gee-Gees have also won a total of eight conference championships, including four Yates Cup
s and four Dunsmore Cup
s as the team split time between the OUA
and OQIFC
.
In recent years, the team has seen much success, having enjoyed eight consecutive seasons with non-losing records. In that time, the team has had three first place finishes with the last being achieved in 2010
. The team has also won one Yates Cup
conference championship in that time, in 2006, but lost to the Saskatchewan Huskies
in the Mitchell Bowl
soon after.
, three former Gee-Gees players are on CFL teams' rosters:
. Even to this day, the 1975 team still holds several CIS
and OUA
team and individual records. Players from the 1975 team were selected to the CIS All-Canadian team 13 times during their college careers. During their CIS careers, players from the 1975 team were selected as OUAA an OQIFC All-Stars 42 times.
games and went on to collect a total of 12 Grey Cup Rings. The following is a brief list of the impact that these players have had in the Canadian Football League.
Eric Upton
- Guard - 10 Years CFL Edmonton Eskimos-3 time Western All-Star, 6 Grey Cup Appearances, 5 time Grey Cup Champion
Rocky DiPietro
- Slotback - 14 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CFL All-Time Pass Reception Leader, CFL Hall of Fame Inductee, 2 time CFL Outstanding Canadian, 3 time Lew Hayman Trophy Outstanding Canadian Eastern Division, 5 time Eastern All-Star, 4 Grey Cup Appearances, 1986 Grey Cup Champion
Neil Lumsden
- Fullback/Kicker - 10 Years CFL Toronto Argonauts/Hamilton Tiger-Cats/Edmonton Eskimos, Winner 1976 Frank M Gibson Trophy CFL Outstanding Rookie Eastern Division, 2 Time Eastern Division All-Star, 1981 Grey Cup Canadian MVP, 3 time Grey Cup Champion
Miles Gorrell
- Offensive Tackle - 19 Years CFL Calgary Stampeders/Hamilton Tiger-Cats/Montreal Alouettes/Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 5 time Eastern Division All-Star, 2 time Winner Leo Dandurand Trophy CFL Outstanding Lineman Eastern Division, 5 Grey Cup Appearances, 1 time Grey Cup Champion
Jeff Avery - Wide Receiver- 6 Years CFL Ottawa Rough Riders, 1 time Eastern Division All-Star, 2 Grey Cup Appearances, 1976 Grey Cup Champion
Al Moffat - Defensive Tackle - 6 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 1 time Eastern Division All-Star, 1 Grey Cup Appearance
Mike Murphy
- Fullback - 4 Years CFL, Winner 1977 Frank M. Gibson Trophy
CFL Outstanding Rookie Eastern Division
Doug Falconer - Defensive Back - 4 Years CFL Ottawa Rough Riders/Calgary Stampeders, 1976 Grey Cup Champion
Tim Berryman - Linebacker - 7 Years CFL Edmonton Eskimos/Ottawa Rough Riders, 1 Grey Cup Appearance
Bill Harrison - Halfback - 5 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats/Toronto Argonauts
Ian Mac Pherson - Defensive Tackle - 3 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, their cross-town rivals. Previous to their 62-61 win, the Gee Gees had lost 18 straight games against the Ravens, dating back to 1999. The win also broke the Ravens 56-game winning streak at home. The Gee-Gees finished 6th at the 2005 CIS National Basketball Tournament in Halifax.
Derouin, a native of Ottawa, "[looks forward] to building on the current success of the Gee-Gees program, added Derouin. With the loss of two strong players [Josh Gibson-Bascombe and Donnie Gibson], we will look to fill those holes as much as possible and continue to strive for excellence.”
Strong Recruitment:
The positive momentum from this past season continued this off-season with a very successful recruitment season. The Gee-Gees will be welcoming CEGEP’s Charles Rémillard, CEGEP All-Star guard Serge Grenon, Sacred Heart Huskies MVP and Eastern Commerce Tournament All-Star, Vikas Gills, Loyola Hawk’s Star-Point Guard Mike L’Africain, and NCAA Division 1 University of Arkansas Transfer, Shamus Ferguson.
