In the midst of a disappointing season, just a day after a disheartening 7-2 loss to the New York Rangers, the Ottawa Senators made a commendable move on Sunday. They organized a skills competition at the Canadian Tire Centre, with a unique twist: Four players from Ottawa’s team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) were included.
The key word: Inclusivity.
Kudos to the Senators for this initiative. Despite a challenging season, the event drew a large crowd, allowing the players to enjoy themselves. Team White, led by Brady Tkachuk, emerged victorious over Team Black, captained by Thomas Chabot, with a score of 16-14. The competition featured various skill events, including a puck control relay, fastest skater, hardest shot, accuracy shooting, skills challenge, shootout, and 3-on-3 competition.
What made the event particularly special was the participation of women players – Brianne Jenner and Daryl Watts on Team White, and Emily Clark and Savannah Harmon on Team Black. The inclusion of these women, who are part of the PWHL in its inaugural season, was significant. The fans showed great enthusiasm, cheering loudly for the women, who, despite some nervousness, served as outstanding ambassadors for the women’s league.
Brianne Jenner highlighted the importance of exposure, stating, “Young girls see women like the four of us out there today, and they can see themselves one day performing at a high level.” Daryl Watts echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the value of making connections with other sports teams.
While the men’s hardest shot competition was won by Jakob Chychrun with a powerful shot of 107.1 mph, the women expressed interest in participating in such events in the future. Watts joked about it being fun and mentioned their teammate Ashton Bell as having a particularly forceful shot.
The fastest skater title went to Josh Norris, clocking 14.252 seconds, while Emily Clark recorded the fastest time among the women. The skills competition provided an entertaining break for the players and fans alike, offering a lighthearted contrast to the Senators’ recent struggles on the ice.
Looking ahead, the Senators aim to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Rangers and face upcoming games against Nashville, Detroit, and Toronto after the NHL all-star break. The skills competition not only showcased the players’ abilities but also served as a positive and inclusive event for the Ottawa community.
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