Senators should think twice about a Brady Tkachuk video tribute | Letters to the Editor

Senators should think twice about a Brady Tkachuk video tribute

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My comments are in regards to Bruce Garrioch’s article informing fans that the Senators are doing a video tribute to Brady Tkachuk when he returns to the Canadian Tire Centre on Oct. 21 as a member of the Florida Panthers.

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I have mixed feelings regarding this. Anticipation on Tkachuk’s return has already begun to ramp up for this game. Not only Senators fans, but hockey fans in general, are interested in seeing what type of reception he will receive.

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I saw on at least two television interviews Brady commenting on his commitment to the Senators and his love for the city. I recall one interview by TSN reporter Claire Hanna and Tkachuk rinkside after a Senators victory. The “Brady Brady” chants were ringing down from the rafters so loud that I could hardly hear the interview. Tkachuk responded with a wave and a comment: “This is unbelievable!” But fans will be fans, and those cheers, I feel, will be turned into jeers.

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Do Senators fans feel betrayed by how Tkachuk left? Yes, I do! He basically lied and should have kept his comments to himself until he was certain about his future with the team. I know hockey is a business. But the Senators organization and the city rolled out the red carpet to Brady and he basically just rolled it back up.

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Hostile may be bit of an overreaction on Tkachuk’s return. Ottawa isn’t Philadelphia. But, personally, I don’t feel it will be a warm welcome. The Senators may want to think twice about this move. The reaction by the fans may be more of an embarrassment to Tkachuk than a tribute.

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It’s time for the team to move on from Brady. Concentrate on the new addition, William Eklund, and star centre Tim Stutzle.

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Video tributes should be saved for ex-Senator icons like Daniel Alfredsson, Chris Phillips and Chris Neil. Tkachuk’s departure and the way he treated the organization and the fans are not worthy of this honour.

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Doug Miller, Manotick

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City roads hazardous for cyclists in Ottawa

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Ottawa motorists might raise the alarm if road conditions changed as they crossed ward to ward in the city. Such is actually the case for cyclists in the capital.

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While NCC cycling infrastructure is for the most part excellent, this is not the case with the patchwork “network” of bicycle paths and lanes built and “maintained” by the City of Ottawa.

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Some incumbent councillors talked the talk back in 2022 with bogus promises like “improving active transportation connectivity,” but did bupkis. Others like Coun. Laura Dudas here in Orléans are creatively pivoting around Premier Doug Ford’s asinine anti-bike fetish and are taking the matter more seriously, and making some welcome changes to cycling infrastructure. That said, it remains impossible to bike safely to Place d’Orléans Shopping Centre along the recently renovated St. Joseph Boulevard.