Daniel Alfredsson already could go just about anywhere he wanted in Ottawa. Now he has a key to help him gain admittance.
Deputy Mayor Bob Monette presented the longtime Ottawa Senators captain with a key to the city Thursday evening.
Senators general manager Bryan Murray, captain Erik Karlsson, defenseman Chris Phillips and forward Chris Neil were among those to attend the ceremony at City Hall, according to the Ottawa Sun.
Alfredsson, 42, received Ottawa’s highest honor not only for his on-ice accomplishments but for his off-ice contributions, including with the Ottawa Senators Foundation, the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health, and the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa.
“It’s rewarding when you see you make a difference in other people’s lives,” Alfredsson said, according to the Sun.
He said he has been enjoying the down time that comes with retirement, including coaching his kids’ teams, but said he could see himself working as senior vice president if he were to join a team's front office.
Alfredsson was captain for 13 of his 17 seasons with the Senators, including a run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007, when he scored 14 goals in 20 playoff games. The Swede had 426 goals and 682 assists in 1,178 games with the Senators before playing his final season with the Detroit Red Wings in 2013-14.
Alfredsson signed a ceremonial agreement that allowed him to retire with the Senators on Dec. 4. He skated with Ottawa in warm-ups before its game against the New York Islanders and was honored in a pregame ceremony.
Musician Alanis Morrisette, actor Dan Akroyd and England’s Queen Elizabeth II are among others to receive the key to Ottawa, the capital of Canada.