It’s sort of difficult to describe exactly what it will mean to see Daniel Alfredsson’s number 11 raised to the rafters of the Canadian Tire Centre tonight.
I guess that’s because tonight’s ceremony is about a lot of things.
First and obviously most important, it’s about recognizing the fantastic career of the best player to ever wear the Ottawa uniform.
1178 regular season games and another 121 in the playoffs. 426 goals, 682 assists, 1108 points as a Senator. The franchise leader in goals, assists, points, even strength goals, power play goals, shorthanded goals, game-winning goals, shots and hat tricks. A Calder Trophy. A King Clancy Award. A Messier Leadership Award. An appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. Two Olympic Medals.
Tonight is about recognizing his remarkable achievements and what many believe is a Hall of Fame worthy career.
It’s also about remembering the “moments”. His numbers are impressive but for Sens fans, hearing the name Daniel Alfredsson immediately takes you back to a moment, a particular game, a particular goal. Whether it’s a borderline hit on a long-time rival, a shorthanded goal in the dying seconds of a playoff game on home ice or a seemingly harmless one on three wrist shot that sent a city into a frenzy, we each have our favourite Alfie moment.
Tonight is about those moments.
When that number goes to the rafters, it’s going to be just as much in recognition of Daniel Alfredsson the man as Daniel Alfredsson the hockey player. His on-ice performance was what made him an icon around these parts but it was the way he embraced our city and truly made himself a part of the fabric of this community that made him the most respected athlete in the history of our city.
Tonight is about recognizing the tremendous impact Daniel Alfredsson and his family had on our community.
Beyond the player, this is also an important moment for the Ottawa Senators. In many ways, our franchise will grow up a little bit. This isn’t an expansion team anymore and retiring the jersey number of the first modern day Ottawa Senator is recognition of that fact. 25 years in the National Hockey League and Alfie was there for most of it. We’ve all watched the ceremonies other teams have had to acknowledge their best players and now we finally have one of our own.
Tonight is about the Ottawa Senators franchise establishing that sense of history.
It’s about all those things- his career, those moments, his impact in the community and about the significance of the moment for the organization.
Selfishly though, in some ways, I feel like tonight is a little bit about what it means to each of us. It’s about Ottawa Senator Fans.
Daniel Alfredsson was an incredible hockey player and a pillar in the community- but it was the fans that made him a legend. And whether it’s about remembering better times or closing the book on the first 25 years of the franchise and looking to the future, I think tonight’s ceremony will mean something a little different for each of us.
When I was younger, my Dad and I used to watch all the games together. We went through each one of those painful playoff losses although admittedly he handled them a little bit better than I did. He used to tell me about his favourite players growing up. They were names I’d heard of but none that I’d ever actually seen play. Daniel Alfredsson was sort of our first favourite player.
I remember calling him after Alfredsson scored the goal to send Ottawa to the Stanley Cup Finals and saying “He did it. He actually did it!”. Neither of us will ever admit it but a tear may have been shed on both ends of that phone call.
I have a young daughter now, three years old; she’s a Sens fan in training. Her face lights up anytime she sees Erik Karlsson on TV. Last night we opened eight packs of hockey stickers, and in the last pack, there was an Erik Karlsson sticker. She was so damn excited. We’ve brought her to a few games already and she’ll talk about them for days after.
It’s pretty awesome to think that one day, I’ll get to bring her to a game, point to that number 11 in the rafters, and tell her about my favourite player when I was growing up.
Congratulations to Daniel Alfredsson on a terrific career and a well-deserved honour.
For those that missed it this morning, you can re-live some of the best moments from Daniel Alfredsson’s career here.
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My sources are telling me there’s also a game being played tonight.
Zack Smith is out for a couple games and Casey Bailey has been recalled to take his place. Tom Pyatt moves up to take Smith’s spot with Derick Brassard and Mark Stone. Here’s how Guy Boucher has his team lined up at the morning skate
Dzingel-Turris-Ryan
Pyatt-Brassard-Stone
Hoffman-Pageau-Lazar
Bailey-Kelly-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Borowiecki-Wideman
Mike Condon gets the start for Ottawa. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 8:00 PM.
If you’re headed to the game, make sure you’re in your seat by 6:30 PM. The ceremony will also be broadcast on TSN.
