Your weekly round-up of sports in Ottawa for March 21-March 27, 2022.
Ottawa 67’s
Last week, the 67’s split a pair of home games, starting with a 9-4 drubbing of the Peterborough Petes on Friday (Mar. 25), which saw eight players post multi-point efforts. Tyler Boucher and Thomas Johnston lead the way with two goals and 1 assist each, while Will Gerrior had three assists. Sunday’s game against the Barrie Colts (Mar.27) brought about a much smaller score line, a 2-1 loss. Jack Beck scored the 67’s lone goal while Will Cranley had a strong performance in net, stopping 34 of 36 shots.
The team plays four games this week, starting with a trip to Oshawa to take on the Generals on Tuesday (Mar. 29). Three games in three days close out the week against Mississauga (Apr. 1), Peterborough (Apr. 2), and Niagara (Apr. 3). The 67’s – currently seventh in the Eastern Conference – sit just six points ahead of ninth-place Sudbury in the playoff picture, with the top eight qualifying. Seven games remain in the regular season.
Carleton Ravens
Men’s Basketball suffered a defeat in the OUA East finals, 86-80 against the Queen’s Gaels (Mar.23). It was the first time in 16 years that the Ravens wouldn’t be playing in the Wilson Cup final – the game that decides the OUA champion. It was also Carleton’s first loss to Queen’s since 1998. The Ravens will attend the U Sports national championship as At-large participants – a wild-card of sorts – after a U Sports committee deemed them worthy of the final spot from a pool of seven schools. Lloyd Pandi was named OUA East MVP as well as a first-team all-star. Taffe Charles was named OUA East coach of the year. Biniam Ghebrekidan was also named a first-team all-star, while Alain Louis earned second-team honours. Wazir Latiff was named to the OUA East all-rookie team. The Ravens tip-off their U Sports championship as the seventh seed against the University of Victoria Vikes at 10 pm ET on Friday (Apr. 1).
Women’s Basketball season ended in the OUA East finals with a 62-47 loss to the Ryerson Rams (Mar. 23). Kali Pocrnic impressed for the Ravens – as she has all season – leading her side with 19 points. Pocrnic was named an OUA East first-team all-star. The biggest honour for the Ravens went to Tatyanna Burke, who was named OUA East defensive player of the year – as well as a second-team all-star. Teresa Donato was named to the all-rookie squad, despite coming off the bench in a majority of her appearances.
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
Men’s Basketball had several OUA award winners – notably Maxime Boursiquot, who earned OUA East defensive player of the year honours and was named an OUA East second-team all-star. Guillaume Pépin was named a first-team all-star. Quincy Louis-Jeune and Cole Newton were both named all-rookies.
Women’s Basketball’s Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu continues to be a standout – on and off the court. The fourth-year guard – set for graduation – was named OUA East MVP and a first-team all-star. She is a four-time Academic All-Canadian and a tireless advocate for racial justice at the university. Lefebvre-Okankwu also received the OUA’s Joy Bellinger Award, recognizing academic, athletic, and community achievements. Natsuki Szczokin was named a second-team all-star, while Nadine Katumbayi was named to the all-rookie team.
HEADER PHOTO: VALERIE WUTTI