Ottawa 67's making temporary move to Scotiabank Place

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Blair Edwards

EMC sports - The Ottawa 67's are headed to Kanata.

The Ontario Hockey League club has worked out a deal with the Ottawa Senators, allowing the 67's to play two seasons at Scotiabank Place starting this fall, until construction is finished on the Ottawa Civic Centre.

Construction on the Lansdowne Park redevelopment is expected to finish in 2014.

The deal is contingent on the Lansdowne project, which includes a retrofit of the Civic Centre, clearing a legal challenge from the Lansdowne Park Conservancy, and approval from city council.

Fans from the city's east end will have to adjust to a longer commute.

"Certainly this is going to be an extra burden to drive further than they're used to," said Jeff Hunt, owner of the 67's. "That was a major worry - the effect this move would have on fans."

But the only alternative to moving the hockey club was for fans to endure a "virtual war-zone of construction," at the Civic Centre, Hunt said.

"It's certainly, I think, the best alternative we would have."

The hockey club, which attracts roughly 7,000 fans per game, has had great success playing home games at Scotiabank Place in the past, said Hunt.

The 67's will have to work their at-home schedule around the Senators road trips.

"There won't be any scheduling conflicts because we quite literally can't do that," Hunt said. "The Sens travel a lot - if they're down in California for a weekend of games, then we can play at home."

The move could mean a few changes in the hockey operations side of the business as well, said Hunt - meaning some players may have to find new billets and transfer to high schools in Kanata.

Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson said she doesn't anticipate the move creating traffic problems.

"They have a smaller number of people then they do at a Sens game," she said, adding that the audience is similar to the number of people attracted to a concert or other special event at Scotiabank Place.

"I think (the move) makes a lot of sense with the construction going on in Lansdowne," said Wilkinson.