Hump Day The Bizness

It's been a randomly busy 2 days of Senators news, without anything actually major happening. Nevertheless, here are a few small stories you may have missed the past couple of days. With the news picking up, you know we're not very far off from the new season.

Bonne Fete Mon Frere

Just wanted to send out a quick happy birthday shoutout to my brother Dan, who turns a year older today, along with former Senator Jamie Baker. I hope you enjoy it as best you can and we'll be at SBP again soon.

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A Conversation With Jamie Baker

Jamie Baker as member of the Ottawa Senators

For the latest interview, I reached back to the start of the franchise and talked to an Ottawa native and key member of the very first Senators team in 1992. Welcome Jamie Baker to Sens Town, as we talk about the city of Ottawa, Dany Heatley, the inaugural Sens team, and what it felt like to score a famous goal. Enjoy the read, Jamie brings it.

Let's Hope He's Better At Hockey Than Spelling

Sens prospect Patrick Cannone made this tweet in regards to the horrible weather from Irene hitting him in Long Island where he calls home. Perhaps someone should tell him it's Amish not Omish.

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Bring Back The Sens

I came across this gem a little while ago. It's the video the original owners made to try and sell the NHL
on a return to the Nation's Capital. The horrible production value is worth the watch alone. Kind of a
cool piece of Sens history though.

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Sens Town Fantasy Football

It's that time of year, it's almost football season again. The Sens Town fantasy football league returns for another season of fun for all the readers and football enthusiasts. The draft is Thursday September 1st at 8:30pm eastern time, so if you want to get in on the fun join the Sens Town Fantasy League and play with me and others. To join the league click here.

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Harvey Stripes Reps The Sens

Harvey Stripes and his Sens fitted on MuchMusic's Rap City

Canadian hip hop artist and Ottawa native Harvey Stripes, reps the Sens with a nice fitted at his appearance on MuchMusic's Rap City last Thursday. Check out his hit "Must be the Money" on You Tube and his new track "Come On" feat Lloyd. Shoutout to Harvey for reppin' the Sens on national stage. You can follow him on twitter @harveystripes

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Tim Murray Look A Like

Ottawa Senators assistant GM and Binghamton Senators GM Tim Murray has now joined a special club. he is the latest in the Sens organization to have a famous look a like. Tim's doppelganger is actor Lenny Venito, who many of you will recognize as one of those guys who are in everything, yet you have no clue what their name is. I think it's fairly spot on, but I'll let you guys be the judge.

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Karlsson Speaks

The Sens lone all star fro last season, Erik Karlsson is in town in preperation for training camp and the upcoming season. In this video he speaks on the Sens potential, living with Alfie, all the Swedes in the organization and more. I'm looking for a big season from EK65, even if he did delete his twitter account.

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30 In 30: Ottawa Senators

Not much to really object to with what he said, all pretty straight forward, though perhaps some of you may disagree with the Anderson comments. We were pretty quiet in the offseason and are still in full rebuild mode and should be looking to get another top draft pick again this year. To read the full report click here.

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20th Anniversary Tee

Here is the first merchandise with the 20th anniversary season logo and slogan featured on it. These aren't available to the public but yet were given out at the 20th anniversary launch press conference for those in attendance. You know I'm always looking out for you guys, so I was able to obtain a few extras to give up to some readers so you can have it before anyone else. There will be a contest/giveaway this week for your chance to win. Just a heads up.......

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Heritage Jersey Final Product

image via icethetics

We had previously seen the black and white version, but here is your first look at what the final product will look like. I personally really like it, but what say you? Interesting to note that one of the side patches appears to be in french, saying Senateurs prominently, with Ottawa underneath, while the other side patch says Ottawa prominently, with Senators underneath. I`m not really a fan of the French aspect, sorry other side of the river.