Mike L’Africain was ranked as one of Canada’s top point-guards who has won numerous Halton District Championships, OFSAA 4A Silver medalist, All-Star nods, and Tournament MVP Awards.
Graduating Gee-Gees, Louis Gauthier had one of his most solid seasons in his five year career while Nemanja Baletic ended his CIS Career with yet another solid season while winning the CIS Kevin Shields Award and University of Ottawa President’s Award for outstanding commitment and achievement in the classroom, community, and athletics.
New recruits had a great debut with Vikas Gill going 6 for 10 from the three-point line to finish the night with 20 points and Michael L’African leading the team in assist with 4. Second year forward, Gabriel Gonthier-Dubee, also had strong game finishing with 16 points.
The Gee-Gees were without the services of University of Arkansas (Pine Bluff) Transfer, Shamus Ferguson and All-Star Warren Ward who is with Team Canada for the FISU Universiade 2011 in Shen Zhen, China.
The Gee-Gees will welcome NCAA University of Albany, University of St.Louis, and UC Santa Barbara to wrap up their United States exhibition games.
The CIS regular season begins November 11, 2011 for the Gee-Gees who will play at Brock University.
Warren Ward’s solid regular (16.80 ppg) and playoff performance (24.5 ppg) earned him an OUA East All-Star nod and basketball MVP Award at this year’s Gee-Gee Athletic Banquet. In addition, he has been selected to represent Canada in Shen Zhen, China this August for the 2011 FISU Games. Ward is the third Gee-Gee to represent Canada along with Joshua Gibson-Bascombe and Dax Dessureault.
Notable Alumni
Ali Mahmoud
- St. Patrick’s High School (Ottawa)
- University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2002, 2003)
- Lebanon National Basketball Program
- Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (2004 – Present)
- 2006, 2010 FIBA World Championships
Alex McLeod
- University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2002 – 2006)
- Gee-Gees All-Time 3 Point Scorer (OUA Games)
- Over 1,207 career points
- OUA East Rookie Team (2002)
- OUA East All-Star (2004, 2005, 2006)
- Certified Canadian Lawyer
Joshua Gibson-Bascombe
- University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2005 – 2010)
- OUA East Rookie of the Year (2005-2006)
- OUA East All-Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
- All-Time Leading Scorer with 1571 points
- NH Ostrava of the Czech Republic
- Team Canada Men’s Development Team
- FISU (2007 Thailand, 2009 Serbia)
. The team was first known as "Garnet and Grey", as well as the other varsity athletic programs within the University of Ottawa. In the 1940s, all the varsity athletic programs became known as the "Gee Gees", which was nicknamed by the media. The Gee Gees had tremendous success in the 1980s. Despite, that the Gee Gees have yet to win the University Cup - CIS championship for men's hockey. Ottawa's most memorable run took place in 2004, as the Gee Gees ousted rivals Universite de Quebec a Trois-Rivieres (otherwise known as UQTR Patriotes) 2-1 in the OUA playoffs, and then advanced to the Queen's Cup, hosted by the University of Western Ontario
. The Gee Gees lost the OUA final to York, but they still earned a spot in the University Cup, held in Fredericton, New Brunswick
, where power-house UNB (University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds) played host to the tournament. However, the Gee Gees failed to record a win and went home 0-2. Notably, it was the first time since 1985 that the Gee Gees played in the University Cup.
The Gee Gees are well known for their successful coaches like Mickey Goulet
, who is currently head coach of the Italian National Men's Hockey Team, which participated in the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Torino, Italy. Coaches like Michel Boucher, Tony Zappia, and current head coach Dave Leger, who has been at the helm since 2003.
