.@NHL‘s Steve Mayer says Commissioner will be in Ottawa soon to make 2017 announcement #ottnews @tsn1200 @CFRAOttawa pic.twitter.com/8Q38etwzo2
— Alison Sandor (@CFRA_Alison) March 18, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsAt a press conference this morning revealing a public art competition to create a monument celebrating the 125th anniversary of Lord Stanley, Steve Mayer – the NHL’s executive vice president and executive producer of programming and creative development – confirmed that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will be in Ottawa shortly to presumably announce news that the city of Ottawa will hold an outdoor NHL game during the 2017-18 season.
Not only will the monument be unveiled and this outdoor game be played during the Ottawa Senators’ 25th anniversary, this game is also meant to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary during the 2017 calendar year.
Ottawa’s desire for an outdoor game began publicly circulating back in 2010 when mayor Jim Watson tweeted about his conversations with Bettman in the days that led up to Ottawa hosting the NHL All-Star Game.
Then in December of 2012, a report in the Ottawa Business Journal surfaced indicating that “the idea (of an outdoor game was) to have the Senators face off against the Montreal Canadiens, according to Ottawa Marriott general manager Daniel Laliberté, a member of the committee helping plan the city’s offerings for 2017.”
At the time these reports trickled out, the belief was that any outdoor game would take place at the newly developed Lansdowne Park, but over the past six months, the possibility of hosting a game on Parliament Hill was broached and these days, the idea may actually be close to coming to fruition.
According to @JimWatsonOttawa NHL officials were here last week verifying logistics of Heritage Classic on Parliament Hill. #sens — Spencer Callaghan (@Senturion) February 24, 2016
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The Senators will not set any outdoor records in hosting a game at Lansdowne Park, but it would be an excellent fall back plan provided that the logistics of hosting a game at Parliament Hill are too expensive or simply cannot work.
As exciting as the idea of a Montreal versus Ottawa outdoor game is, it’s also fun to imagine the accompanying perks. Will the organization design a new heritage sweater? Who would be named to the Senators’ Heritage Classic alumni team?
@6thSens Mocking up that team would be more fun than mocking the expansion protection list. Relive the glory days.
— Brock Conley (@bpconley) March 18, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIt’s fun to spitball ideas.
Could the Ministry of Offence be re-united? Could Mike Fisher, Chris Neil, Marian Hossa and Zdeno Chara retire before the start of the 2017-18 season? Would the organization welcome back players like Alexandre Daigle, Alexei Yashin, Dany Heatley or the twice drafted Mathieu Chouinard?
Ideally, this is the combination of players who I’d like to see at the game:
McEachern – Yashin – Dackell
Schaefer – White – Alfredsson
Havlat – Bonk – Hossa
Arvedsson – Fisher – Neil
Extra forwards: Daigle, Heatley
Phillips – Chara
Redden – Volchenkov
Duchesne – MacIver
Extra defenceman: Pitlick
After Daniel Alfredsson begs Dominik Hasek to play in this important game, but he declines, the Senators will have to turn to Patrick Lalime and Ron Tugnutt to play goal. As an homage to Ray Emery, the team can arrive to Parliament Hill in white Hummers.
There is no doubt that Jacques Martin will behind the bench.
Update: 1:30 pm The following tweet came from Brian Morris, the Senators’ senior director of communications.
@6thSens FYI, was there this a.m. – certainly not confirmed. Would be nice to say it is, but not the case. Here’s to hoping, would be great.
— Brian Morris (@Morris_Brian) March 18, 2016
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