Being a new dad ‘surreal’ for Borowiecki
Returning to lineup, Sens defenceman calls son’s birth ‘an amazing experience’
Mark Borowiecki was wearing a wide smile as he returned to his familiar spot on the Ottawa Senators blue line Thursday night.
It’s been a whirlwind week for the veteran defenceman and his family.
After being told by general manager Pierre Dorion to stay behind for the Senators’ five-day road trip with stops in Winnipeg on Saturday and Denver on Tuesday, Borowiecki was by his wife Tara’s side for the birth of the Miles Marek Borowiecki — the couple’s first child — on Sunday morning at the Queensway Carleton Hospital.
Borowiecki couldn’t hide his excitement before facing the Arizona Coyotes to start a six-game homestand at Canadian Tire Centre.
“It went well. The baby is healthy, mom is healthy, so I’m happy,” Borowiecki said on Thursday morning. “It was just an amazing experience. I’m so proud of Tara and we’re so thankful and grateful that everything went well, so it’s been a fun few days at home.
“It was important to me (to be home). It was very appreciative and grateful (for being told to stay home). To be able to spend those first few days with Tara and Miles and help her out, it meant the world to me. It really did. I can’t thank enough for that opportunity. It’s been special.”
Tara woke Borowiecki up just after midnight Sunday and gave birth to Miles around 11:30 a.m.
Being a first-time father means a lot to Borowiecki.
“It’s still kind of surreal for me,” Borowiecki said. “There’s this immense feeling of pride and gratitude that I have towards Tara. It was confirmed that men are useless and women are significantly tougher, just watching that and what she was able to do for our family to bring Miles into this world, it was just so special and
I’m so, so thankful.”
STOPPED BY THE RINK
That doesn’t mean Borowiecki stayed away from the rink completely.
He worked out in the gym Saturday during the Senators’ 5-2 loss to the Jets, took a couple of days off before going back to the gym Tuesday and skated Wednesday with winger Bobby Ryan, who’s waiting to get clearance to return after entering the NHL’s player assistance program.
I’m so proud of Tara and we’re so thankful and grateful that everything went well, so it’s been a fun few days at home.
“I was able to catch up on some sleep (Wednesday) night because she was nice enough to let me sleep downstairs with the pups,” Borowiecki said with a laugh. “So I go my eight hours and I’m feeling like a human being again.”
A lot of people have reached out to the Borowiecki family — including former teammates — to wish him well.
“We’re so fortunate because a lot of our peers are a similar age and ex-teammates, whose wives are in similar spots, and we’ve gotten lots of words of wisdom and advice and well wishes,” Borowiecki said. “It’s so special because I think in this game you make a lot of lifelong friendships and long-lasting relationships and it’s been really nice to fall back on that.”
OFF THE GLASS
After skating in Ottawa while the Senators were on the road, Ryan, 32, was back with his teammates for the skate Thursday. Coach D.J. Smith indicated Ryan is closing in on a return. He left the team to enter the player assistance program on Nov. 20 and hasn’t suited up since. “He’s going to skate all this week and I would say once he gets up to speed with his conditioning I would think you’re looking within a couple of weeks probably,” said Smith. … Winger Tyler Ennis suited up for game No. 600 of his career when he faced the Coyotes. “It’s special,” Ennis said. “It’s a dream come true for a kid that wanted to play in the NHL. Six hundred games go by quick, but you have to treat it like any other game and stay focused and stay ready. It does fly by. It seems like just yesterday I was getting called up from the minors but it’s been fun and, hopefully, I get 600 more.”
He was drafted No. 30 overall by the Sabres in 2008.
THE LAST WORDS
Asked if Jean-Gabriel Pageau fills the bill to be the Senators’ No. 1 centre down the road, Smith kept the expectations more realistic. “I don’t think it’s fair to say, and even by league standards, that he’s a No. 1 centre; I think he can be a No. 2 or No. 3,” Smith said. “He can play in the No. 1 hole any given night, but his game is more of a checking guy that counterpunches, that can shut the other team’s players down. He’s played outstanding for us, but I think even if you asked him if he was going to a Stanley Cup contender today he’d be in that No. 3 or No. 2 hole.” The expectation is the likes of Belleville prospects Logan Brown and Josh Norris may push for the Senators’ No. 1 job down the road. Pageau is an unrestricted free agent and a decision on his future will be made before the Feb. 24 trade deadline. There’s still a chance Pageau signs an extension before the deadline, but that window is closing quickly. bgarrioch@postmedia.com