The Gee Gees played in several rinks before the current Minto Sports Complex, which was built on the site of the Minto Arena, the former Minto Skating Club
facility, which was demolished in 2000. Ottawa has held games at the Sandy Hill Arena and the Robert Guertin Arena in Hull. The first rink, was known as "College Yard", which was an outdoor rink in front of Tabaret Hall. The second venue for the Gee Gees was the indoor Rideau Skating Rink
, which was flooded during winter for the ice surface. The site on the corner of Waller Street and Laurier Avenue is now the Arts building at the University of Ottawa.
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
championships, losing in 1970, 1980 and 1997, and winning the national title in 1975 and 2000. The team practises on campus but play their home games at Frank Clair Stadium at Lansdowne Park where only the north stands are open to the public. The Gee-Gees have also won a total of eight conference championships, including four Yates Cup
Yates Cup
The Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
s and four Dunsmore Cup
Dunsmore Cup
The Dunsmore Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Quebec University Football League of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation...
s as the team split time between the OUA
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
and OQIFC
Quebec University Football League
The Quebec University Football League was the Canadian football conference for Quebec universities who participate in CIS football until the completion of the 2010 football season...
.
In recent years, the team has seen much success, having enjoyed eight consecutive seasons with non-losing records. In that time, the team has had three first place finishes with the last being achieved in 2010
2010 CIS football season
The 2010 CIS football season began on August 31, 2010 with the Windsor Lancers hosting the Ottawa Gee-Gees and the defending Vanier Cup champion Queen's Golden Gaels visiting the McMaster Marauders. The season concluded on November 27 at the PEPS stadium in Quebec City, Quebec with the Laval Rouge...
. The team has also won one Yates Cup
Yates Cup
The Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
conference championship in that time, in 2006, but lost to the Saskatchewan Huskies
Saskatchewan Huskies
The University of Saskatchewan began in 1907 and has operated teams that compete with others since 1911. The term Huskie Athletics is defined as those student athletes from the University of Saskatchewan that compete in elite interuniversity competition administered by Canadian Interuniversity...
in the Mitchell Bowl
Mitchell Bowl
The Mitchell Bowl is one of the two semifinal bowls of Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's football, and is the semifinal held in the westernmost location of the two semifinal venues. The winner of this game goes on to play against the Uteck Bowl champions for the Vanier Cup...
soon after.
Recent regular season results
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | OL | Pct % | PF | PA | Standing |
| 2000 | 8 | 7 | 1 | |||||
| 0.875 | 292 | 52 | 2nd in OQIFC | |||||
| 2001 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |||||
| 0.750 | 247 | 168 | 2nd in OUA | |||||
| 2002 | 8 | 5 | 3 | |||||
| 0.625 | 218 | 152 | 5th in OUA | |||||
| 2003 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0.375 | 216 | 200 | 6th in OUA |
| 2004 | 8 | 5 | 3 | |||||
| 0.625 | 190 | 236 | 4th in OUA | |||||
| 2005 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |||||
| 0.750 | 305 | 137 | 3rd in OUA | |||||
| 2006 | 8 | 7 | 1 | |||||
| 0.875 | 276 | 97 | 1st in OUA | |||||
| 2007 | 8 | 8 | 0 | |||||
| 0.000 | 312 | 110 | 1st in OUA | |||||
| 2008 | 8 | 4 | 4 | |||||
| 0.500 | 297 | 187 | 5th in OUA | |||||
| 2009 | 8 | 6 | 2 | |||||
| 0.750 | 260 | 169 | 4th in OUA | |||||
| 2010 | 8 | 7 | 1 | |||||
| 0.875 | 291 | 168 | 1st in OUA | |||||
| 2011 | 8 | 5 | 3 | |||||
| 0.625 | 245 | 199 | 4th in OUA |
Recent playoff results
- 2000 Defeated McGill RedmenMcGill RedmenThe McGill Redmen CIS football team is one of the oldest in all of Canada, having begun organized competition in 1898. The team has appeared in three Vanier Cup national championships, in 1969, 1973 and 1987, with the Redmen finally winning the title in the 1987 game...
in semi-final 50-3
Defeated Laval Rouge et Or in Dunsmore CupDunsmore CupThe Dunsmore Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Quebec University Football League of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation...