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The Ya It's Monday And You're Back At Work And Summer Is Almost Over But At Least You Have New Links To Read Links

I know I know, you're all getting bummed out because summer is creeping to an end, but look on the bright side, hockey season is almost here. As much as I love coming up with content to fill up a very long offseason where nothing really happens, it will be good to have actual hockey and players to talk about again. Only a few more weeks left before hockey will consume your life for 7+ months, so make them count. It could be worse, at least you have a new edition of the links to read to get you through your case of the Monday's.

One Month

The Bruins Nathan Horton and the Sens Bobby Butler battle for position

Only one more month from today for all you Sens fans tob wait for the pre-season home opener against the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins on Wendesday, September 21 at 7:30pm. Start counting down the days until your back at SBP. To buy tickets click here.

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The Punisher

Came across the back of Craig Anderson's mask, which I'm pretty sure has been posted anywhere really. At least I know I hadn't really seen a picture of it, only the sides with the cartoon and the corvette. Just a little something for a lazy Sunday.

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This Won't Last Long

Matt Puempel and Stuart Percy at the 2011 NHL Draft

Yes that's Ottawa Senators prospect Matt Puempel and Leafs prospect Stuart Percy posing together, looking as happy as can be at the 2011 NHL Draft. Maybe they don't know it yet, but this won't fly in the future, and is pretty gutsy for them to take this picture given the maniacal fanbases of the two franchises. Lesson learned lads, don't do it again.

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It Begins......

The B-Sens will open their title defending season October 7th vs Hershey in Binghamton. They will raise their Calder Cup championship banner and get 2011-12 underway.

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What Did You Do This Summer Mika Zibanejad

Here's a video update of what 6th overall pick Mika Zibanejad got up to this summer and how excited he is for training camp and the upcoming season. He seems like a great kid and he should make a solid push to make the final team.

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A Conversation With MTV's Aliya-Jasmine

The Sens Army may be proud, but we aren't THAT many. When it comes to hockey fan bases in Canada, we're likely in the minority. We have even less well known fans unfortunately, but sometimes that can be a good thing right? Ya I'm looking at you Leafs fan Mike Myers and The Love Guru. But there are some high profile Sens fans out there and today we talk to one of them. Welcome MTV's Aliya-Jasmine to Sens Town, where she talks hockey, Ottawa and being a Sens fan in enemy territory.

Good News

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Spezza With The Cup, No Not Jason

Chris Kelly with the Stanley Cup and Matthew Spezza

Former Senator Chris Kelly was in town with the cup a couple of weeks ago and he threw a party with it of course. Here he is with the cup and Spezza, but not Jason, the one you care about. Instead you get Matt Spezza, the poor man's Brett Lindros. You know, the one who has a roommate, can drop whatever he's doing at a moments notice to fill in as a goalie at Sens practice, and chases down criminals throughout the city in his friends Porsche. He lives a charmed life doesn't he? Looks like he needs to step up his offseason conditioning though, he's getting a bit thick and you never know when he might have to fill in for that mid season practice that may jump start his career. The dream never dies.


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Beer Gate

Clever little response from Bruce Garrioch over the Kovalev comments last week. Kill him with humor people, that's the way to do it.

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If The Senators Played Soccer

Soccer is the beautiful game, and to everyone else but Canada and the United States, it's a way of life. This website decided to take many of the teams in the NHL and make soccer jerseys out of them. The end resulted is as expected, some nice, some decent and some awful. This is what the Sens might look like as a soccer jersey.

Do you like them?

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Triple C Responds

The other day Kovalev had some unkind words for his former coach. In today's Citizen, Coach Cory Clouston responds, but in typical Triple C fashion, it's boring. Here's the highlight of the retort. Try to keep your eyes open from the snoozefest, though I did like the subtle shot at him at the end.

“He knew where I stood. He knew what I expected from him and he was given several opportunities to have a voice and that’s just one of those situations where players and coaches don’t necessarily agree. I’ll just leave it at that. Anyone who watched him play can make their own opinion"
                                               -Cory Clouston

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Gone Before It Began

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Perhaps There Is Such A Thing As Being Too Big Of A Fan After All

pic sent to Sens Town via @Shanada78

I love a passionate fan as much as the next person, but this is just overboard. It is however still significantly better than those pretentious my kid is on the honor roll bumper stickers or the jesus fish though. Happy Friday!

