Stepping down

Last Thursday (Oct 4th) was my last one behind the mic for the Ottawa Senators. It wasn’t an easy decision to come to – but it’s one that’s best for me and my family. Like a lot of Canadian kids growing up in Montreal, one of my dreams was to play in the NHL. If you’ve seen me play hockey, you know that’s impossible so I had pursue my dream another way.

Fast forward to the summer of 2006 when I became the PA announcer (hired by Glen Gower) for the Ottawa Senators. It was the closest thing I’d ever have to being a player on the ice and I never took the job for granted every single time I walked into that arena.

It was a dream come true.

Calling players names at the start of each game was such a rush – I was nervous and excited every single time I opened the mic. And those players were always so welcoming, they always made me feel like a part of the team… like one of the guys.

When I was diagnosed with Leukemia the outpouring of support from Sens fans, the players, the wives and the organization – from security staff, suite hosts, right up to the front office was incredible. To this day there are not enough words of gratitude and thanks – that feeling of support and love I will take with me forever. But truth is the effects of all that treatment (chemo, radiation) and the medication (that I’m still taking) has finally caught up with me.

I don’t announce calls like I use to, and the act of burning the candle on both ends isn’t something I can do anymore. I would often joke, the Sens gig pays the groceries, the job on the radio at MAJIC 100 FM pays the mortgage.

The role of PA announcer for the Ottawa Senators afforded me so many incredible opportunities – from calling games at 2 Olympics, NHL All Star game, NHL draft, announcer for the NHL awards, NHL outdoor game to name a few.

More importantly, it also allowed me to meet thousands of Sens fans over the years, you’re a passionate fan base. Don’t ever lose that and don’t ever take for granted how lucky we are as a city to have an NHL team in our backyard.

I’ll continue to work with the Ottawa Senators doing some events throughout the year with the Senators foundation and alumni. Until then I look forward to going to games with my kids, it’ll be a new experience that I look forward to, because ultimately family is the most important thing.

To the game night crew, please continue playing Cotton Eyed Joe, and doing what you do best. I’m truly going to miss working with you.

And lastly to the Sens fans, I hope I did you proud each and every game night, it was an honour and a privilege to be your PA announcer over the last 12 years.

Thank you, Un gros merci, GO SENS GO!

(Thanks for the jersey Emily Knight)

Thank YOU

I'm not writing this as the PA announcer for the Ottawa Senators, but as a Dad. You can even replace "Sens" with your team if you like.  

My 7 year old played hockey for the first time this year and more importantly the Sens showed up on his radar. He wanted to know the outcome of every game, including who was the starting goaltender. After his own games he asked which member of the Sens he played like on that night. He cheered with every Sens win and wanted to dissect every loss. 

The names of Alfie, Phillips, Neil, Spezza, Karlsson are now part of his vocabulary.

His younger sister just likes chanting "Go Sens Go" and is happy Spartacat isn't going anywhere. 

So, this Dad thanks the Ottawa Senators. For giving my kids something to cheer for and for making them fans. 

Here's to the #PeskySens for a memorable season and Alfie coming back for one more year.

Don Cherry would be proud

$250,000 raised at last night's Ferguslea Sens Soiree! This year's theme was "Graffiti", so I grabbed an old jacket, added spray paint and had it lettered and numbered like a jersey. The whole team signed it, then I auctioned it off for $3000 (to the lucky winner in the photo, bottom right). What an amazing night! 

Funny Sens players..

January is boring? Not so in Ottawa

As a regular contributor to Faces Magazine, here's the piece I wrote for January:

Welcome to 2012 and if you made a new year’s resolution, there’s probably a good chance you’ve already broken it. Mine was to eat fewer potato chips and that lasted 3 days. This is not to the month to start eating properly anyway, (hopefully my trainer at Greco Sparksstreet doesn’t see this) but the NFL playoffs are in full swing and the moment that Sens fans have been 20 years for (besides winning a Stanley Cup) is the NHL All Star game which takes over the Capital from January 26-29. The fun begins on Thursday Jan 26 with the NHL trophy procession (Rideau Canal from Waverly - Ottawa Convention Centre) with all the league hardware travelling down the canal to officially open the weekend. That afternoon the Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair opens at the Convention Centre and for the next three days you can bring the family for interactive games, special appearances, trophy and memorabilia displays, live TV and radio broadcasts, music, food and dozens of other activities (CapitalTickets.ca or 613-599-FANS). Later that night from 8-9:30 the NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft takes place at the Theatre du Casino du Lac-Leamy. Hockey fans will remember this from last year when Phil Kessel from the Leafs was picked last, needless to say that won’t happen to him again this year. On Friday (Jan 27) you’ll want to be on the canal for the Energizer night skate, a 5k skating event that will benefit the Sens Foundation. This is perfect for families, friends or impress the date with you’re your skating skills! Money raised will go to building future outdoor ice rinks in eastern Ontario and western Quebec (www.energizernightskate.ca). On Saturday from 9-Noon the Canadian Tire NHL Junior Skills National Championship takes place on the Rideau Canal, where finalists across the country compete to show off for a segment on CBC. That night the Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition (which is still my favorite event) is on at Scotiabank Place, and has all the big names showing off their skating, puck-handling and shooting skills. Then Sunday afternoon at 4, the main event takes place (also at Scotiabank Place) when the Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game shows off the league’s best. The game has been around 59 years and is always fun to watch. By the time the ALL Star weekend is done, most of our credit card statements from the month before will have arrived and we can all do the same thing when opening them “I spent that much??” – Here’s to a successful and healthy 2012 and I wish the best for you and your family. 

