IMPROVED PLAY BEGINS AT HOME FOR SENATORS
Veterans offer three rookies some off-ice mentoring and a break from hotel living
The Ottawa Senators are promoting togetherness and some NHL veterans are making sure the team’s rookies won’t spend any time at home alone.
With the Senators in the midst of a five-game home stretch at Canadian Tire Centre, including tonight’s matchup with the Dallas Stars, goaltender Craig Anderson, defenceman Cody Ceci and forward Mark Stone have been settling into a routine with new billets at their homes.
Rookie winger Brady Tkachuk moved in with Stone and his girlfriend Hayley Thompson in Westboro before the regular season began, forward Alex Formenton is settling into Ceci’s Kanata house, and defenceman Max Lajoie has moved into Anderson’s place in Stittsville.
Head coach Guy Boucher said he was pleased to see the newcomers benefiting from the comforts of home.
“It’s been very impressive that way and that’s why we’re gelling fast,” Boucher said after a short skate Sunday. “The young guys have been developing, not just because they’re being coached or just getting experience on the ice. A big part is because they’re well surrounded every moment of the day.
“Even the guys who don’t have anybody in particular are getting help here every day, making sure everybody is incorporated as fast as they can and feeling good about being here and feeling part of it. It’s not just at the rink. I know the boys are really high on having everybody involved.
“The other day we had the Justin Timberlake concert and I think every single player was here. They don’t want to leave anybody out and that’s a great thing.”
Musical tastes aside, the decisions by Anderson, Ceci and Stone to offer up their homes are important.
Many times young NHL players live in hotel rooms until management tells them to get their own places, or they share a residence with other young teammates. When they move in with veterans, the older players can mentor them at the rink and show them the ropes away from the ice.
Anderson said he enjoyed having Lajoie around the house.
“It’s been good. He keeps to himself and he plays his video games,” Anderson said. “I just hope he doesn’t get into the routine of me cooking breakfast every morning because we won the other night. We’re just getting to know each other and learning about each other every day.
“So far he’s been a great addition to the house.”
Anderson is mostly on his own during the NHL season and welcomes the company of Lajoie. Anderson’s wife Nicholle and their two children are at their home in Coral Springs, Fla., although they’ll make regular visits to Ottawa.
Anderson has already told Lajoie that he might have good glove hand in net, but he rarely puts on oven mitts.
“I told him right off the bat I can only do breakfast,” Anderson said. “We’ve had games and he’s only been there a few days, so we haven’t done a lot (of cooking) at the house yet. I foresee a lot of takeout and restaurant visits for him in the near future.”
Like Ceci and Stone, Anderson said he didn’t want these young teammates living in a hotel.
“It gets old,” Anderson said, “(not) being able to have the social interaction, the aspect of coming home to a house where you can roam freely and you’re not confined to a single hallway of other rooms.”
Boucher said some veteran Senators had paid for cooking lessons for the young teammates.
“It’s not just living on their own. It’s sometimes a talk here and a talk there … helps a lot,” Boucher said. “People don’t realize the pressure an NHL player has, and if you’re a young guy you’re just learning to deal with it.
“If you have a bad game or a bad period and you have someone helping to pick you up, it makes a big difference. One day instead of one week to get back on track is a big difference for these guys. It’s great because that’s (the veterans) doing it without us pushing them. That’s impressive.”
The good news for Anderson’s sons, Jake and Levi, is that they’ll have a new target to shoot at the next time they’re in Ottawa.
“I’m sure the kids will enjoy a new goalie to shoot on for ministicks,” Anderson said with a laugh.
It gets old (not) being able to have the social interaction, the aspect of coming home to a house where you can roam.