26-9
Defeated McMaster MaraudersMcMaster MaraudersThe McMaster Marauders are the athletic teams that represent McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Athletics at McMaster is currently managed by the university's student affairs, under their athletics & recreation department. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario...
in Churchill BowlChurchill BowlThe Churchill Bowl was one of the two national semifinal men's football games of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The winner of the Atlantic Bowl would meet the winner of the Churchill Bowl for the Vanier Cup....
20-15
Defeated Regina RamsRegina RamsThe Regina Rams are the CIS football team that represents the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Rams nickname is used by the university's football team only; all other teams at the school are named Regina Cougars...
in 36th Vanier CupVanier CupThe Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
42-39 - 2001 Defeated Guelph GryphonsGuelph GryphonsThe Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west division.-Varsity...
in quarter-final 38-15
Defeated Queen's Golden GaelsQueen's Golden GaelsThe Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
in semi-final 47-12
Lost to McMaster MaraudersMcMaster MaraudersThe McMaster Marauders are the athletic teams that represent McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Athletics at McMaster is currently managed by the university's student affairs, under their athletics & recreation department. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario...
in Yates CupYates CupThe Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
30-22 - 2002 Lost to York Yeomen in quarter-final 12-4
- 2003 Lost to Wilfrid Laurier Golden HawksWilfrid Laurier Golden HawksThe Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks is the name used by the varsity sports teams of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west...
in quarter-final 38-17 - 2004 Defeated Guelph GryphonsGuelph GryphonsThe Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west division.-Varsity...
in quarter-final 33-9
Lost to Wilfrid Laurier Golden HawksWilfrid Laurier Golden HawksThe Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks is the name used by the varsity sports teams of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west...
in semi-final 46-7 - 2005 Defeated Guelph GryphonsGuelph GryphonsThe Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west division.-Varsity...
in quarter-final 35-21
Lost to Western Ontario MustangsWestern Ontario MustangsThe Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
in semi-final 18-10 - 2006 Defeated Queen's Golden GaelsQueen's Golden GaelsThe Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
in semi-final 23-10
Defeated Wilfrid Laurier Golden HawksWilfrid Laurier Golden HawksThe Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks is the name used by the varsity sports teams of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west...
in Yates CupYates CupThe Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
32-14
Lost to Saskatchewan HuskiesSaskatchewan HuskiesThe University of Saskatchewan began in 1907 and has operated teams that compete with others since 1911. The term Huskie Athletics is defined as those student athletes from the University of Saskatchewan that compete in elite interuniversity competition administered by Canadian Interuniversity...
in Mitchell BowlMitchell BowlThe Mitchell Bowl is one of the two semifinal bowls of Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's football, and is the semifinal held in the westernmost location of the two semifinal venues. The winner of this game goes on to play against the Uteck Bowl champions for the Vanier Cup...
35-28 - 2007 Lost to Western Ontario MustangsWestern Ontario MustangsThe Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
in semi-final 23-16 - 2008 Defeated Guelph GryphonsGuelph GryphonsThe Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west division.-Varsity...
in quarter-final 42-37
Defeated Queen's Golden GaelsQueen's Golden GaelsThe Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
in semi-final 23-13
Lost to Western Ontario MustangsWestern Ontario MustangsThe Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
in Yates CupYates CupThe Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
31-17 - 2009 Lost to McMaster MaraudersMcMaster MaraudersThe McMaster Marauders are the athletic teams that represent McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Athletics at McMaster is currently managed by the university's student affairs, under their athletics & recreation department. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario...
