Page 13 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 62

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #62 January 2018 13

Continued from page 11 tremendously. Also, there was her students (including international I, NCAA Div III, and CIS. OHA
uncle, Claude Seguin, who passed students) attending academic classes, alumni have attended schools like
remind her that student always comes away on Monday, December 4th. He living at the dormitory on campus, Princeton University, Cornell
before athlete. She’s always taken was also a very big fan of Gabi’s. He and training on and off the ice. OHA University, and Boston University.
that to heart. I think Brian Tardiff was involved in athletics for most of has a total of eight hockey teams – In 2014 one OHA student played at
would be especially proud of Gabi,” his life as a teacher (at La Citadelle), five boys’ teams, and three girls’ the Sochi Olympics, and more are
Davidson revealed. and was always very encouraging to teams. expected to play for their national
“We mentioned Brian Tardiff her,” Adams concluded. The girls’ program at the Ontario teams at the upcoming 2018 Winter
having a big impact on Gabi, but The Ontario Hockey Academy, Hockey Academy is one of the Olympics in PyeongChang, South
also Rod McLeod from Cornwall which is celebrating it’s 10th most successful in North America. Korea.
Typhoons, who saw something in anniversary, is a hockey and academic It includes over 100 alumni playing For more information about the
Sports Energy
her at a very young age. These two prep school located in Cornwall, University hockey including Ontario Hockey Academy visit
men have always supported her Ontario. It has approximately 140 National Champions for NCAA Div their website.
Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper

Sports Energy presents Sports Panel

Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
Recently Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk raised concerns about small crowds
Sports Energy
and the viability of NHL hockey in Ottawa; even suggesting he would consider

moving the team.
Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
Do you feel Ottawa is a viable NHL market and why do you feel the Senators

are not drawing more fans to games?

Gilles Gaudet - Sports Enthusiast -For the past 25 years the Sens’ fans have been loyal in their support of NHL hockey. Despite being one
of the smaller hockey markets in the NHL, they usually rank around 20th in league attendance. The problem is that Melnyk wants more; he
wants a downtown rink, he wants a full house every game, he wants to make more money. During the past month, he thought that threatening
the fans might scare the Sens’ faithful. He’d be better off coming up with a new marketing plan, because threats from millionaire owners
aren’t appreciated by most people. There have been rumours for years that Melnyk is difficult to work for, and that there’s a lack of harmony
in the front office. One possible sign that things aren’t going well is Daniel Alfredsson’s decision this past summer to leave his position of
Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations. It could be said that Melnyk is a small time operator, operating on a shoe string budget, and that he’s
worn out his welcome. Maybe it’s time for a new owner!

Jake Lapierre - Conditioning Coach - A city of elated joy to ahh … no thanks; what happened to NHL fans in Ottawa? The original
Senators’ NHL franchise folded back in 1934, and Ottawa longed to revitalize the days when great hockey was played in the nation’s capital.
Developer Bruce Firestone, who along with a few pickup hockey buddies sitting in a dressing room after a game, conjured a plan to bring
an NHL Team to the City of Ottawa. Firestone and his buddies dared to dream of reshaping the sports face of Ottawa. Tom Petty’s “I Won’t
Back Down” became the theme song for the group and the city. So what happened to that dream?
Well I have to agree with Mike Roberts from Puckprose.com who states “In the 15 years of Senators hockey, few fan bases have suffered as
much heartbreak as those in Ottawa. Year after year, it seems decisions from management or players begging to leave town have left fans
exhausted and hesitant to buy into the team.” Roberts also points out that “As soon as the franchise began it seemed poor decisions followed.”
A few examples include the infamous draft bust Alexandre Daigle first overall, over Pronger & Kariya; Yashin’s contract soap opera; Spezza
& Chara leaving on bad terms. Remember Alfredsson and Heatley; both players also left on bad terms because the team simply wasn’t
interested in paying them what they were worth. It’s no wonder fans have slipped away and no longer sell out their arena even on big game
nights. The franchises’ constant changes in philosophy, personnel, and inability to build on great talent have left seats empty. I believe Ottawa
is a viable NHL market, but the franchise has no one to blame but itself.

Jim Riddell - Seaway Karate Club - Ottawa has been a very viable hockey market in the past and can be again in the future but first a few
things need to change.
1) The on-ice product: Guy Bucher’s “system” has had a short shelf life in the past and its time is running out with the Sens. Ottawa has
excellent goal scorers in Hoffman, Duchene, Stone, Ryan, and Brassard. They need to be freed up to use their natural talent to be creative and
score goals. Players can’t be sent out to do the same thing game after game and expect different results.
2) The Sens need an injection of youth. In the past two years they have gone from being one of the youngest teams in the NHL to being the
3rd oldest.
3) A change of ownership: Owner Eugene Melynk’s comments have helped to alienate the fan base and the teams alleged financial issues have
handcuffed GM Pierre Dorion. The Sens have been playing short a top 6 winger since Clarke MacArthur’s concussion more than two years
ago. They also have perhaps the smallest management team, scouting, and support staff in the league.
4) The Sens badly need a downtown arena. The Canadian Tire Centre has been a good venue for the past 24 years, but the Sens need to be
closer to the action. The proposed development of Lebreton Flats will have the new arena surrounded by restaurants, bars, retail, commercial
and residential, right near the Light Rail Transit (LRT) hub. By the time the arena is ready, phase 2 (and perhaps phase 3) of the LRT will be
complete allowing Sens’ fans from Ottawa and the valley quick and easy access to a positive sports entertainment experience.