OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 21, 2013) - Eugene Melnyk, owner of the Ottawa Senators and Scotiabank Place, announced today that for the ninth consecutive season since taking ownership of the club, the Senators will honour the Canadian Armed Forces on Monday, April 22, when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit Ottawa.
More than 1,100 Canadian Armed Forces members and their families will attend this year's event. Canadian Forces Appreciation Night corporate supporters provided more than 1,000 tickets and another 100 were received from the Ottawa Senators season-seat owners, suiteholders and Senators Sports & Entertainment employees.
"At every Senators home game, we always take a moment to honour the men and women of our Canadian military. But tomorrow night is extra special when we have the opportunity to host 1,100 soldiers and their families. It is our chance to directly express our collective gratitude for their tremendous contributions towards peace and democracy," said Melnyk. "They represent our nation with pride and integrity and make us all proud to be Canadian."
"I want to extend my sincere thanks to the entire Senators hockey organization and all of their fans for everything they have done to show their support for our men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces," said General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff. "Their efforts have been truly amazing and greatly appreciated."
In January 2008, the Sens Foundation, in partnership with corporate supporters of Canadian Forces Appreciation Night and the Military Families Fund, established an endowment fund that enables Canadian Armed Forces members and military family members to attend one of the three Algonquin College campuses in Ontario. In partnership with Canadian Forces Appreciation Night, corporate supporters and the Province of Ontario, the Sens Foundation has raised $691,441 for the Sens Foundation/Military Families Fund Endowment. This fund has awarded 96 bursaries to deserving students who want to further their educational pursuits.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Sens Foundation president Danielle Robinson will present Algonquin College president Ken MacDonald a cheque for $691,441 for the Military Families Fund (Sens Foundation Endowment) on Monday at 6:40 p.m. in Club Red (located on the main level at Dodge Gate inside of Scotiabank Place). Remarks are scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m.
PRE-GAME ACTIVITIES: Senators players will be wearing special camouflage jerseys during the warm-up that will be signed and auctioned off during the game. The auction will take place at the Gate 1 entrance. Proceeds will be donated to the Military Families Fund.
This year the theme of Canadian Forces Appreciation Night will be women in the military. To open the pre-game ceremonies honoring our Armed Forces, a team of four women from CFB Petawawa will rappel from the rafters onto the ice surface. This will be followed by a ceremonial faceoff with His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Vice-Admiral Bruce Donaldson and three deserving women of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Canadian and American national anthems will be performed by Amanda Rheaume.She will be joined by members of the Canadian Armed Forces Central band.
IN-GAME ACTIVITIES: The Canadian Armed Forces Personnel Support Agency will operate a kiosk on the arena's 200 level, selling Support Our Troops merchandise.
During the First intermission, members of the Greater Petawawa Minor Hockey Association will participate in a relay race.
POST GAME: A post-game photo on the ice will include Senators players, coaches, hockey department staff and Canadian Armed Forces members.
RED GEAR, RIBBONS AND T-SHIRTS: Fans attending Monday's game are being encouraged to wear red in support of the troops, while Senators players will be sporting a Support Our Troops sticker on their helmets. The Sens Store at Scotiabank Place will be selling specially produced men's and women's camouflage t-shirts for $34.99, camouflage hats varying between $24.99 and $27.99, a special edition Spartacat doll dressed in camo for $24.99, camo mini sticks for $14.99 and pucks for $5.99. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Military Families Fund.
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES: The Tickets for Troops program honours Canadian Armed Forces members for their dedication to our country. More than 1,289 Canadian soldiers, sailors and air force personnel are deployed overseas on operational missions. On any given day, about 8,000 Canadian Armed Forces members - one third of its deployable force - are preparing for, engaged in or returning from an overseas mission.
CORPORATE SUPPORTERS: Corporate supporters include Algonquin College, Thales Canada, Scotiabank, Air Canada, Boeing Canada, Cisco, Logistik Unicorp, Oracle, Curtiss Wright, DRS, Hill and Knowlton, General Dynamics, Nasittuq, Northern Micro, DEW, Calian, SAAB and Decisive Technologies.