Merry Christmas from the Sens..

A stinky glove, Sens trivia and Mika what?

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Move over Gaga

Sens beat the Flyers 4-1 last night but this is what everyone is talking about. Watch the little girl in purple.



And she joined us on Stuntman and the Shark...

Donald Trump, Carrie Underwood and Alfie...

This guarantees that I'll never work on SNL...thankfully Carrie Underwood saves me. (The Donald shows up around the 45 second mark).

Stuntman, "You're Fired"!

The Senators struggles on the ice this season have been well documented. One area that always seems to do well is fundraising. Saturday night, the annual "Bell Sens Soiree" gala took place at the Hilton Lac Leamy. Over 800 guests along with the entire team were there to raise to over 360k for charity. There's always a fun theme to the event and this year it was Manhattan. From a 5th avenue silent auction area to Broadway acts, your emcee chose to dress up as Donald Trump. All you really need is a sharp tie and a good wig which Malabar provided.

(From left to right) Rinaldo, Frank and Roxanne helped shape the Donald's coiff (Rinaldo added that I'm now the most ugliest man in Ottawa, wonder who I beat?)

Sens forward Jesse Winchester on stage during the live auction. He was offering an afternoon of fishing with 2 people in his boat which sold for $7000.

Sens foundation president Danielle Robinson with the Donald. FYI, should the real Trump ever see this blog, your book wasn't a prop and I intend to read it...(as soon as I'm done watching Celebrity Apprentice)

Where does the Chunka Chunka come from?

Awesome kids making a difference..

Over the summer a little known band called "The Dube Brothers" picked up some local attention as they were busking outside of Bluesfest every night. The pint sized band made up of 3 brothers are well on their way to raising 100k for Haiti's orphans. One night, some of the guys from Arcade Fire joined them and now have offered to match whatever the boys raise up to a million. I met the guys prior to the Sens home opener (where they played) and bought a toque, which to my amazement fits my massive mellon.

Got tix for a Sens game this year?

Then, drown out the PA announcer :)

Nice ring Fish...

Here's a recap of the Sens golf tourney which raised 120k for CHEO..enjoy!

All in, All Red....till next season....

Another Senators season in the books and it was fun while it lasted. For next season, I'm preparing a short list of improvements that I plan to submit to Mr. Melnyk:

1. A new HD scoreboard

2. Replacing the popcorn at Scotiabank Place with the kettle chips that suiteholders get.

3. Replacing Sparty's silly string with mustard for Leaf fans. No stain remover on the planet can ever get rid of a mustard stain.

4. Ushers forcing fans who want to leave early back to their seats (unless they have to get home to a babysitter).

5. A gigantic dome for the parking lot, or make the team play only road games in January.

6. The ability for the PA announcer to add "are you kidding me ref?" to a bogus call on the Sens.

7. New intermission contest idea: Zamboni smash up derby.

8. If the Sens are losing, Sparty is allowed to aim the master blaster at the visiting bench.

9. Sandy Sharkey would like the imported beers priced the same as domestic....better chance of the Sens winning 4 straight Cups, but she wanted to be on this list.

10. An NHL all star game. Carolina has it next season, but you think a team that has been in the league almost 20 years could eventually get one.

Matt Carkner day in Ottawa

WHEREAS this is the 23rd day of the 4th month in Ottawa, Ontario Canada.

WHEREAS the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club did overcome the Pittsburgh Penguins on the 22nd day of the 4th month.

WHEREAS many of the goals were dis-allowed, then allowed, then dis-allowed, then allowed.

WHEREAS Ottawa Senators goaltender Pascal Leclaire of Repentigny did obstruct 56 shots.

WHEREAS had Pascal Leclaire been from Ottawa, we would have included him in this for sure.

WHEREAS Matt Carkner of Winchester, Ontario Canada was born close enough to Ottawa to claim him as one of ours.

WHEREAS Ottawa Senators Matt Carkner did, after 107 minutes and 6 seconds of hockey, fired the shot which would annihilate the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the game at 11:41 pm, 4-3 the final score.

THEREFORE we, Stuntman and the Shark of 93.9 BOB fm do hereby proclaim the day of April 23rd, 2010 as MATT CARKNER day in the city of Ottawa, and as such, we give everyone the day off!

I would've said yes, then ran...

My photoshop skills are lacking but Sens fans are loving Andy Sutton after game 2.

If you didn't see it, a scribe from Pittsburgh was asking about Sutton's hit on Jordan Leopold.

Alfie at 1000...

Saturday night the Sens will be celebrating Captain Daniel Alfredsson's 1000th game (technically by Sat game 1002) and there's a big pre-game ceremony planned. I've been lucky enough to be around Alfie his entire career and have always admired how he handles the pressure, celebrity status and responsibilities of being an NHL captain in a hockey mad city. Anytime I've asked him for something a little outside his comfort zone, he's handled it with the same professionalism as he does on the ice.

When the Sens were off to Sweden last season, I approached Daniel to play along where I would look silly and he would have the last laugh.



Congrats Daniel, on 1000 games in the NHL and all with the Ottawa Senators. All things Alfie can be found here.

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T'was the night before Christmas...Sparty style

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Behind the scenes "Pressbox" Scotiabank Place