Sens Mile opens, at last
Paula McCooey, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: April 13, 2015, Last Updated: April 13, 2015 8:41 AM EDT
Spring and Stanley Cup fever drew dozens of hardcore Ottawa Senators fans to the official launch of the Sens Mile on Elgin Street on Sunday afternoon.
On the heels of the Senators’ win Saturday that clinched a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, along with Senators president Cyril Leeder and many councillors, made the official launch in front of dozens of excited fans sporting Sens jerseys and waving signs and pom poms.
“We are so proud, Cyril, to have the Ottawa Senators as part of our fabric — and who wasn’t glued to a television set or at the Canadian Tire Centre for that wonderful win over Philadelphia,” said Watson, his words met by the sound of cheers, cow bells and whistles.
“Even though we had a bit of a false start,” he continued, smirking at Coun. Rick Chiarelli next to him, who was chastised for putting a supposed hex on the team when he suggested opening the Sens Miles before the playoffs. “But all is well that ends well.”
Later Chiarelli was asked if he felt like he’d had a monkey taken off his back, but he likened it to a much bigger animal.
“I think I have an orangutang off my back,” he said with a hearty laugh. “It’s pretty clear right now that if I had waited one more game to do the antidote to the curse, we wouldn’t be in the playoffs.”
The councillor was referring to the fact the Senators’ winning ways had come to an abrupt end as soon as he’d made his suggestion. But Chiarelli did some research, found a “cure” for his curse and then visited the Canadian Tire Centre with a stick in hand, rapping it seven times with his ring. And the winning began again.
And on Sunday, with the playoffs now at hand, Watson got down to the traditional postseason business, tweeting Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre to organize a friendly bet between the two.
As the Elgin Street event wrapped up with Watson and Leeder unveiling the new 2014-15 Sens Mile signs, Leeder spoke of the “magical two months” leading up to the playoffs.
“The good news is the fun is just getting started,” he said. “We are really happy to be part of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 15th time in the last 18 years … and we are looking forward to getting the city excited again, and it starts right here at the Sens Mile right down here at Elgin Street.”
He finished off by noting the official rallying cry of this year for the playoffs if going to be “young and hungry”.
Other characters that came out to mark the Sens Mile tradition included the team’s mascot, Spartacat, and bobbleheaded former prime ministers Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier. They posed with fans in front of city hall where they were the “I” and “T” in the word “United”, which was spelled out in four-foot red letters.
Neil Kenkel, 22, was one of many who jumped up on the platform for a photo opportunity.
The lifelong Sens fan says he became a believer they would make the playoffs after their three-game sweep through California to end February with Andrew “The Hamburglar” Hammond in goal. Kenkel says that when he’s not watching the playoff games live, he’ll be down at Sens Mile cheering them on.
“I love it, it’s great for the city,” he said. “They opened the CTC centre (Saturday) and I was there. The city is coming alive and rallying behind the Sens, and you’ve got to love it.”
http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hock...ens-mile-opens
. I think you meant Game 5 because that is what I read earlier too. Cheers.
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