Ottawa Senators president Cyril Leeder hopes the Senators game Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre against the New Jersey Devils can serve as a step in the healing process for the city.
It will be the Senators first game since a shooting on Parliament Hill on Wednesday. Their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday was rescheduled for Nov. 9.
"We're all shocked and saddened by what happened here [Wednesday]," Leeder said on senators.com. "We think it was obviously the appropriate thing to do for the League to cancel the game and we supported that decision. Now our leaders, our Prime Minister, our Premier, our Mayor, are asking us to move forward and help with the healing process. We're hopeful that hockey can help in some small way to help the community move forward."
Leeder said there will be an enhanced security presence at the arena, but doors to the building will open 30 minutes earlier than normal to accommodate the fans.
Fans attending the game are encouraged to wear red to honor the Canadian military. Killed in the shooting was Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian army reservist on guard at the National War Memorial.
Leeder said there also will be a special rendition of "O' Canada," following what occurred at other NHL rinks Wednesday, in Canada and the United States.
"I thought they were spectacular," Leeder said. "It really was classy. This morning the first call I got was from the Montreal Canadiens and I thought that was a real great gesture. They want to be helpful and work with us to do an appropriate recognition on Saturday as well."
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