in quarter-final 27-15 - 2010 Defeated Wilfrid Laurier Golden HawksWilfrid Laurier Golden HawksThe Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks is the name used by the varsity sports teams of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west...
in semi-final 32-31
Lost to Western Ontario MustangsWestern Ontario MustangsThe Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
in Yates CupYates CupThe Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
26-25 - 2011 Lost to Windsor LancersWindsor LancersThe Windsor Lancers are the varsity athletic teams that represent the University of Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.The Lancers compete in Ontario University Athletics as part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport ....
in quarter-final 50-33
Ottawa Gee-Gees in the CFL
As of the end of the 2011 CFL season2011 CFL season
The 2011 CFL season was the 58th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 54th season of the league. The complete schedule was released on February 18 and featured the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes opening the season against the visiting BC Lions on...
, three former Gee-Gees players are on CFL teams' rosters:
- Delroy ClarkeDelroy ClarkeDelroy Clarke is a Canadian football cornerback for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 CFL Draft by the Argonauts...
, Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895... - Mike CornellMike CornellMike Cornell is a professional Canadian football linebacker. He went undrafted in the 2009 CFL Draft. He played CIS football for the Ottawa Gee-Gees. He started his professional career playing for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, but was released on May 10, 2011...
, Edmonton Eskimos - Brad SinopoliBrad SinopoliBradley Sinopoli is a Canadian football quarterback who is currently playing for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. In 2010, Sinopoli became the fourth Gee-Gee player to win the Hec Crighton Trophy after passing for a school record and CIS leading 2,756 passing yards and 22...
, Calgary StampedersCalgary StampedersThe Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
1975 Vanier Cup champions
The undefeated 1975 National Championship team (11-0) is considered to be one of the most dominant in Canadian college history. That team became the first to finish with a perfect record after winning a Vanier CupVanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
. Even to this day, the 1975 team still holds several CIS
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
and OUA
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
team and individual records. Players from the 1975 team were selected to the CIS All-Canadian team 13 times during their college careers. During their CIS careers, players from the 1975 team were selected as OUAA an OQIFC All-Stars 42 times.
1975 Gee Gees CIS career awards
- 13 All-Canadian Selections during their CIS careers
- 42 OUAA All-Star Selections during their CIS careers
- 1 Hec Crighton Finalist (CIS Outstanding Player)
- 2 J.P. Metras Trophy Finalists (CIS Outstanding Lineman)
- 1 Frank Tindall Trophy (CIS Coach of the Year)
- 1 Ted Morris Trophy (MVP Vanier Cup)
The 1975 University of Ottawa Gee Gees CFL careers
A total of 21 players from the 1975 Vanier Cup Championship team were selected in the Canadian Football League draft, including nine players in the first round or higher including six CFL Territorial Protections (from 1973 through 1982 each CFL team was allowed to pick and protect 2 players from their region before the 1rst round began). During their careers as professionals, players from the 1975 Vanier Cup Championship team appeared in 23 Grey CupGrey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
games and went on to collect a total of 12 Grey Cup Rings. The following is a brief list of the impact that these players have had in the Canadian Football League.
Eric Upton
Eric Upton
Eric Upton is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos. After playing college football at the University of Ottawa, Upton spent his entire 10 year CFL career as an offensive lineman...
- Guard - 10 Years CFL Edmonton Eskimos-3 time Western All-Star, 6 Grey Cup Appearances, 5 time Grey Cup Champion
Rocky DiPietro
Rocky Dipietro
Rocky DiPietro is a former Canadian Football League receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his 14 year career as a slotback and wide receiver, DiPietro became the CFL's all-time pass reception leader in 1989 and had a career total of 706 receptions for 9,762 yards and 45 touchdowns...
