The Senators will mark their home opener Thursday night with a tribute that reaches back to one of the most memorable runs in franchise history.
Ray Emery, the goaltender who carried Ottawa through its 2006-07 push to the Stanley Cup Final, will be honoured 25 years after the team drafted him and eight years after his death. Emery’s family will be at Canadian Tire Centre for the ceremony, and they’ll help launch the new season as the Senators begin their home schedule against the Philadelphia Flyers, another of Emery’s former teams.
Emery started every one of Ottawa’s 20 playoff games that spring, filling the crease after Dominik Hasek’s lone season in the capital ended on a disappointing note. He became the starting goalie for the only modern-day Senators team to reach the Stanley Cup Final, and he did it with a game that fit that group perfectly: talented, fearless and never boring.
The Hamilton native spent six seasons in the Senators organization before going on to win the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013. That season, he posted a 1.94 GAA, a .922 save percentage and a 17-1 record.
Emery also brought a hard edge to the position. He was known for his love of boxing, and his masks featured names like Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson, Jack Johnson, George Chuvalo and, while in Philadelphia, the fictional Rocky Balboa. Even on a Senators team that included Chris Neil and Brian McGrattan, Emery was considered one of the last guys anyone would want to tangle with.
One of the most vivid examples came in Buffalo during the 2006-07 season, when he fought two Sabres in the same line brawl and smiled through both fights.
The tribute will have a deeply personal side as well. Emery’s parents, Paul and Sharlene, moved from Cayuga, Ontario during COVID and now live in Ashton, while their other two sons, Andrew and Nick, live nearby with their families.
“Being in Ottawa means a lot to us,” Sharlene told Mendes. “It’s comforting and healing.
Lots of memories, and it’s the healing steps we’re taking. It’s the place to be.”
In Other News...
Former Senators Fan Favorite Showed Ottawa Exactly What It Misses
Mark Stone keeps finding ways to remind people why he was such a fan favorite in Ottawa. The former Senators captain hit the 400-point mark with the Vegas Golden Knights in a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, adding a goal and an assist while continuing to do the little things that have defined his career. For Senators fans, the bigger takeaway is familiar: Stone still plays with the kind of edge and responsibility that once made him such a trusted presence here.
The night also served as a reminder that his value goes well beyond the scoresheet. Stone mixed it up in the game and drew praise from teammates and coach Ryan Craig for the leadership and willingness to stand up for others that remain central to his role in Vegas. It is exactly the sort of presence Ottawa has been searching for at times since his departure, and it is hard not to watch a performance like that and think about what the Senators lost when he left. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Just Lost A Possible Break In Thursday's Matchup
Linus Ullmarks absence from the Senators net lasted only briefly, with head coach Travis Green saying the goaltender is set to return for Ottawas upcoming game against the Flyers. Its a welcome development for a club that has leaned on Ullmark as part of its early-season stability, especially after he exited a previous game because of injury and sat out just one contest before getting back on the ice.
Ullmark is in his third season with Ottawa and is playing under a four-year contract extension, so any health update draws attention well beyond one matchup. For the Flyers, it removes a potential break in a Thursday night game that could have opened the door to a different look in goal, and it leaves Ottawa with its preferred option back in place when the teams meet. [Read more 🡒]
Linus Ullmark Gives Senators Home Opener A Massive Lift
Linus Ullmark was back on the ice for the Ottawa Senators morning skate Thursday and looked set to give them a major boost in the home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers. After sitting out as a precaution in his previous appearance, the veteran goalies return matters for a team that wants a steadier start in front of its own crowd and a clean first impression at home.
There was still some uncertainty elsewhere on the roster, though, with Artem Zub and Andre Burakovsky taking part in the skate without yet being cleared to play. For Ottawa, the early-season picture is encouraging enough to feel better about its crease, even if a couple of lineup questions remain before puck drop. [Read more 🡒]