COVID-19 affecting the Ottawa Senators

By Olivia Lawrence

RP Show Intern

The Ottawa Senators are scheduled to play against the Boston Bruins for Tuesday night hockey (Nov.9), but with COVID-19 problems spreading across the team, NHL fans are unsure if the team will actually be able to continue playing. Rod Pedersen brought in TSN Ottawa Reporter Claire Hanna to give the inside scoop about the current state of the team, and if they will be playing tonight.

“They are going to play,” said Hanna. “I don’t know if it’s breaking news, but from what I understand, they’re going to play, and I asked at what certain threshold they would possibly postpone the game, you know if there’s 20 guys who test positive, but that’s actually up to the NHL, not up to the Ottawa Senators.” 

The team has called up some of their players from the American Hockey League (AHL) because right now six Senators are in COVID-19 protocol, which includes five players and one associate coach. 

“It’s not a great situation,” said Hanna. “It’s kind of like every team’s worst nightmare, because if one guy gets it, I think with regards to how we know how COVID is transferred, you don’t know when that guy got it. And when you catch it, it’s like how many other people now have it? It’s so terrifying.”

The Senators are sitting at 3-7-1 so far this season, Rod Pedersen asks Hanna what her predictions are for this team.

“We’re only 11 or 12 games into the season this year, so it’s really hard to tell,” said Hanna. “Will they push to make a playoff spot? They’re probably going to be on the cusp, but I don’t think they will. But I do sense a lot of excitement here.”

Hanna used to work in Saskatchewan as a CTV reporter and as sideline reporter for the Canadian Football League (CFL). She only moved to Ottawa a month ago, so she is still learning what the energy is like in the city.

“I will say, this is an engaged fan base,” said Hanna. “They care so much and it’s really cool because when you come from a place where you cover the Rough Riders and you know there’s an engaged fan base, you always wonder what other fan bases are like. And even with the Redblacks, like this city loves their sports, which makes it special to cover here.”

The Senators are not only facing COVID-19, they also have a big week of games. On Thursday night they take on the Los Angeles Kings, on Saturday they face the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Sunday night Senators right winger Brady Tkachuk will take on his older brother Matthew Tkachuk and the Calgary Flames.