Record crowds at Ottawa Senators Fan Fest this year
The 2023 edition of Sens Fan Fest broke records Saturday. With sunny warm weather all day, thousands took to the Canadian Tire Centre to celebrate all things Sens.
The team had a busy lineup for fans the event featured a Senators' team practice, autograph session, interactive games, a Sens Store sale, and a kids' press conference. With new owner Michael Andlauer officially in charge now, expectations are high and fans are excited for the new season.
The Senators newly appointed CEO Cyril Leeder said the event is a thank you to fans and a chance for the team and community to connect.
"You can see it today; fans are excited about the team this year and it's a good opportunity for them to get up close and do things they would not ordinarily be able to do with the players," Leeder said. "I'm hopeful the biggest change fans will see is the team on the ice."
Genevieve Renaud brought her nephews Saturday and was feeling the love. Though some lineups were long, they say the experience was worth it.
"I think events like this are really important for the team to show their appreciation and for the fans and for the kids to get excited for the upcoming season. It's also really great to get the community together," Renaud said. "Everyone has been great."
With four more preseason games to go and Ottawa currently in third place in the east, many fans attending Saturday say this year they are looking forward to watching some playoff hockey.
The regular season starts Wednesday, Oct. 11 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

NEW Health-care in Canada could be more like Norway's, with some improvements: study
Canada is trailing behind other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries when it comes to both the number of physicians relative to the population, and its spending on primary care, according to a new analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Schools closed, more than 100,000 without electricity as snow falls in Quebec
More than 106,000 homes in Quebec are without electricity after Environment Canada reported nearly 25 cm of snow had fallen across the province.
Escaped kangaroo found safe after 3 days on the loose in Ontario
A kangaroo that escaped the Oshawa Zoo last week has been captured by police officers after more than three days on the loose.
Israel orders evacuations as it widens offensive but Palestinians are running out of places to go
The Israeli military on Monday renewed its calls for mass evacuations from the southern town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent weeks, as it widened its ground offensive and bombarded targets across the Gaza Strip.
'Potent and impactful storm' on the way to B.C.'s South Coast, Vancouver Island
Heavy rainfall is in store for much of southern B.C. starting Monday, when a 'potent and impactful storm' is forecast to make landfall, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
11 bodies recovered after volcanic eruption in Indonesia, and 12 climbers are still missing
Indonesian authorities halted Monday the search for 12 climbers after Mount Marapi volcano erupted again, unleashing a new burst of hot ash as high as 800 meters (2,620 feet) into the air, officials said.
Serene Chinese boarding school named 'World Building of the Year'
A Chinese boarding school designed to let students unwind and “waste time mindfully” has been named 2023’s World Building of the Year.
Oxford University Press has named 'rizz' as its word of the year
Oxford University Press has named 'rizz' as its word of the year, highlighting the popularity of a term used by Generation Z to describe someone's ability to attract or seduce another person.
These are the 5 headlines you should read this morning
Global Affairs Canada confirms the death of an eighth Canadian amid the Israel-Hamas war, Venezuelans approve a referendum to claim sovereignty over much of Guyana, and international students are once again set to face working hour limits.