Incoming Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer speaks at Sens Charity Golf Tournament
It was a star-studded event at the Ottawa Senators Charity Golf Tournament Tuesday, but among all the NHL stars in attendance, all eyes were on incoming Senators owner Michael Andlauer.
Andlauer made his first appearance and spoke publicly for the first time since being named the team's prospective new owner.
"This is an important day," said Andlauer. "I didn't want to wait a whole year to be here amongst you."
The soon-to-be owner says the takeover process has still not been fully completed, but he expects it to be soon.
"It's very important to me, so I didn't want to wait a year just because I'm not officially the owner of this team. Hopefully by the end of the week it will happen," he said.
In the meantime, Andlauer says he did not want to miss out on supporting the Senators Community Foundation and addressing the media and the fans before preseason officially begins.
"This kicks off our season for players, our staff; the training camp starts tomorrow, so this is an exciting time for all of us here in Ottawa, and I didn't want to miss that."
The excitement and anticipation of a new NHL season is apparent from Andlauer. It's a feeling that has already spread to the players, who report for medical checks Wednesday and training camp later this week.
"The excitement that he has, it's kind of been contagious to everybody else," said Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, "how much he wants to win here in Ottawa and it's a great feeling that from top to bottom. Everybody is on the same page with the goals and expectations."
"I think he has been really, really supportive so far," added forward Tim Stützle. "It's great to see somebody helping the team out as much as he did."
Preseason games for Ottawa begin this weekend, with the Senators facing the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.
Ottawa drops the puck on the regular season Oct. 11 in Carolina. Fans have their chance to see the Senators at home for the first time this coming season when they take on Philadelphia Oct. 14.
Expectations on the ice this season are high, with the team hoping not to return to the golf course anytime soon.
"I don't think I've ever been more excited for a season before," remarked Tkachuk.
"Now it's just time to win some more games," said Stützle.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

U.S. assassination attempt charges 'confirm' Trudeau's claims about India had 'real substance,' former national security advisers say
The indictment of an Indian national for the attempted assassination of a Sikh separatist and dual U.S.-Canadian national 'validates' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that the Indian government may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen as having 'real substance,' according to two of Canada's former national security advisers.
Bonnie Crombie wins Ontario Liberal leadership after 3 rounds of voting
Ontario Liberals have selected Bonnie Crombie, a three-term big city mayor and former MP who boasts that she gets under the skin of Premier Doug Ford, as their next leader to go head to head with the premier in the next provincial election.
Trump calls Biden the 'destroyer' of democracy despite his own efforts to overturn 2020 election
Former U.S. president Donald Trump on Saturday attempted to turn the tables on his likely rival in November, President Joe Biden, arguing that the man whose election victory Trump tried to overturn is "the destroyer of American democracy."
Search for runaway kangaroo in Ontario continues
The search continues for the kangaroo that is hopping around somewhere in Ontario after it escaped zoo handlers from a transport truck Thursday night.
What was a hospital like in medieval times? Researchers analyzed 400 skeletons to find out
In medieval times, hospitals took care of the 'poor and infirm,' but how were inhabitants selected and what were their lives like? Researchers analyzed 400 skeletons to find out.
James Webb Telescope confirms existence of massive dusty galaxy from early universe
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have confirmed the existence of a massive, dusty, star-forming galaxy which was first spotted years ago by a ground telescope, but was completely invisible to the Hubble Space Telescope.
Rocky planets may be able to form under more high-stress scenarios than previously known: study
A study of one of the most extreme, radiation-heavy environments in the universe has found that it might be possible for rocky planets comprised of water, carbon and other familiar molecules to form under far more intense circumstances than previously believed.
Teen girls are being victimized by deepfake nudes. One family is pushing for more protections
A mother and her 14-year-old daughter are advocating for better protections for victims after AI-generated nude images of the teen and other female classmates were circulated at a high school in New Jersey.
7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes off the southern Philippines and a tsunami warning is issued
A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the cost of the southern Philippines island of Mindanao and Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning.