OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs will stage a co-ordinated tribute Saturday night to honour the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives this week in the nation's capital and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.
The tribute will be staged simultaneously before games at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, the Bell Centre in Montreal and Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The teams also want to show appreciation for the men and women whose selfless actions stopped the attackers and aided the victims, the Senators said in a statement Friday.
Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was killed Wednesday at the National War Memorial when a gunman shot him in the back with a shotgun before storming into the Centre Block on Parliament Hill. The gunman was later shot dead.
On Monday, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was killed and another soldier was injured when a man deliberately drove a car into them in the parking lot of a federal building near Montreal. The driver fled the scene but was later shot dead after a pursuit.
"As we continue to reflect on the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths of two (of) our country's soldiers on Canadian soil, we do so with heavy hearts" said Senators owner Eugene Melnyk. "But what doesn't break us, makes us stronger. Today our country stands more united than ever and so does the entire NHL family.
"We are very pleased to join forces with the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs in co-ordinating a unique and special tribute prior (to) our games on Saturday in honour and recognition of these two brave soldiers, their families and all members of our Canadian military."
The Senators are hosting the New Jersey Devils, the Canadiens will entertain the New York Rangers and the Maple Leafs are home to the Boston Bruins.
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