Senators eager for ‘whirlwind’ experience outdoors
Mother Nature can’t dampen the Ottawa Senators’ enthusiasm as the prepare to head to the great outdoors.
The Senators got their first taste of what they’re going to face during the NHL 100 Classic with a morning skate Friday at TD Place. The real thing comes Saturday, when they face the Montreal Canadiens in the first outdoor game in Ottawa since the club returned to the league for the 1992-93 campaign.
While this game has been much anticipated on the local sports calendar, the players have been too busy trying to get their season back on track to get ready for it. But coming off a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers Wednesday at Canadian Tire Centre, the Senators are feeling good about themselves coming into this one.
As they hit the ice for a skate, the memories started to flow for the players who grew up playing outdoor hockey as kids. The forecasted high temperature for Saturday is -8 C and it will feel like -17 C with the wind chill. However, that won’t put a damper on the excitement of participating in one of these games.
“This is unbelievable,” said Senators centre Matt Duchene, who grew up in Haliburton, Ont., and still makes his off-season home there.
“My dad ( Vince) built a rink for me in my driveway from the time I was about 10 years old until I moved away to play junior. He actually kept it going for my sister (Jess) because she played hockey.
“I’d come home for Christmas and I’d skate on it. This is cool. I’ve played an outdoor game before (with the Colorado Avalanche), but it was 70 degrees Fahrenheit and it wasn’t as authentic as this is. I’m really excited.”
The fact this is a special occasion isn’t lost on Duchene.
“You’re playing for a Canadian team against a Canadian team in the capital of Canada,” he added. “This has been a whirlwind for me. This is something I knew was coming. I’ve really been looking for it.”
This isn’t the first outdoor experience for many of these players. Alternate captain Dion Phaneuf played with the Toronto Maple Leafs in Ann Arbor, Mich., against the Detroit Red Wings in front of more than 100,000 people in the 2014 Winter Classic. It’s something he’ll never forget.
“I remember going out for warm-up in Michigan and the snow is hitting your face,” Phaneuf said. “I grew up in Edmonton, I had a backyard rink my whole life and I was very lucky my dad built my rink for me. It brings back the feelings of being a kid again because I remember playing on the backyard rink a lot with all my friends.
“They’d be pulling us off. It didn’t matter what the temperature was when you’re a kid. You’d like it to warm up a little, but we’re going to play in whatever we have to.”
The last time the Senators participated in an outdoor game was the 2014 Heritage Classic against the Canucks at B.C. Place in Vancouver and the roof was closed because of rain.
“Some guys were saying that didn’t really feel like an outdoor game because there was a dome on it,” said Senators winger Zack Smith. “After we (stepped) outside today, I don’t think that was looking that bad. We’ll be out there skating around and staying warm. It’s definitely a different atmosphere than the one in Vancouver.”