Without overstating it, this really was the best season I have had as a fan of the Ottawa Senators.
And while many fans will quickly default to the Stanley Cup run,there was just something about this team that made this lockout shortened season extra special. Cheering for and blogging about the underdog Ottawa Senators team was the most thrilling, unexpected, delightful experience I've had as a sports fan.
This was a team that laughed in the face of crippling adversity and continuously defied the experts who counted them out. A gutsy regular season, a thrilling first round upset of the Habs and a scrappy effort against the Stanley Cup favourites made for a run Sens fans will never forget.
Every single fan in this city should stand up and applaud the effort of Paul MacLean and his team. Believe me when I say, the best is yet to come.
I don't believe for a second this was Daniel Alfredsson's last game as a Senator but if it was, it's fitting it would come in a season where he led this team on an odds defying run. There is so much more I could say about the Captain of this team but I'll save it, because I know he'll be back for another year. We have not seen the last of Alfie.
On to the off the ice stuff. I want to thank each and every one of you that made this site a regular stop on your tour of the Sens Blogosphere. Despite a disappointing year in terms of official "recognition" from an organization I have unconditionally supported since I was 8 years old, you the loyal readers have kept me going.
Even in the down times of an NHL lockout, watching the non stop discussion in the comment section steadily reminded me just how special a community this really is.
From season to season, it's impossible to know what to expect. Last year, I was thrilled to be recognized by the Senators in what I thought was a hint of great things to come. But this year the organization made a decision to leave "SensChirp" out of their list of recognized bloggers. As disappointing as that was, I understand. I'll continue to do my best to keep you, the loyal reader, in the loop with any and all inside information I get my hands on. And that element will unfortunately always make this a difficult site for the Ottawa Senators to support.
When I was a Communications student at Algonquin College, prior to my move to Carleton University, I had a conversation with a certain Ottawa Sun writer. I was working on a project that involved speaking with local sports journalists to learn more about how they got where they are today. During that conversation, I asked him, if you could give advice to an aspiring sports writer, what would it be?
His answer…Write. Just write. This blog has given me an opportunity to do that and for that I am extremely grateful.
Over the next six months, my priorities will shift. With a SensChirp Jr. on the way (!!!), things are about to change for me and what was once blogging time will likely fill up with other more important priorities.
With that said, my website and this community of ridiculously loyal and amazing Sens fans, will continue to be an extremely important part of my life.
Thank you.
GO SENS GO!
