Ottawa Senators

Founded: 1992-1993 (franchise awarded December 6, 1990)

Arena: Corel Centre[?] (capacity 18,500)

Uniform colors: black, red, gold, white

Logo design: Roman gladiator

League championships won: 0

Franchise history

In 1992, the Ottawa Senators began play in the modern era. A different franchise, but also based in Ottawa, competed in the National Hockey League from 1901 to 1934, winning 9 Stanley Cups. This franchise was originally nicknamed Silver Seven, and later nicknamed Senators.

Currently (2003), the general manager is John Muckler[?] and the head coach is Jacques Martin.

The Senators suffered through several miserable seasons after they started play, but have consistently made the playoffs during Martin's tenure. Ottawa has had limited success in the playoffs, however, having won only four series in their seven trips to the postseason, first round defeats of the New Jersey Devils in 1998, the Philadelphia Flyers in 2002, and defeating both the New York Islanders (in the first round) and the Philadelphia Flyers (in the second round) in 2003. Ottawa has won their division thrice, in 1998-1999, 2000-2001, and again in the 2002-2003 season. In the 2002-2003 season the Senators also won the President's Trophy for the best team in the NHL. The 2003 playoffs were the best yet by the modern Senators, as they came within one game of the Stanley Cup final before being dfeated by the New Jersey Devils. The Senators are considered by many to be one of the favourite teams to win the 2004 Stanley Cup.

The Senators began play in the Ottawa Civic Centre[?] a small arena by professional standards, seating approximately 10,500. They moved to the building formerly known as the Palladium, now called the Corel Centre[?], in January 1996.

Ottawa was locked in a contract dispute with Alexei Yashin[?] during the 1999-2000 season. Yashin held out for the entire season, but it was ruled that he still owed the Senators a year. He played during the 2000-2001 season, but was traded in summer 2001 to the New York Islanders for Zdeno Chara[?], Bill Muckalt[?] and the Islanders' first round, and second overall, pick, which the Senators used to draft Jason Spezza[?].

The Senators filed for bankruptcy on January 9, 2003, after a long history of debt. They continued regular season play after getting some emergency financing from the NHL.

As of May 2003, the team was in the process of being purchased by pharmaceutical magnate Eugene Melnyk[?].

Players of Note

Hall of Famers:

• None

Current stars:

• Daniel Alfredsson[?]
• Radek Bonk[?]
• Marian Hossa[?]
• Martin Havlat[?]
• Wade Redden[?]
• Zdeno Chara[?]
• Patrick Lalime[?]
• Mike Fisher[?]

Not to be forgotten:

• Shawn McEachern[?]
• Alexei Yashin[?]

Retired Numbers:

• 8 Frank Finnigan[?] (from the original Senators franchise).

Ottawa Senators official web site (http://www.ottawasenators.com/)