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

DEVELOPING Indian rescuers just 2 metres away from reaching 41 workers trapped in collapsed tunnel for over 2 week
Rescuers in India were on the verge Tuesday of reaching 41 construction workers trapped in a collapsed mountain tunnel for over two weeks in the country's north, after drilling their way through debris to get to them, officials said.
Life expectancy for Canadians fell in 2022 for third year in a row, says StatCan
Life expectancy for Canadians decreased for the third straight year in 2022, and more people died of COVID-19 than in any other year since the pandemic began, according to a report released Monday.
Israel and Hamas extend their truce, but it seems only a matter of time before the war resumes
A truce between Israel and Hamas entered its fifth day on Tuesday, with the militant group promising to release more civilian hostages to delay the expected resumption of the war and Israel under growing pressure to spare Palestinian civilians when the fighting resumes.
Mother of 2 and 4 exchange students identified as victims killed in crash in Huntsville, Ont.
The woman killed in a head-on collision in Huntsville over the weekend that also claimed the lives of four teenagers has been identified.
How Western Canada's sugar shortage is affecting bakeries, chocolatiers
Amid an ongoing strike at Western Canada's largest sugar refinery, bakery owners and chocolatiers are finding it hard to locate the amounts of sugar they need to keep their businesses going as we head into the holiday season.
Conservative deputy calls MP 'unhinged' for linking Poilievre and Winnipeg killings
Federal Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman is calling a Metro Vancouver MP 'unhinged' for a social media post that questioned if there was a connection between Pierre Poilievre and a weekend shooting in Manitoba that killed four people.
Six teens in court in connection with beheading of French teacher
Six teenagers go on trial behind closed doors on Monday in connection with the beheading of French history teacher Samuel Paty in 2020, a murder that shocked the country.
B.C. boy dies by suicide after online sextortion: RCMP
Mounties in northern British Columbia are investigating after a 12-year-old boy died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following an apparent case of online sextortion. Warning: This story is about a child who died by suicide and may be distrubing to readers.
Man who pleaded guilty in incel-inspired murder at Toronto spa to be sentenced today
A man who pleaded guilty to the incel-inspired murder of a Toronto massage parlour employee is expected to be sentenced today.