Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Minto Sports Complex Arena
801 King Edward Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1N 1A2
Year Opened: 2001
Capacity: 1,200
Horse Hockey
Upon hearing about the USports team the Ottawa Gee-Gees, one of the first questions asked is “What the heck is a Gee-Gee?” The University of Ottawa was established in 1848 and is one of Canada’s oldest institutions. It is one of only two fully bilingual universities in Ontario and currently boasts nearly 49,000 students. Ottawa first iced a hockey team in 1889. The team played as the Garnet and Grey, referring to the colours they wore, and the term Gee-Gee was first used in the 1940s. Gee-Gee also refers to a British horse racing term, indicating the first horse out of the gate. The Gee-Gees play in USports in the Ontario conference, OUA, in the East Division.
Home for the Gee-Gees hockey program is the Minto Sports Complex. Built in 2001 to replace the Minto Arena, the university owned facility has been a practice facility for a number of NHL teams, a host facility for the Francophone Games and an office for Hockey Canada. The University of Ottawa will host the 2025 University Cup, the USports National Championship.
Food & Beverage 4
Concession options at Minto Sports Complex are a fairly unique situation. A temporary stand is in the hall for fans to purchase very basic options. Hot dogs, popcorn, chocolate, chips, coffee, hot chocolate and soft drinks are on the menu. What puts the concession score at the next level in Ottawa is the presence of the Nox Bar and Grill. With windows overlooking the ice surface, Nox is a full service bar and restaurant where fans can grab some food and drink and still see the game. Stopping in before or after the Gee-Gees play is also a possibility.
Atmosphere 3
The Minto Sports Complex has an attractive, light brick exterior with maroon and blue siding at the top of the building. There are Gee-Gees markings on the outside letting fans know they are in the right spot. This is contrary to Monpetit Hall, home of Gee-Gees basketball, which is up the street and looks more like an unmarked bomb shelter than a sports venue. The parking garage is attached to the complex to the east, which is not overly attractive, but does ease any stress fans may have about where to park. Inside the lobby, fans will find it not unattractive, but not overly functional for spectator hockey. It is not clear where fans need to go enter the arena, so stopping at the information desk may be necessary. Heading to the elevator to head up is the best idea. Using the stairs may be confusing for fans and bring them back into the parking garage. The upper lobby of the complex is full of garnet and grey and Gee-Gees markings. Of interest may be the large windows that look out to Matt Anthony Field to the east, home of Gee-Gees soccer. Inside the arena, the ice is oriented from south to north with all of the seating on the east side. Seating consists of 8 rows of molded plastic bench seats on concrete steps. The scoreclock is at the north end while the windows of Nox are on the south side. The north side of the arena has massive Gee-Gees markings including reminders that it is the home of the Garnet and Grey or “Le Gris et Grenat.” There are some banners hanging on the south end of the arena including the 1985 QUAA championship and 1961 OSLAA championship, previous conference the Gee-Gees played in. Beside the championship banners are three very attractive banners commemorating the inductees into the Gee-Gees Hockey Hall of Fame from 2005, 2007 and 2024. There are also some women’s hockey banners closer to the seating on the east side. The main issue with the banners is that they are practically illegible as the protective netting circles the ice surface on three sides. Placing the banners closer to the seating would give them more prominence.
The gameday atmosphere at a Gee-Gees hockey game is very simple. There are no promotions that are prevalent at other venues of a similar level. The PA system is decent and the announcer does a good job, but fans do need to be able to separate the French from English announcements, which quickly meld together.
Neighbourhood 4
The Minto Sports Complex is located on the campus of the University of Ottawa in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood of the city. It is approximately 2 km from Parliament Hill and offers a number of places nearby for pre or postgame food and drink. Some options include Fathers & Sons, In’s Kitchen, No Forks Given and Elgin Street Diner. There are plenty of other sporting options in Ottawa for fans to take in. The University of Ottawa fields a number of Gee-Gee teams including basketball, hockey and football. Carleton University also fields Ravens basketball, football and hockey teams. The annual Panda Game between Carleton and Ottawa is a local event worth checking out. The Colonel By Classic is also a rivalry game played at TD Arena between Ottawa and Carleton. Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata is home to the Ottawa Senators and Ottawa Black Bears. Other sporting options include the Ottawa 67’s, Ottawa RedBlacks, Ottawa Blackjacks, Ottawa Charge and Ottawa Titans. Ottawa also has a plethora of other tourist options including skating on the Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill, the Canadian war Museum and Museum of Nature to name a few. For fans wishing to stay near campus, the Embassy Suites is a good option.
Fans 2
For the 2024-2025 season the Ottawa Gee-Gees have averaged 135 fans per game. At the time, this ranked 17th in the OUA. The previous season, the Gee-Gees averaged 230 fans per game, but this figure is inflated by the Colonel By Classic, played at TD Arena against the Carleton Ravens. Fans in attendance are fairly quiet and the Gee-Gees do get some moderate support from students.
Access 4
The Minto Sports Complex is located on the campus of the University of Ottawa in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood of Ottawa. It is on the northeast corner of King Edward Ave/Lees Drive and Mann Ave. It is immediately north of Highway 417, so getting to the arena should not be too difficult. However, fans should keep in mind that traffic in Ottawa can be an issue and there are plenty of twists and turns in the city. There is a large parking garage attached to the complex where fans can purchase parking. For fans wishing to take public transit, there are bus stops on Mann and King Edward. Fans should consult the Ottawa-Carleton Transpo website for fares, schedules and maps. Getting around the complex is not difficult, however, it can be confusing for fans who enter off the street to find where they are to go to have their ticket scanned. Washroom facilities are decent in the complex.
Return on Investment 4
USports hockey offers great value for a small investment. Gee-Gees tickets can be purchased online. Adults are $12 with youth and students going for $7. It will cost an extra $3 to purchase a ticket at the door so pre purchasing online is recommended. Parking will cost a few dollars in the parcade next to the arena and concessions are not very expensive. The hockey is a high calibre and fans will definitely enjoy the experience.
Extras 3
An extra mark for University of Ottawa being a fully bilingual school.
An extra mark for the unique Gee-Gees name.
An extra mark for the Ottawa rivalry with the Carleton Ravens.
Final Thoughts
Taking in an Ottawa Gee-Gees hockey game will give fans the opportunity to take in some solid hockey at a very cheap price in a decent environment. The Minto Sports Complex Arena offers a decent hockey environment in one of the best tourist destinations in Canada. If attending an Ottawa hockey game, fans will be able to answer the question “What the heck is a Gee-Gee?”
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