Claesson shows off big shot at skills competition
Freddy Claesson has been on a yoyo ride from Binghamton for most of the season and he’s currently serving as the Senators’ insurance policy on defence.
On Friday, though, he turned into Mr. Big Shot.
Claesson impressed the 10,192 fans who came out to the Senators’ annual skills competition at Canadian Tire Centre — including his mother, father, uncle and a pair of cousins from Sweden — by winning hardest shot honours with a 106.9 m.p.h blast.
After a preliminary round competition, Claesson and fellow defenceman Cody Ceci advanced to the final showdown.
Claesson surprised himself, but he still fell short of the all-time Senators mark of 109.5, established last year by Jared Cowen.
“I work on it every day, but I didn’t think I could hit that high,” said Claesson.
Claesson’s family members have been staying with him for the holidays, but have yet to see their son play in an NHL game.
After Sunday’s game in Washington, the Senators will enjoy their mandatory five-day break before returning for a practice Jan. 6.
“I am going to show the family around Ottawa and maybe go skate on the (Canal) if it’s open,” he said. BIG MAC ATTACK: It has been a long time since Clarke MacArthur has heard applause directed his way at Canadian Tire Centre, but he got a taste of it Friday.
MacArthur was the sharpest of the Senators shooters, hitting the four targets on five shots.
“It was nice to get out, even if it was just to do whatever,” said MacArthur, who is tentatively targeting the end of January to return from his concussion problems. “Doing that, skating around on the 3-on-3 at the end, and moving around out there with some of the fans and hearing it all was a lot of fun.” ON THE SPEED FRONT: A youngster named Daniel Anthony set the early pace, completing a lap around Canadian Tire Centre in a blistering 17.845 seconds. Then came the battle of the big boys.
Mike Hoffman finished in 13.836, just a shade off Colin Greening’s all-time Senators record, defeating Jean-Gabriel Pageau (14.016) by a nose. FINDING THE RANGE: Slowly but surely, Derick Brassard is settling in, understanding his place in the Senators lineup. Brassard scored a goal and assist in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Detroit and now has four goals and an assist in his past six games. The extended earlyseason slump — 15 games without a goal — is now only bad memory.
Brassard couldn’t say enough about the electric atmosphere in the building on Daniel Alfredsson’s night Thursday.
“It was a good night, a very good ceremony and I think the organization did a very good job,” he said. “It was just a great night to play hockey. The fans were behind us the whole night and for a hockey player, that’s what you are looking for.” FOCUS RETURNING: Since his nose was smashed in Anaheim on Dec. 11, Chris Wideman has gone from a full clear visor to a full cage, trying to find the best way to cope.
“It’s not ideal either way, but it’s just a couple more games,” he said.
Wideman says he’s sleeping without pain now and is optimistic that when the club returns from its break Jan. 6, he’ll be back to normal, sporting a half visor. He smiled when asked if the injury put an end to his modelling career.
“My mom still thinks I look pretty good, so if she has anything to say, I might still have a future.” kwarren@postmedia.com Twitter.com/ Citizenkwarren