Gee-Gees announce intention to move women's hockey and volleyball to OUA
Ottawa, Ont. (via Ottawa Gee-Gees) – This week, University of Ottawa Recreation and Varsity Sports declared its intention to shift the Gee-Gees women's hockey and women's volleyball programs to Ontario University Athletics (OUA) commencing with the 2024-25 season.
Both programs currently compete in Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) and would play the 2023-24 season in the conference before transitioning to the OUA the following season.
The announcement is made in lockstep with Carleton University, who also announce their intention to move the Ravens women's hockey program to the OUA, following the same timeline.
"Our time in the RSEQ has been memorable and the RSEQ has and continues to be a fantastic and accommodating partner throughout. That said, we feel that our two core criteria of student-athlete experience and competitive integrity will be best served by a realignment with the OUA for these programs specifically," said Roger Archambault, Associate Athletic Director at uOttawa.
"This declaration of intent will set a series of actions in motion with both conferences that should lead to a final decision at the conference level in the spring. uOttawa is prepared to join meetings to help bridge and support conversations as the process evolves over the next three months on the impact of these moves and solutions for the betterment of women's sport."
The University of Ottawa is a longstanding member institution of the OUA, with 16 programs currently competing in the conference across its sport model.
Prior to their move to the RSEQ in 2016, the Gee-Gees women's volleyball team enjoyed an illustrious 39-year history in the Ontario conference, winning five OUA championships, most recently in 2012-13.
In all, the Gee-Gees captured eight conference silver medals and five bronze medals. During their time representing the OUA, Ottawa attended the U SPORTS championship nine times, winning a silver and bronze medal in 1980 and 1981 respectively.
The move, if accepted, will see the Gee-Gees rekindle rivalries with OUA East stalwarts like Toronto, Queen's, and Toronto Metropolitan as they seek to return to championship contention in the OUA.
In women's hockey, Ottawa has competed in the RSEQ/QSSF for 21 of its 22 varsity seasons, having played one season in the OUA in 2000-01. In all, the Gee-Gees won a conference championship in 2004, enjoyed four second place finishes, and won OUA bronze in 2001. The Gee-Gees have attended four U SPORTS championships, winning silver in 2004.
The proposed shift to the OUA for the Gee-Gees and Ravens cements a commitment to the growth of the Colonel By Classic rivalry event, which saw both women's and men's teams face off at The Arena at TD Place in a new doubleheader format in January.
Unaffected by these changes, Ottawa will continue to compete in the RSEQ in women's rugby, swimming, men's rugby, and alpine skiing.