- Slotback - 14 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CFL All-Time Pass Reception Leader, CFL Hall of Fame Inductee, 2 time CFL Outstanding Canadian, 3 time Lew Hayman Trophy Outstanding Canadian Eastern Division, 5 time Eastern All-Star, 4 Grey Cup Appearances, 1986 Grey Cup Champion
Neil Lumsden
Neil Lumsden
Neil Lumsden is a former Canadian Football League player who played mostly as a fullback and also as a running back for the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Edmonton Eskimos from 1976 to 1985....
- Fullback/Kicker - 10 Years CFL Toronto Argonauts/Hamilton Tiger-Cats/Edmonton Eskimos, Winner 1976 Frank M Gibson Trophy CFL Outstanding Rookie Eastern Division, 2 Time Eastern Division All-Star, 1981 Grey Cup Canadian MVP, 3 time Grey Cup Champion
Miles Gorrell
Miles Gorrell
Miles Gorrell is a former all star offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. The five-time divisional All-Star and two-time Outstanding Lineman finalist sits fourth in the record books for games played from 1978 to 1996 for the Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Rough Riders, Montreal Concordes,...
- Offensive Tackle - 19 Years CFL Calgary Stampeders/Hamilton Tiger-Cats/Montreal Alouettes/Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 5 time Eastern Division All-Star, 2 time Winner Leo Dandurand Trophy CFL Outstanding Lineman Eastern Division, 5 Grey Cup Appearances, 1 time Grey Cup Champion
Jeff Avery - Wide Receiver- 6 Years CFL Ottawa Rough Riders, 1 time Eastern Division All-Star, 2 Grey Cup Appearances, 1976 Grey Cup Champion
Al Moffat - Defensive Tackle - 6 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 1 time Eastern Division All-Star, 1 Grey Cup Appearance
Mike Murphy
Mike Murphy (Canadian football)
Mike Murphy is a former award winning Canadian Football League fullback.A graduate of University of Ottawa, Murphy was a member of the famed 1975 Vanier Cup champion Ottawa Gee-Gees team. The Ottawa Rough Riders claimed him as a territorial exemption in the 1977 CFL Draft. In his first CFL season...
- Fullback - 4 Years CFL, Winner 1977 Frank M. Gibson Trophy
Frank M. Gibson Trophy
The Frank M. Gibson Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy, given to the most outstanding rookie in the East Division. Each team from the East Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Jackie Parker Trophy will receive the...
CFL Outstanding Rookie Eastern Division
Doug Falconer - Defensive Back - 4 Years CFL Ottawa Rough Riders/Calgary Stampeders, 1976 Grey Cup Champion
Tim Berryman - Linebacker - 7 Years CFL Edmonton Eskimos/Ottawa Rough Riders, 1 Grey Cup Appearance
Bill Harrison - Halfback - 5 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats/Toronto Argonauts
Ian Mac Pherson - Defensive Tackle - 3 Years CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Men's Basketball Program
The Gee-Gees men's basketball team has been ranked in the CIS Top Ten for most of the 2005-2006 season, sitting 2nd as of January 24, 2006. On January 18, 2006, the Gee Gees recorded their first win against the Carleton RavensCarleton Ravens
The Carleton Ravens football team is a future varsity team that was approved for 2013 membership on July 6, 2011. The team will be a member of the Ontario University Athletics conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, returning football to Carleton University after a 15-year absence...
, their cross-town rivals. Previous to their 62-61 win, the Gee Gees had lost 18 straight games against the Ravens, dating back to 1999. The win also broke the Ravens 56-game winning streak at home. The Gee-Gees finished 6th at the 2005 CIS National Basketball Tournament in Halifax.