Thoughts?

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3 & 5 Game Packs On Sale Tomorrow

Just  friendly reminder that the 3 & 5 game packs are on sale tommorow morning starting at 10am. They have added a new wrinkle, this year you can choose the games you want, according to the gold, silver and bronze levels your entitled  to. There are so pretty juicy combos you can put together. See all your options by clicking here and heading to capitaltickets.ca at 10am.

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Puempel Piece

Just a little video piece on 2011 1st rounder Matt Puempel, though hard to hear he's a Leaf fan.

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Kovalev Reaction

Yesterday the enigmatic and supremely frustrating Alexei Kovalev had some words for the media in Ottawa. Normally it would be semi newsworthy, but I doubt anyone would really care, but this time it was funny because he declared that that the journalists who cover the Sens smuggle beer in their suitcases at airports. It's such a ridiculous claim that maybe it's true? I knew the Ottawa media would likely fight back to the outrageous comment, so here are some of their retorts.

"Ottawa journalists don't watch hockey at all. When they fly with the team and go through the [metal detector] at an airport, their bags are filled with beer." -- Alexei Kovalev

The Senators' Alexei Kovalev accepts award for his 1000th career point from Bryan Murray

That hilrarious quote above is from the one and only Alexei Kovalev, who just doesn't seem to get it and never has, which explains why a guy with over 1000 career points is out of the NHL and his career is viewed as a massive disappointment. That quote is just one of many where he takes shots at Cory Clouston, the Canadian media and the Senators as a whole, all from his introductory press conference to his new Russian team. Enjoy all that Atlant Mytischi.

20th Anniversary Promo Posters

 

More material from Thursday's 20th season anniversary launch, this time 3 promo posters that feature the new Hockey Makes Us slogan. The posters feature current Senator Chris Neil, living legend Daniel Alfredsson and HOFer Frank Nighbor, and I have to say I like the look of them and the slogan used with different adjectives is much better than Hockey Makes Us on its own.

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Spezza Interview On OTR

This upcoming season will be an interesting one, where vets will need to help the younger players with their development. It may be hard to believe, but Jason Spezza has now been in the NHL almost a decade, meaning he will be leaned on hard to help the young lads be successful at the next level. He sat down with Michael Landsberg to talk about the upcoming season and his role as head coach this week for the best 15 year old players in Canada.

In case you were wondering, Spezza's team beat Maple Leaf Luke Schenn's team in the game. Take that Toronto. Early shots in the Battle of Ontario have been fired. Man I need hockey back in my life. To watch the interview click here. Yep in 2011 TSN still doesn't have the option to embed videos.

Thoughts?

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Promo Calendar

For all of you trying to decide what games to purchase tickets to this season, I present to you the 2011-12 Ottawa Senators promotional calendar. It shows you what games are gold, silver and bronze, as well as showing you the subway games, metro games and a list of special events related to our 20th anniversary season. So take a minute to read it over (click to enlarge) and make your choices to your must see games.

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Sens On "A-Morning"

On the heels of yesterday's big 20th season anniversary launch and press conference, the Sens continue their promo tour, this time stopping at A-Morning, with Jeff Kyle giving you some more information about the upcoming season. Enjoy the awkward Spartacat/Lianne Laing flirting. And they say romance is dead.

Thoughts?

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Carlingwood Sens Store Opening Tomorrow

pic courtesy of @S_VanDen

Two months ago, I posted that the Sens Store at the Rideau Centre was closing and appeared to have gone out of business. The Sens proceeded to let me know that it was simply moving locations and details/new opening would be coming in August. Well now the details have arrived and the new Sens Store will be opening tomorrow (Saturday August 6th) at the Carlingwood mall.

