It’s amazing how different this season’s year-end post will be compared to the one I wrote just twelve months ago.
Hockey is funny like that.
One year ago, I remember sitting there in disbelief as the final buzzer sounded on Ottawa’s miracle run. And then as the players came out to salute the hometown crowd one last time, I’m pretty sure a single tear dropped from my eye. I was a 29 year old man brought to the brink of tears by a professional sports team.
And now just twelve months later, the feeling is so different. It’s not sadness. It’s not even disappointment. More than anything, I think I’d describe it as relief.
For people that have followed SensChirp over the years, you’ll know that at worst, you’re going to get a glass half-full perspective. I’ve been criticized for it in the past but honestly it doesn’t bother me. It’s the way I am as a fan and the voice I enjoy being in the Sens community.
It doesn’t mean I don’t get frustrated with the team, doesn’t mean I don’t see the reasons to be discouraged and it doesn’t mean I don’t understand why some are concerned about where they’re headed- it just means that sometimes I consciously choose to focus on the good things. I find sports more fun that way.
That’s what made this season so difficult and why the final game brings a strange sense of comfort.
In many ways, I think the most difficult part of the 2015/2016 campaign wasn’t what happened on the ice but watching what it did to so many passionate fans. I mean, we all get down on them sometimes but I watched once passionate fans completely lose faith in the team and in the organization. I watched people talk about cancelling their tickets. I watched people turn to the Bachelor for their evening entertainment.
And I watched a once “positive” community descend into a pit of frustration and despair. What made it that much worse is there were times when I felt it too.
Regardless of how poorly things went, this team isn’t far off. Maybe they have a ways to go before they are legitimate contenders (like 23 of 30 teams do). Some young players made significant strides, a pressing need was addressed via trade and there are exciting prospects on the way. It can be tough to see it when you’re in the midst of such a disappointing stretch but really, things aren’t that bad.
With a couple key changes, the Ottawa Senators can return to the playoffs as early as next year.
This was the 8th full season of SensChirp. And while the product on the ice wasn’t always the greatest, it was full of memorable moments here on the site.
We consistently broke records for traffic and participation in the comment section. We welcomed terrific new sponsors like the good folks at Hyperline. We didn’t win Faces Blogger of the Year but I’m still pushing them for a recount.
On a personal note, I was able to live out a dream of sorts, making two appearances on TSN1200. I used to want to be a sports broadcaster for a living but life took me in another direction. It may seem like a small thing but being able to have my friends and family listen to me on the radio was something I’m damn proud of.
And while there were lots of good things, I recognize we had our issues too. It wasn’t always the happiest place to be but I think that’s to be expected when the team is struggling. Much like the team on the ice, there will be changes to the site heading into next year. Changes aimed at making sure we create a place more fans feel comfortable sharing their opinion.
Still, the good far outweighs the bad. The SensChirp comment section continues to be one of the most active and unique sports communities anywhere on the internet. I am grateful that so many of you choose to make SensChirp part of your hockey-watching experience. I’m proud of what we’ve built here and know that none of it would be possible without your ongoing dedication to the site.
So thank you.
Now, did the Sens hire Claude Julien yet?