Men's Basketball: 2010 - 2011 New Coach, Fresh Start
In July 2010, the University of Ottawa appointed James Derouin, a former alumni and player, as their new head coach after the departure of Coach Dave DeAveiro who left for McGill University. Derouin was formerly an assistant coach for the UBC Thunderbirds for the past two years and was captain of the Gee-Gees Men’s Basketball Team for both the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons. In his final year, he also played under former Gee-Gees head coach Dave DeAveiro. Derouin called this “[...] a dream come true, really. I’ve been working towards this for a long time. It’s amazing.”Derouin, a native of Ottawa, "[looks forward] to building on the current success of the Gee-Gees program, added Derouin. With the loss of two strong players [Josh Gibson-Bascombe and Donnie Gibson], we will look to fill those holes as much as possible and continue to strive for excellence.”
Strong Recruitment:
The positive momentum from this past season continued this off-season with a very successful recruitment season. The Gee-Gees will be welcoming CEGEP’s Charles Rémillard, CEGEP All-Star guard Serge Grenon, Sacred Heart Huskies MVP and Eastern Commerce Tournament All-Star, Vikas Gills, Loyola Hawk’s Star-Point Guard Mike L’Africain, and NCAA Division 1 University of Arkansas Transfer, Shamus Ferguson.
Mike L’Africain was ranked as one of Canada’s top point-guards who has won numerous Halton District Championships, OFSAA 4A Silver medalist, All-Star nods, and Tournament MVP Awards.
Men's Basketball: 2010 - 2011 Regular Season & Playoff Summary
The Gee-Gees had a strong finish to the regular season that led themto qualify for the OUA Wilson Cup playoffs. It began with the Gee-Gees defeating Laurentian University in the OUA Quarter-Finals followed by a solid win over second-seed University of Toronto to qualify for the nationally televised (The Score) Wilson Cup Final Four in Hamilton. The playoff run unfortunately ended as the team was just two points short verses Lakehead to qualify for the CIS Nationals in Halifax.Graduating Gee-Gees, Louis Gauthier had one of his most solid seasons in his five year career while Nemanja Baletic ended his CIS Career with yet another solid season while winning the CIS Kevin Shields Award and University of Ottawa President’s Award for outstanding commitment and achievement in the classroom, community, and athletics.
Men's Basketball: 2011 - 2012 Exhibition and Season
The Gee-Gees kicked off their pre-season with their first exhibition game against NCAA La Salle Explorers with a 73-61 defeat. This game saw the debut of 4 of 5 recruits - Michael L’African, Serge Grenon, Vikas Gill, and Charles Rémillard.New recruits had a great debut with Vikas Gill going 6 for 10 from the three-point line to finish the night with 20 points and Michael L’African leading the team in assist with 4. Second year forward, Gabriel Gonthier-Dubee, also had strong game finishing with 16 points.
The Gee-Gees were without the services of University of Arkansas (Pine Bluff) Transfer, Shamus Ferguson and All-Star Warren Ward who is with Team Canada for the FISU Universiade 2011 in Shen Zhen, China.
The Gee-Gees will welcome NCAA University of Albany, University of St.Louis, and UC Santa Barbara to wrap up their United States exhibition games.
The CIS regular season begins November 11, 2011 for the Gee-Gees who will play at Brock University.
Men's Basketball: Player Development (2010 - 2011) and Alumni
This past season, the Gee-Gees basketball program saw tremendous growth and development from a couple of our players. Rookie Johnny Berhanemeskel came second overall in voting for OUA Rookie of the Year and also earned himself a spot on the OUA East All-Rookie team. Johnny already had two Gee-Gee records under his belt by February as he became the all-time Gee-Gee rookie leader in points and most three-points in a season. Since then, he has been on pace to becoming the all-time rookie leader in highest scoring average by a rookie and highest free-throw percentage by a rookie.Warren Ward’s solid regular (16.80 ppg) and playoff performance (24.5 ppg) earned him an OUA East All-Star nod and basketball MVP Award at this year’s Gee-Gee Athletic Banquet. In addition, he has been selected to represent Canada in Shen Zhen, China this August for the 2011 FISU Games. Ward is the third Gee-Gee to represent Canada along with Joshua Gibson-Bascombe and Dax Dessureault.
