Michael Andlauer and the Ottawa Senators team made their first official trip to Gatineau on Saturday to host a series of events and meet hockey fans on the other side of the river.
About 2,000 tickets were sold for fans to come see the players up close on the red carpet at the Slush Puppie arena, watch them practise and cheer them on during an intra-squad game.
The day marked the one-year anniversary since Andlauer’s purchase of the franchise and followed Friday’s news that the Senators and the National Capital Commission had reached an agreement to build an arena at LeBreton Flats.
Speaking to media Saturday, Andlauer said he wants the project to be something that the nation’s capital can be proud of.
Photos by Ashley Fraser, Postmedia.
Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green is seen on the ice during practice Saturday in Gatineau.Photo by Ashley Fraser /POSTMEDIA Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, the mayor of Gatineau, met with Senators owner Michael Andlauer on Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Claude Giroux skates with the puck on Saturday in Gatineau.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia From left: Senators owner Michael Andlauer, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, the mayor of Gatineau, Michele Thibault with the Centre de pédiatrie sociale de Gatineau, and Alain Sanscartier president of CA de Vision Multisports Outaouais (VMSO). The four came out onto the ice for an official puck drop. Chuckles were had after the mayor gently placed the puck on the ice, possibly the most delicate way of dropping the puck to date.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer addressed the media Saturday morning about the deal reached with the NCC for the new arena.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia From left: Senators owner Michael Andlauer, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, the mayor of Gatineau, Michele Thibault with the Centre de pédiatrie sociale de Gatineau, and Alain Sanscartier president of CA de Vision Multisports Outaouais (VMSO). The four came out onto the ice for an official puck drop.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia From left: Senators owner Michael Andlauer, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, the mayor of Gatineau, Michele Thibault with the Centre de pédiatrie sociale de Gatineau, and Alain Sanscartier president of CA de Vision Multisports Outaouais (VMSO). The four came out onto the ice for an official puck drop. Chuckles were had after the mayor gently placed the puck on the ice, possibly the most delicate way of dropping the puck to date.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer addressed the media Saturday morning about the deal reached with the NCC for the new arena.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer addressed the media Saturday morning about the deal reached with the NCC for the new arena.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer addressed the media Saturday morning about the deal reached with the NCC for the new arena.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer addressed the media Saturday morning about the deal reached with the NCC for the new arena.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer and Ian Mendes, the club’s vice-president of communications, walked out of the press conference together to head to watch the practice.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, the mayor of Gatineau, met with Senators owner Michael Andlauer on Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, the mayor of Gatineau, met with Senators owner Michael Andlauer on Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, the mayor of Gatineau, and Senators owner Michael Andlauer posed for a photograph after dropping the puck.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Senators owner Michael Andlauer shared a chuckle with staff and crews after the official puck drop.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia The Ottawa Senators were on the ice at the Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau for a practice that was open to fans.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Tyler Kleven signed autographs for fans on the red carpet before hitting the ice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Tyler Kleven signed autographs for fans on the red carpet before hitting the ice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Behind the bench were rows of hockey sticks with the player names on them.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Saturday was the first official time the team practised in Gatineau.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Brady Tkachuk gave some fist pumps to the youngsters as he hit the ice Saturday. Tkachuk and his wife Emma just welcomed their first baby on his own birthday, Sept. 16.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Adam Gaudette signed autographs for fans on the red carpet before hitting the ice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators assistant coach, was on the ice during the practice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators assistant coach, was on the ice during the practice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer addressed the media Saturday morning about the deal reached with the NCC for the new arena.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Brady Tkachuk and his wife Emma just welcomed their first baby on his own birthday, Sept. 16.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia More than 2,000 tickets were sold for fans to come watch the fun on Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Travis Hamonic taped up his stick before hitting the ice for the intra-squad game Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Claude Giroux gave some fist pumps to the youngsters as he hit the ice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Jake Sanderson, Zack MacEwan and Travis Hamonic battle for the puck during the intra-squad game.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Jacques Martin, Ottawa Senators senior adviser to the coaching staff, was up in one of the boxes overlooking Saturday’s skate.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Nick Cousins during practice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Brady Tkachuk skates with the puck Saturday in Gatineau.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Hayden Hodgson looks on as players battle for the puck.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Filip Roos was making a funny face during a drill Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Tim Stutzle, middle, was ready for the puck during a drill in the practice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Goalie Anton Forsberg sprayed water at his face Saturday during practice.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Gabriel Eliasson, right, during practice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Nick Cousins during practice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia Jorian Donovan, son of former Ottawa Senator Shean Donovan, during practice Saturday.Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia
