Chapter 5

“That does it for this edition of Sportscenter. I’ll turn you over to our learned colleagues, Gord Miller with the playy-by-play and Ray Ferraro with his very knowledgeable colour commentary for the coverage of the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens pre-season game,” James Duthie introduced.

“Thank you, James, and welcome hockey fans to Scotiabank Place, home of the Ottawa Senators. Pascal Leclaire will be the starting goalie tonight. He is in competition with Mike Brodeur, who signed as a free agent on July 1st, for the backup position to Brian Elliot.”

As the two conversed, scenes of the Senators and Canadiens warm-up were shown on TV.

“Ray Ferraro, can the Senators turn around a so far dismal pre-season, losing the first three of six scheduled games before the start of the regular season?”

“Any coach will say the pre-season means nothing to the regular season, but it does. The Senators finished eleventh at the end of last season, breaking an eleven-year streak of play-off action, so they’ll want to get back on track with a win tonight.”

“Ottawa is continuing to evaluate their haul during the 2009 NHL draft and will likely make more cuts after tonight’s game.”

“They are. Jared Cowen, who was selected ninth overall, has impressed me very much. Of course, Erik Karlsson, selected fifteenth in the 2008 draft, is likely a lock to make the roster on defense. Another defenseman who has impressed me is Scott Warren of the Belleville Falcons. Jake Campbell and Brad Hayward, also of the Falcons, plus Mike Hoffman of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, have shown solid performances in training camp.”

“Hey, everyone, they’re taking about our boys on TV!” Wendy said. There was a scramble to the TV.

“Gord, speaking of the Belleville Falcons, the Senators are making NHL history tonight.”

“That’s right, Ray. As we see four rookies posing for pictures taken by family members during the warm-up, this is the first time, pre-season or regular, that five players were selected in any draft and all play for the same junior team, namely the Belleville Falcons. In fact, there is a family connection between four of them. Brad Hayward and Jake Campbell are stepbrothers, and Brad Hayward is married to Peter and Derek Kendall’s sister, Abby.”

Everyone cheered and applauded at the mention of the boys’ names and Abby.

Gord continued, “During the CHL off season, the Falcons made two significant trades to bolster their run for another Memorial Cup. They acquired Peter Kendall from the Kingston Frontenacs and Derek Kendall from the Oshawa Generals.”

“Not since the 1999 NHL draft have twin brothers been drafted by the same team. Of course I’m speaking of Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and we know how that turned out for the Vancouver Canucks,” Ray added.

“The Senators also traded disgruntled player Dany Heatly last week to the San Jose Sharks for Milan Michalek and Jonathon Cheechoo and an exchange of draft picks. The Senators made a major free-agent signing on July 6 when they signed former Montreal Canadiens forward Alexi Kovalev to a two-year contract.”

“Montreal was also busy during the off-season, mainly replacing coach Guy Carboneau with Jacques Martin.

“Montreal also has a Belleville Falcons connection. P. K. Subban, who was drafted 43rd overall in the 2007 draft, is teammates with Hayward, Campbell, Warren, and the Kendalls. Subban recently signed his three-year entry-level contract.”

“What can the Senators do to get in the win column?” Gord asked.

“Just play sound hockey and expect mistakes from their rookies. They haven’t been blown out in any of their games losing 3 to 1, 2 to 1 to the Florida Panthers, and 2 to 1 last night against Montreal. Their roster changes every game, with players in and out of the lineup being cut and sent back to their junior teams or to the baby Sens in Binghampton of the AHL if they’re nineteen or older.”

“We’ll return for the national anthem and opening face-off after this commercial break.”