HIGH ACHIEVERS: Gee-Gees goalie Franky Lapenna gets first taste of FISU Winter Games for Canada

By Martin Cleary

University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s hockey head coach Patrick Grandmaitre remembers the first time he encountered goaltender Franky Lapenna about four years ago.

You might have expected Grandmaitre to have seen his ‘future netminder’ on the ice during a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game.

But, no. Instead, it was something even better.

Grandmaitre and Lapenna had an extensive sit-down interview, which turned out to be a priceless opportunity for the Gee-Gees’ coach. At the time, Lapenna was a candidate for the QMJHL student-athlete of the year award and Grandmaitre was on the selection committee. All the candidates were involved in an interview process.

“He was a well-spoken individual,” Grandmaitre recalled with joy in his voice. “What stood out was that he had a bubbly, positive personality and didn’t seem nervous in the interview. When we finished the interview, we were all smiling.”

Lapenna, the youngest candidate, didn’t win the QMJHL award that season, but when his four-year, junior career ended (Val d’Or Foreurs, Drummondville Voltigeurs and Gatineau Olympiques, 2019-2023), he had more conversations with Grandmaitre and found his way to the Gee-Gees men’s hockey program last season.

As a resident of nearby Laval, PQ who was interested in the University of Ottawa business course and playing for a team that needed a starting goalkeeper, Lapenna found the perfect fit for university, and he went on to enjoy a remarkable rookie season in 2023-24.

By posting unbelievable numbers in net and earning numerous awards, Lapenna’s name was put on the original list of players considered for Canada’s team to the FISU Winter World University Games, which are underway in Turin, Italy.

In December, Lapenna, 22, was selected to the Canadian team for his first FISU Games along with Gatineau-based forwards Conor Frenette of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and Mathieu Gagnon of McGill University, as well as Toronto Metropolitan University goalkeeper Kai Edmonds.

On Thursday, Canada finished the FISU Games round-robin portion of the men’s hockey tournament with an 8-4 win over Sweden.

Eight different players scored for Canada, including Frenette, who added an assist and won six of nine faceoffs. Gagnon also earned an assist. In preliminary play, Canada recorded two wins (worth three points each), an overtime win (two points) and one loss (one point).

The quarterfinals are scheduled for Sunday. Canada’s opponent will be determined after the round-robin is scheduled to be completed Friday.

Lapenna saw his first on-ice action midway through the third period with Canada leading Sweden 6-2. He played the final nine minutes and eight seconds, making four saves and allowing two goals. Lapenna, who also was the backup goalie in Canada’s only loss to Czechia, replaced starter Edmonds, who made 11 saves.

“We knew he was on the radar since the beginning,” said Grandmaitre, who was an assistant coach when Canada won the gold medal at the 2023 FISU Games in Lake Placid, New York.

“I was on the (2023) staff and we started with a ghost roster and trimmed it down. The coaching staff is in constant conversation. I had a good feeling that with the season he (Lapenna) had last year and the type of person he is that he would be a good candidate for the team.”

After four seasons with three teams in the QMJHL, where he posted a record of 84-43-17, a 2.71 goals-against average and a 0.911 save percentage, Lapenna stepped into the Gee-Gees’ program and seized every moment.

In 26 OUA East Division regular-season games in 2023-24, he had 19 wins, one tie and six losses, which included one shutout. His goals-against average was a stingy 1.72, which was triggered by a save percentage of 0.942. He allowed only nine goals in five playoff games, posted one shutout, and helped the Gee-Gees to the best-of-three East semifinals before losing to UQTR 1-0 in the third and deciding game.

Lapenna was one of the major award winners in 2024, when he was named OUA East rookie of the year, goalkeeper of the year, and a member of the all-rookie and first all-star teams. He also was a U Sports Academic All-Canadian with a classroom average of 80 per cent or more.

“It was not a surprise he was selected to the FISU team,” Grandmaitre added. “We were filled with pride and happy for his recognition.”

Lapenna’s success also reflects positively on the Gee-Gees men’s hockey program, which has been guided by Grandmaitre for nine straight seasons.

“It’s always a really good thing for the program to have one of its athletes selected for the 25-man roster,” Grandmaitre said. “It’s a sign we’re doing good things and to have recruits who have become good players is a big, big positive.”

During his time as Gee-Gees head coach, Grandmaitre has watched a lot of youth hockey in his role as a recruiter and he was proud to welcome Lapenna into the program.

“Not many teams had a No. 1 goalie spot available,” he said. “We had a graduating goalie and the door was wide open (for the 2023-24 season) for a good player. There were lots of games available to play.”

By attending the University of Ottawa, Lepenna was close to home and his parents could come to many games. The business program also suited Lepenna, who is a solid student.

“I knew he could help our program,” Grandmaitre added.