CFL.ca Staff
With a solid core of veteran players and a fresh coaching staff, the Ottawa Gee-Gees are looking to build on last year’s 6-2, fourth-place OUA finish. The 2010 Gee-Gees will be led by new head coach Jean-Philippe Asselin, as well as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Sean Hall. Both former captains of the uOttawa football program, they know what it takes to compete for the Vanier Cup.
Fourth year quarterback Bradley Sinopoli returns this season to lead last year’s third ranked CIS offence. The Gee-Gees have lost only one member of last year’s offensive squad, fifth year FB Craig Bearss. Bearss will be providing leadership from the sidelines this season as the running backs coach.
The receiving core is a talented group with lots of depth that should provide the offense with a ot of weapons. Fifth year seniors Cyril Adjeitey, Matt Bolduc and Steven Hughes will be joined by third year Alex Fortier-Labonté and Ezra Millington to lead the receiver core. The offensive line will be anchored by fifth year seniors Patrick D’Amico and Philippe David.
Defensively, fifth year Sébastien Tétreault will be joined by newcomer Queen’s transfer Kevin Magee, fourth year Eric Chibulozo, fourth year Brandon Lowe, and third year Sean Quinn as the anchors of the interior defensive line. With the departure of fifth year Mike Cornell to the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, the linebackers group will look to veterans James McNaughton and Tyler Sawyer for inspiration and leadership. As for the defensive backs, this young group took a big step in 2009 and expects even bigger things this season. Fifth year seniors Chayce Elliott and Lee Shaver will be counted on to provide leadership for these young players.
A great recruiting class this off-season has brought highly recruited Randy Williams, Ashton Beaudry and Prenel Cave to the garnet and grey, all of whom should be able to compete for playing time this season.
“We finished third for total offence last year. Our offensive coordinator Chris Coulson made some small changes in the schemes this winter and we all really like how it looks,” said Gee-Gees head coach Jean-Philippe Asselin.
“Our defence will be better and stronger than last year. Coach Hall has the right group of guys to be the top defense in the conference.
“We are very fortunate to have the team we have this year. We have the athletes, but most importantly everybody is here for the right reasons: winning football games.”
2009 in review
2009 regular season record: 6-2
2009 regular season standings: fourth
2009 playoff record: 0-1
2009 playoff finish: lost 27-15 to McMaster in OUA quarterfinal
Head Coach: Jean-Philippe Asselin is entering his first season as the Gee-Gees head coach.
OFFENCE
Key returning players: REC Cyril Adjeitey (Ghana), REC Matthew Bolduc (Ottawa, Ont.), OL Patrick D’Amico (Montréal, Qué.), OL Philippe David (Buckingham, Qué.), REC Steven Hughes (Ottawa, Ont.), QB Brad Sinopoli (Peterborough, Ont.)
Key recruits (newcomers or transfers): OL Fred Casselman (Sault Ste Marie, Ont.), OL Mathieu Chartrand (Sudbury, Ont.), QB Alex Lundstrom (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Key losses: RB Craig Bearss (Kingston, Ont.)
DEFENCE
Key returning players: LB Sébastien Bourget-Fournier (Montréal, Qué.), CB Chayce Elliott (Burnaby, B.C.), DT Sébastien Tétreault (Granby, Qué.), LB Tyler Sawyer
Key recruits (newcomer or transfers): DE Ettore Latanzio (Ottawa, Ont.), LB Nick Lecour (Ottawa, Ont.), DT Adam Valchuk (Hamilton, Ont.), DB Randy Williams (Burlington, Ont)
Key losses: DB Maxime Bédard (Granby, Qué.) DB Mike Cornell (Hamilton, Ont.)
-With files from the Ottawa Gee-Gees
