Final week, the Ottawa Senators made an open name to appoint Sens Twitter customers to their 2022-23 Season Begin-up occasion. I used to be one of many fortunate 5 to get the decision.

*ahem*
#Sens Twitter, you might be cordially invited to our 2022-23 Season Begin-Up occasion, however there’s a catch: we solely have restricted seats out there!

Inform us who you need reporting from it and we are going to get them in!

Nominations wrap up quickly! https://t.co/5j9MpPwWmO pic.twitter.com/ZXLlzF92Pv

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) August 30, 2022

First off, I wish to say it was an honour getting the invite, from getting sufficient nomination from my followers on Twitter, but in addition for the Sens opening up this media occasion for some Sens blogger/social media varieties. Additionally in attendance have been @SensChirp, @sleepenbaker, @OToole_19, and @LalimesMartian.

The occasion began off with an introduction from Sens President of Enterprise Operations, Anthony LeBlanc.

He began off with a joke about how he is lasted manner longer than anybody anticipated him to (referencing the revolving door of executives the Sens have had up to now). He made positive to thank Pierre Dorion, who’s low season has made his job considerably simpler. “We will likely be taking part in significant video games into the Spring”, and added that he cannot bear in mind a time within the final 30 years the place there’s been this a lot pleasure and optimism. Season ticket holders are up 60% from 2019. LeBlanc additionally made positive to spotlight that a lot of company sponsors have returned within the final six months. He expects to see a bigger variety of sellouts in comparison with the previous 5 years.

From a brand new enviornment standpoint, the group remains to be doing their due diligence, and expects that to take one other 12 months as they hammer out any particulars. He did reveal that they are aiming for round a 16,500 capability, smaller than the CTC at the moment, making notice that suites (which the CTC has many) are now not as widespread as they as soon as have been. The group is actively trying to find a brand new government for his or her charity basis, and anticipate to formally re-launch it this season. Chris Phillips and Chris Neil have additionally been formally introduced again into the fold. Phillips is now VP of enterprise operations, with Neil getting VP of enterprise and group improvement. We additionally acquired affirmation that Fan Fest is lastly returning this month on September twenty fifth!

We then jumped to advertising updates.

There was rather a lot on this entrance. The group has determined to stay with “Go Sens Go” as their tag line. Do not break what is not damaged! We additionally acquired the primary take a look at the thirtieth anniversary emblem, which makes use of the Parliament flag.

We we offered a sneak peek on the new business the Sens will likely be operating to begin the season.

new business for the upcoming season @Senators pic.twitter.com/yNVfU7So2J

— Margaret O’Toole (@OToole_19) September 7, 2022

We then acquired a listing of the theme nights the group will likely be having this season. There’s one thing for everybody!

Sat Oct 22 – Oktoberfest (Arizona)
Sat Nov 5 – WWE Evening (Philadelphia)
Sat Nov 19 – Sparty’s Birthday (New Jersey)
Sat Jan 7 – Star Wars Evening (Seattle)
Sat Jan 21 – Nation Evening (Winnipeg)
Sat Mar 16 – Superhero Evening (Colorado)

A few of these nights will coincide with giveaways, with a pair previewed right here. They made positive to notice that a few of these will likely be a part of ticket offers and never your typical giveaway on the sport.

We acquired a preview of the lightsaber for Star Wars night time, which has the phrases “MAY THE SENS BE WITH YOU” inscribed on it.

The group additionally launched which group nights they’re going to be doing, however no dates hooked up but.

Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Evening
Hockey Fights Most cancers Evening
Indigenous Cultural Appreciation Evening
Black Historical past Month
Do It For Daron Hockey Talks
Pleasure Evening

Subsequent on the record was an replace from Aramark on the brand new meals additions. It is no secret to anybody who went to video games final season that the meals expertise was underwhelming in comparison with pre-COVID.

This season the Sens are going to have a brand new fancy self checkout meals location. From the rendering it seems to be changing the Sens Retailer in 200/300s stage when going up the steps to the fitting from the primary entrance.

The group can be making a give attention to being extra environmentally pleasant by pushing reusable tossware that may be saved as souvenirs.

We additionally acquired a preview of all the brand new meals objects being added, lots of which will likely be out there in concession stands. The one which stands out is the thirtieth anniversary poutine, with black gravy and crimson toppings to try to match the Sens colors.

We acquired to pattern many of the dishes and I’ll say the poutine was stable, however surprisingly the deconstructed donair bowl was surprisingly flavourful. It’ll good to have some extra selections on the sport, particularly for many who go to a lot of video games.

This was adopted up with a fast Q&A with one of many latest Ottawa Senators, Alex DeBrincat.

pic.twitter.com/H22m8nWtkL

— Kevin Lee (@BringBackLee) September 7, 2022

@OToole_19 requested him if any gamers reached out after he was acquired. Stated Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot have been two of the primary to contact him, and lots of extra after that.

This was adopted up by a query from @LalimesMartian.

My query for Alex DeBrincat pic.twitter.com/ukHdMrMCPj

— Lalime’s Martian (@LalimesMartian) September 7, 2022

Pierre Dorion was gracious sufficient to spend 10-Quarter-hour with us Twitter influencers to reply a pair questions and we acquired some cool snippets.

On the analytics entrance, he mentioned it is “at the moment’s world” and that he understands it far more than once I had requested him about this again in 2015. He appears at it after each sport, with a selected give attention to zone exits, but in addition taking a look at stuff like A/B/C high quality probabilities, and 5v5 knowledge. Additionally made notice to level out DJ Smith can be invested in it as nicely. This was undoubtedly a solution that’ll please numerous the followers who have been upset Sens weren’t leverage analytics as closely up to now.

On the defence entrance, Dorion talked about it was huge open, however do not anticipate to see a commerce earlier than camp. From a ahead perspective, he listed Viktor Lodin as a man he might see competing for a spot. It is a kind of names we do not hear an excessive amount of about proper now. He did carry up Ridly Greig, and talked about how he needed to proceed taking part in within the WJC with the injured shoulder, however advised him “no likelihood”. Additionally talked about that they wish to present a PTO to suit a task they presently haven’t got.

There was a humorous second the place Dorion talked about he would take an 0-8 pre-season report in the event that they got here out of it with 0 injures. He yelled that out to DJ throughout the room, and DJ paused earlier than responding “We’ll take one win!”.

To finish the day, we acquired the most important shock of all (which is now frequent information). We noticed Tim Stutzle enter the room with Pierre in a while, however for me personally, I wasn’t even pondering extension, however simply one other interview. However as soon as they sat down it turned fairly apparent what it was.

EIGHT YEAR EXTENSION FOR TIM pic.twitter.com/4GSDksdvuf

— Kevin Lee (@BringBackLee) September 7, 2022

An eight 12 months extension at $8.35. Stutzle mentioned he did not even know in regards to the extension to inform his teammates and that he solely discovered when his agent texted him. What a option to finish the occasion, Summer time of Pierre certainly. Thanks once more for the Sens for internet hosting us and giving some followers the within peak. So lots of the executives and hockey employees took their time to introduce themselves to us and have a fast chat. I will finish this submit with a photograph dump from the extension announcement.