Home ice, fresh start: Senators ready for Opening Night at Canadian Tire Centre

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There’s no place like home.

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We haven’t seen the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre since they were shaking hands with the Carolina Hurricanes after being swept in Round 1 of the National Hockey League playoffs last spring.

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The Senators will host the Philadelphia Flyers in their much-anticipated home opener on Thursday night. After starting the season with three games in four days, the Senators are looking forward to getting back on home ice.

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The red carpet with Ottawa player arrivals will begin at 3 p.m.

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The faces have changed since the Senators shook hands with Carolina and the players went their separate ways on April 25. There is always something different about Opening Night than the rest of the season.

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“It’s the excitement of another year,” Chris Phillips, the club’s legendary former defenceman and vice-president of business operations, told the Ottawa Citizen in an interview on Wednesday. “It doesn’t really matter what your expectations are for where your team might end up that year. The start is always exciting.

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“Your goal is to have a great season and this is where it starts. It’s not the first game of the year, but it’s the first in front of your fans and that’s special.”

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Phillips, 48, who had his No. 4 retired after suiting up for a franchise-record 1,179 games in his career with Ottawa, is now in a role that requires him to help the Senators get ready for the opener off the ice.

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What changes have happened at CTC?

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He plays a key role in the changes that are made to the rink during the off-season. Yes, the Senators plan to move to LeBreton Flats someday, but they’re going to be in Kanata for a while, so they need to keep investing to make sure the fan experience is enjoyable.

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The biggest changes to the rink that fans will notice are the creation of the Top Shelf Deck, which is located on the 300 level of the building, and the rebranding of the old Bert’s Bar. Unfortunately, construction delays mean that neither will be ready to open on Thursday.

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“It’s the nature of the beast of renovations and we’re not going to be ready to go,” Phillips said. “We didn’t want to dip our toe in and open an area that isn’t finished. You only get one chance to make a first impression.

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“We’re going to be at this rink for a number of years, and we want to make sure when we open the doors it’s the best fan experience possible.”

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Construction started on Aug. 30 after the Luke Bryan concert.

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There is no timeline for the Top Shelf but, when it opens, the space for 350 people will serve as a popular gathering spot during games. The club expects it won’t be completed until next month.

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Phillips said fans in all sports — the NFL, Major League Baseball, the NBA and the CFL — want these gathering spots.

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“We’re always following what teams in other leagues are doing to improve that fan experience,” Phillips said. “We’re always trying to improve and we’re never going to be satisfied.

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“You see a lot more social spaces in the bowl at all levels and different price points to make it accessible for everybody. The upper deck will give you a little bit of that tailgate feel. You’re with a group of people and when the Senators score, you’re there and high-fiving people.”

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The Senators hold a 19-9-3-2 record in home openers in 32 games.

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