20th Season Details

Ok so you've seen the video and you've seen the new logo and slogan, so let's get to what you really care about, hockey related matters. Here are some more details from today's 20th season launch press conference, so you can be up to date on all the latest Sens news for our anniversary season.

20th Season Anniversary Video

This was a video they played at the 20th anniversary season laucnh press conference earlier today. I have to say it's pretty inspiring and has me dying in anticipation for the 2011-12 season to begin. It does an excellent job at showing our proud history from the early 1900's, as well as showcasing great moments from the modern day Sens past too.

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20th Season Logo & Slogan Revealed

So the 20th anniversary logo has finally been released and here is your first look at the official logo and slogan. As far as the logo goes, I like it a lot. It's simple and to the point, but with a small touch of design to make it different.

The slogan I could deal without, although I've been told that the "Hockey Makes Us" slogan will be used with other descriptive words and not by itself. Picture hockey makes us proud or hockey makes us tough etc etc. When you hear it in that context it instantly becomes a lot easier to see why they chose it.

I think the patch will look very sharp on the jerseys along with the all star game patch, so in that respect I'm quite pleased.

Thoughts on the logo and slogan?

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Let There Be Color

The other day, the new heritage jersey was leaked but it was only in black and white, which gave you a big hint at what it looked like, but didn't quite go all the way. We now have a better version to look at via CTV, though it looks to me like a crappy photoshopped version made after seeing the leak the other day, plus they forgot to include the shoulder patches, the all star game patch or the 20th anniversary patch. Baby steps I guess, baby steps. We'll get there eventually.

Thoughts?

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View The Stanley Cup Friday

Ottawa native Peter Chiarelli will spend his day with the cup in the capital and it will be available for public viewing on Friday at the Univeristy of Ottawa's Tabaret Hall starting at 10am. If you go down be sure to wish Peter a happy birthday, as he turns 47 on Friday. Not a bad way to celebrate.

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Clouston Named Head Coach In Brandon

Former Sens head coach Cory Clouston, the new boss in Brandon

Former Senators coach Cory Clouston has finally landed his feet, coming aboard as the head coach of the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings. He had been looking for work as an NHL assistant, but after no one offered him a gig, he has returned to junior hockey, where he had previously served as the bench boss of the Kootenay Ice. He will be replacing Kelly McCrimmon behind the bench.

Chris Kelly Brings Lord Stanley To Ottawa

Chris Kelly was always one of the classiest players to ever put on a Senators jersey, but today just cofirmed it. Despite being traded to Boston in February and being a Toronto native, when he got his day with the Stanley Cup, there was only one place to go to celebrate and it was Ottawa, which he says he considers his home.

Enjoy the piece of Chris Kelly and his day with the cup. What a great guy!

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Daugavins Returns and Re-Ups

Kaspars Daugavins at the Calder Cup Championship parade in fine form

In a bit of very weird news, Kaspars Daugavins has signed a 1 year, 2 way deal to return to the Ottawa Senators after appearing to have signed with a KHL team just a week or so ago. It appears that what he actually signed with the Latvian club was a tryout contract, which allowed him to come back to the NHL/AHL if he chose, which he no doubt used to put the pressure on BM the GM to sign him to a new deal.

Heritage Jersey Leaked

It hasn't exactly been a banner week around the Senators offices has it? Earlier this week I leaked pics of the new scoreboard and now the heritage jersey has been leaked. They aren't exactly very strong at keeping things a secret over there are they?

That Was Fast

Exactly a week ago, Erik Karlsson joined Twitter, which meant he was our first current player of any stature to join the popular social media site. Many fans were excited to see what he may share, but I'm afraid you're going to have to curb your enthusiasm on the matter. Fast forward 7 days and his account has been deleted almost as fast as his girlfriends blog from a couple of years ago (stick tap to you if you get that reference).

No explanation has been given on the subject, but it seems a bit weird to delete it so quickly. Perhaps twitter asked him to play defensively? Just kidding....sort of.

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