While Team USA’s win on Sunday was a bittersweet moment for the Canadians on the Ottawa Senators and their fanbase, the team will be happy to welcome back captain Brady Tkachuk and star defenceman Jake Sanderson with gold medals from the Olympics.
“Obviously, you’re always going to cheer for your country, but it’s amazing to see for [video coach] Mike King, Chucky, and Sandy, to see them win,” said Thomas Chabot, who captained Team Canada’s entry to the 2022 IIHF World Championships.
“Obviously it sucks for [equipment manager] Johnny [Forget] and [athletic therapist] Dom [Nicoletta], I’m sure they had a great experience, it’s unfortunate but at the end of the day only one team can win.”
“Pretty neat for Brady and Sandy, little disappointed as a Canadian, but that’s the way she goes sometimes,” said Ridly Greig, who played for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Championships.
“I was telling the boys, I think I chewed all my nails off, but yeah, what a game. I thought Canada was pretty dominant throughout the whole game. Couple bounces [that didn’t go] the Canadian way, and yeah, unfortunate.”
For the American Senators, meanwhile, there are no mixed emotions. “Yeah, obviously just just pretty nerve wracking I think,” said Shane Pinto about the game. Pinto has racked up 19 points in 16 games playing for Team USA at the last two World Championships with many of the American Olympians.
“You know, we got the first one, and then they played really well obviously, Canada, but, yeah, Hellebuyck had a hell of a game for us, and just super happy obviously, for the country and obviously for Sandy and Brady, it’s so special, just happy for them, and coming home with gold has to be pretty cool.”
“Came to the rink a little happier today,” said Tyler Kleven, Sanderson’s college teammate, Senators lockermate, and alumnus of the US National Team Development Program.
“I was cheering on the boys Brady and Jake out there, it’s a tough battle. I mean, obviously there’s a Canadian fanbase here and I’m American, but I mean I’m happy to see the Americans come out on top.”
The Senators watched their teammates win gold before arriving at Canadian Tire Centre for the team’s annual Sens Skills competition, where Team Batherson defeated Team Chabot 30-25.
Ridly Greig outpaced Nick Cousins in the fastest skater event, Drake Batherson repeated and set a new personal best of 106.0 miles per hour in the hardest shot portion, while Ottawa Charge winger Rebecca Leslie nailed four targets in the accuracy contest in just 9.54 seconds.
“She was telling me before that we were kind of wasting time, that she wasn’t going to get it done, and she won it all, so I told her good job on that,” said Chabot about Leslie, who was one of four Charge players who participated in the family-friendly event.
“But no, it’s fun, it’s fun to have them apart of it, I mean they’re doing a hell of a job. They have a big group of fans behind them downtown in the same city as us. And that’s what it’s all about, it’s growing the game together, and getting to meet them… I think the whole day is just a win for everybody.”
Lars Eller and Tim Stützle both returned from Milan in time to join their teammates on the bench at the competition. This week, the team will also welcome Nikolas Matinpalo, who won bronze with Finland, and their American gold medalists.
“I would hope they come and bring it and show it, I’d love to see it,” said Chabot about their gold medals. “I mean, who gets to do that in their life? Not many people, right. No, probably kind of maybe bring it and not show it to Johnny and Dom too much not to rub it in their face, but no, I hope they bring it in honestly, it’d be pretty cool to see it.”
