The stories are writing themselves as Day 3 from the BioSteel University Cup at TD Place unfolded.

The Gold Medal Game for Sunday evening at 5 p.m. is set, with the (#8) University of Ottawa Gee-Gees matching up with the (#3) Concordia Stingers. We also know who will vie for Bronze: the (#4) TMU Bold, and the (#2) Saskatchewan Huskies.

For the host Gee-Gees, it’s nothing short of an incredible run, upsetting the top-seeded UNB Reds in the opening round, before finding a winner with under a minute to play in their Semi-Final game against TMU.

Their 4-3 victory was headlined by former Kitchener Rangers forward Mitchell Martin, who scored twice in the contest, earning the Gee-Gees Player of the Game honours.

“We got a puck to the net and it found me in the slot,” Martin said, remembering exactly how his game-winner happened. “I mean, it was a wide-open net. It’s one of the easier goals I’ve scored.”

Martin’s tale this season is an incredible one, playing just eight regular-season games after being sidelined at the start of the year as he recovered from open heart surgery. Born with a defective aortic valve, the Sudbury native was told that if he wanted to continue playing hockey, he’d need to be opened up.

For him, the players that make up the Gee-Gees roster aren’t just his teammates, but his family.

“This is, without a doubt, the closest team I’ve ever been a part of,” Martin said. “They were very positive in helping me get back. It took a while. There were a lot of hurdles to jump over. I’m just very grateful, and I’m blessed to have been able to have a performance like that.”

The big-bodied forward has a history of being hard to play against, something the coaching staff was thrilled to see come out once again on Saturday.

“In tight playoff games, you need big guys like that that can play physical, that can push off of people and be a menace around the net,” said Ottawa Head Coach Patrick Grandmaître. “That’s what he was tonight. That’s the best game for him as a Gee-Gee.”

Grandmaître also pointed in the direction of fifth-year forward Charles-Antoine Roy, who he gave the game puck to for his efforts, assisting on Martin’s game-winning goal.

“He’s a brilliant guy doing a hard master’s program in Engineering,” he said. “I gave the game puck to Charlie because this was his best game in five years. He contributed in all phases, and he created a couple of things that led to those important goals. So I’m really happy for him.”

Later in the day, the Stingers scored a 3-0 win over the Huskies, potting a pair of empty-net goals in the late going, putting some distance between themselves and the opposition on the scoreboard in what was otherwise an exceptionally tight game.

“It was a war out there,” said Concordia Head Coach Marc-André Elément. “Saskatchewan has a good team. They battle hard. It was just a lot of character. A big goal in the power play, a lot of big blocked shots. Character win.”

All three goals came in the game’s final stanza, as both sides clamped down defensively.

“Both teams had a lot of chances,” Elément said. “It’s a tight game too, right? It’s two teams playing tight. You don’t want to make that mistake.”

With the Gold Medal matchup set in stone, preparations have already begun.

“We played them before Christmas, and it’s great for the OUA,” said Elément. “have a really good team. It’s going to be a tough battle. I’m sure the crowd will be wild, but that’s a great challenge. There’s one more game.”

For TMU and Saskatchewan, there’s still plenty to play for, as well.

“Lick your wounds, be sad now, but there’s a job to do tomorrow,” said TMU Head Coach Johnny Duco. “We have to recover. Get some food, hydrate, and get to bed at a good time tonight. We have to make sure that we’re ready to go at 11 a.m. tomorrow for a chance to bring home our first medal in program history.”

Gold and Bronze Medal Game tickets are still available. Don’t miss history, get yours here.

Photo credit: Greg Mason