Notable Alumni
Ali Mahmoud
- St. Patrick’s High School (Ottawa)
- University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2002, 2003)
- Lebanon National Basketball Program
- Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (2004 – Present)
- 2006, 2010 FIBA World Championships
Alex McLeod
- University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2002 – 2006)
- Gee-Gees All-Time 3 Point Scorer (OUA Games)
- Over 1,207 career points
- OUA East Rookie Team (2002)
- OUA East All-Star (2004, 2005, 2006)
- Certified Canadian Lawyer
Joshua Gibson-Bascombe
- University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2005 – 2010)
- OUA East Rookie of the Year (2005-2006)
- OUA East All-Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
- All-Time Leading Scorer with 1571 points
- NH Ostrava of the Czech Republic
- Team Canada Men’s Development Team
- FISU (2007 Thailand, 2009 Serbia)
Gee-Gees soccer
The Gee-Gees women's soccer team program was founded in 1994 by current head coach, Steven Johnson. The team went on to become national champions in 1996, in just their third season of play, after which Johnson was recognized as CIS coach of the year (an honour he would again receive in 2005). The team has also won CIS silver medals in 2005, 2003, 2000, 1997 and CIS bronze medals in 2001, and 2006.Gee Gees hockey
The men's hockey program was formed in 1889. The team played in the Ottawa City Hockey LeagueOttawa City Hockey League
The Ottawa City Hockey League was an amateur ice hockey league with junior, intermediate and senior level men's teams in Ottawa, Canada dating from 1890. It is considered the second ice hockey league to form in Canada. The senior league operated until 1945 and the junior league operated until 1957...
. The team was first known as "Garnet and Grey", as well as the other varsity athletic programs within the University of Ottawa. In the 1940s, all the varsity athletic programs became known as the "Gee Gees", which was nicknamed by the media. The Gee Gees had tremendous success in the 1980s. Despite, that the Gee Gees have yet to win the University Cup - CIS championship for men's hockey. Ottawa's most memorable run took place in 2004, as the Gee Gees ousted rivals Universite de Quebec a Trois-Rivieres (otherwise known as UQTR Patriotes) 2-1 in the OUA playoffs, and then advanced to the Queen's Cup, hosted by the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
. The Gee Gees lost the OUA final to York, but they still earned a spot in the University Cup, held in Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
, where power-house UNB (University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds) played host to the tournament. However, the Gee Gees failed to record a win and went home 0-2. Notably, it was the first time since 1985 that the Gee Gees played in the University Cup.
The Gee Gees are well known for their successful coaches like Mickey Goulet
Mickey Goulet
Mickey Goulet was the head coach for the Italian Olympic team .Goulet is the former head coach of the University of Ottawa Gee-Gee's...
, who is currently head coach of the Italian National Men's Hockey Team, which participated in the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Torino, Italy. Coaches like Michel Boucher, Tony Zappia, and current head coach Dave Leger, who has been at the helm since 2003.
The Gee Gees played in several rinks before the current Minto Sports Complex, which was built on the site of the Minto Arena, the former Minto Skating Club
Minto Skating Club
The Minto Skating Club is a competitive figure skating club in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1904. The Club is a member of the Skate Canada figure skating organization in Canada, and was a founder of the predecessor organization to Skate Canada, the "Figure Skating Department" of the Amateur...
facility, which was demolished in 2000. Ottawa has held games at the Sandy Hill Arena and the Robert Guertin Arena in Hull. The first rink, was known as "College Yard", which was an outdoor rink in front of Tabaret Hall. The second venue for the Gee Gees was the indoor Rideau Skating Rink
Rideau Skating Rink
The Rideau Skating Rink was an indoor skating and curling rink located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was one of the first indoor skating rinks in Canada, opened in January 1889...
, which was flooded during winter for the ice surface. The site on the corner of Waller Street and Laurier Avenue is now the Arts building at the University of Ottawa.