Sports Roundup: 67’s continue march towards playoffs

ABOVE: The Ottawa 67’s Robert Lefebvre. (PHOTO: OHL Images)

Your weekly round-up of sports in Ottawa for April 4-April 10, 2022.

Ottawa 67’s 

The 67’s were defeated 6-0 by the league-leading Hamilton Bulldogs on the back of a Ryan Humphrey hattrick in its only game of the week on Friday (Apr. 8). Another six Bulldogs posted multi-point performances. The league’s second-highest scoring team managed 36 shots on goal, 30 of which were stopped by Max Donoso. Marco Costantini made 24 saves in net for Hamilton to earn his league-leading sixth shutout.

Ottawa will play a pair of games against the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday (Apr. 15) and Saturday (Apr. 16) to close out its season. The 67’s have struggled against Kingston this season, posting a 2-7-1 record against its Eastern Ontario rival. It currently sits seventh in the Eastern Conference but can still finish as high as sixth or as low as eighth.

University of Ottawa Gee-Gees

The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees honoured its top athletes of the 2021-22 year on Friday (Apr. 8), recognizing those that excelled in athletics, academics and the community.

Alexandra Ondo (rugby) was named women’s athlete of the year in her final year of competition. Ondo led the RSEQ in tries during the regular season before guiding the team to a national silver medal. Nicolas Mattinen (hockey) took home men’s athlete of the year honours after a successful season which saw him named U Sports Defenceman of the Year. Mattinen was also named OUA East MVP before signing a professional contract with the AHL’s Laval Rocket.

Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu (basketball) was a recipient of the President’s Award – recognizing those who combine athletic and academic excellence. Lefebvre-Okankwu was named OUA East MVP and U Sports First Team All-Canadian. She is currently pursuing her second Bachelor of Science degree and holds a cumulative 10.0 GPA in the program. Alexandre Perreault (swimming) also received the President’s Award. Perreault captured four RSEQ medals in his first competitive season as a Gee-Gee, including a gold in the 400-metre medley team relay. Perreault then captured bronze in the 50-metre fly at the U Sports Championship. Named an Academic All-Canadian in 2020-21, Perreault is now pursuing a Master of Health Sciences.

A full list of award winners is available on the Gee-Gees athletics website: teams.geegees.ca

Ottawa Titans

The Titans baseball club announced a handful of moves ahead of its inaugural season, headlined by the signing of pitcher Jose Taveras. Taveras, 28, is a former member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization where he reached the triple-A level. He has a career 37-26 record at the minor league level with a 2.96 ERA in 105 career appearances. The club also signed Japanese catcher Mitsuki Fukuda from Kyushu Sangyo University and Canadian right-handed pitcher Dylan Jacober from Western University. Ottawa also acquired infielder Sicnarf Loopstok and right-handed pitcher Ramsey Romano in a series of trades which saw catcher/right-handed pitcher Devon Fisher, outfielder Kona Quiggle and right-handed pitcher Carter Hayes depart the organization.