OttawaOn Saturday the Ottawa Senators will mark 35 years since being awarded an NHL franchise in the league’s 1990 expansion.Sens, Tampa Bay Lightning selected as expansion teams in 1990Jayden Dill · CBC News · Posted: Dec 04, 2025 3:44 PM EST | Last Updated: 30 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Ottawa Senators mark 35 years since returning to the NHLOttawa was awarded an NHL franchise in the league’s 1990 expansion, returning the Senators after a nearly six-decade absence.On Saturday, the Ottawa Senators will mark 35 years since NHL hockey returned to the nation’s capital.The Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning were awarded franchises in the league’s 1990 expansion, setting the stage for the NHL to come back to Ottawa in 1992 after a near six-decade absence.Key individuals from the Sens’ expansion bid will be recognized Saturday, when the team takes on the St. Louis Blues at 7 p.m.One of those individuals is former owner Bruce Firestone, who led the bid.”In some ways it was the most important day of my life,” Firestone said.Ottawa Senators president Cyril Leeder says the memory of Ottawa receiving an NHL franchise is etched in his brain. (Martin Comtois/Radio-Canada)Current president Cyril Leeder was also part of the founding group and said the memory of the announcement is etched in his brain.”I almost remember the words exactly: ‘Today the board of governors awarded [a new franchise] to the city of Ottawa.’ Then there’s a big cheer,” he recalled.The group took a few years to build the team, which debuted during the 1992-93 season.’A character test’Ahead of Saturday’s festivities, Firestone also reflected on how the bid almost fell apart.He recalled a member of the board of governors approaching him to say they would “never, ever, ever get a franchise in Ottawa.””[They] wanted to see who would quit and who wouldn’t,” Firestone said. “It was a character test.”He said his thoughts went to the millions spent on the bidding process and land for a new arena and he became doubtful.”I said, ‘Guys, it doesn’t look very good. I think we might have lost that.’ And there was a couple of tears, maybe, in my eye.” Firestone said.When the board notified the Ottawa camp that their bid was successful, Firestone said he was overjoyed.”I went, ‘Oh, my God, we just won this thing.”Exceeding expectations 35 years later, president saysThe winning bid marked an end to a decades-long hiatus of professional hockey in the nation’s capital.Then mayor Jim Durrell called it the “the biggest thing to ever happen to the city of Ottawa” at the time.”I think Jim Durrell coined it best,” Leeder said. “I think he was right about that.”Now, 35 years later, the team has “way exceeded those expectations,” he added.”Whatever we thought it was gonna be, it’s been that multiple times over,” Leeder said. “It’s really been a fantastic … part of history for Ottawa.”Sens owner Michael Andlauer is working with the National Capital Commission to build an arena for the team at LeBreton Flats. (Jean Delisle/CBC)Current team owner Michael Andlauer said he’s excited about the team’s future.”I think we’re making good progression on the ice,” Andlauer said. “Every year we seem to have a stronger team as we’re maturing.”The team is currently third in the Atlantic Division.Off the ice, Andlauer said the plan to build a new stadium at LeBreton Flats is exciting.”[It’s] right across the river from downtown Gatineau and two kilometers from Parliament Hill. What an amazing location, too, for people in that region to be entertained,” he said. Firestone said the team has been hoping to build an arena downtown since joining the league 35 years ago.”If we do get an opportunity to actually build it downtown, I think that would be a good thing,” Firestone said.ABOUT THE AUTHORJayden Dill is a reporter with CBC Ottawa. Feel free to send him your story ideas and news tips at jayden.dill@cbc.caWith files from Radio-Canada’s Martin Comtois
Sens to mark 35 years since NHL’s return to nation’s capital
