(UPDATE 12:26 PM)- The Senators are on the ice for today's training camp session and Head Coach Paul MacLean has gone with the same line combinations as he did on Sunday.  This has to be a good sign for Mike Hoffman, as he continues to skate with Peter Regin and Chris Neil.  You can watch the online stream of the practice here.

(UPDATE 1:15 PM)- The Sens are on the ice for the first time at training camp. Here is how MacLean has the forwards lined up on Day 1. Michalek-Spezza-Silfverberg, Latendresse-Turris-Alfredsson, Greening-Smith-Condra, Hoffman-Regin-Neil, Daugavins-O'Brien-Noesen. The defence pairings are Methot-Karlsson. Phillips-Ceci. Wiercioch-Gonchar. and Borowiecki-Benoit

With the results of the NHLPA vote expected to be made official this morning, the beginning of the NHL season is now so close fans can taste it.

In Ottawa, the players are expected to take part on voluntary physicals today to help get the mini training camp underway.  With that task out of the way, Paul MacLean and the rest of the coaching staff will be set to officially begin training camp on Sunday afternoon.

Sens Owner Eugene Melnyk and Team Captain Daniel Alfredsson have distributed an open letter to the teams fans and sponsors with the NHL season just eight days away.

In it, Melnyk and Alfie talk about how excited they are to have hockey back, how unfortunate the entire lockout was and include a pledge to make up for this latest work stoppage.  The full text of that letter can be seen below.

While the league has yet to release the official schedule for the shortened 48 game season, details on who the Ottawa Senators will play against are beginning to emerge.

What we know for sure at this point is that the first game will come on Saturday, the 19th against the Winnipeg Jets.  Following that afternoon affair, the Sens are expected to play their home opener on the Monday night when they welcome back Filip Kuba, maybe Alex Kovalev and the rest Florida Panthers.

With the start of the NHL season now just nine days away, the focus of this site will soon shift back to the Ottawa Senators.

But that doesn't mean we want to forget about the exciting season Luke Richardson and the Binghamton Senators are having down in Binghamton.  With that in mind, the plan is to have our Bingo expert, Don Rieber, provide a weekly update on all the happenings down on the farm.

(UPDATE 3:58 PM)- While no dates and times have been announced yet, the Ottawa Senators have announced they will make training camp open to the public.  This will apparently include a couple of evening scrimmages.  Will post more details when they become available.

(UPDATE 12:32 AM)- While the NHL has yet to release it's full schedule, reports suggest the Ottawa Senators will open their season on Saturday, January 19th in Winnipeg.  The game against the Jets is expected to begin at 1:30 PM.  Let the countdown begin!

(UPDATE 3:39 PM)- In an interview on the Team 1200, Bryan Murray suggested that Cody Ceci will be one of the 8 defenceman invited to camp.  The team is also considering inviting Stefan Noesen.

(UPDATE 2:41 PM)- Sens GM Bryan Murray has confirmed that all three goaltenders will be in Ottawa for training camp later this month. Robin Lehner's strong start in the AHL has earned him a shot at the big team's roster. The Sens will invite 26 players, including 15 forwards, 8 defenceman and 3 goalies.

I really can't imagine coming home to much better news.

After a marathon day of bargaining, the NHL and the NHLPA have tentatively agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement.  Obviously there are still hoops that need to be jumped through but the word early this morning is that the two sides have finally agreed on all key issues.