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    Rideau Canal open as Ottawa welcomes hockey world

    CBC – Thu, 26 Jan, 2012
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    Ottawa is opening its doors to hockey fans from around the world starting Thursday with a number of events centred around Sunday's NHL All-Star Game.

    Business and municipal leaders estimate hosting the event will bring in some $30 million in economic benefits to the city.

    That was helped Thursday morning as the Rideau Canal opened its entire 7.8-km stretch to skaters in preparation for the day's events.

    "It's important to get it right," said Ottawa Senators president Cyril Leeder. "We want our city shown in the best possible light.

    We want our team to be shown in the best possible light. So there is some pressure in hosting an event on behalf of the league."

    On Wednesday the city unveiled The Rink of Dreams, a 12,500-square foot oval ice surface outside city hall that will add another outdoor skating surface to a city already boasting the Rideau Canal.

    The events begin Thursday with a 2:30 p.m. skate down the canal with all the NHL Trophies, including the Stanley Cup, Hart Memorial Trophy and Vezina Trophy.

    The canal had been closed earlier this week after freezing rain and warmer temperatures hurt ice conditions, but it is expected to be ready for Thursday's skate.

    Casino du Lac-Leamy is also holding the All-Star Fantasy draft Thursday night from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. where Daniel Alfredsson and Zdeno Chara will choose their all-star teams.

    And the Ottawa Convention Centre is hosting the Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair from Thursday to Saturday, where fans can get a picture taken with the Stanley Cup, meet and get autographs from NHL legends and play interactive games to test slap shots and goal scoring skills.

    On Friday evening at 7 p.m. the Rideau Canal will host the Energizer Skate Night, a five-kilometre event to benefit the Sens Foundation.

    Hockey fans will don headlights as they skate down the canal to raise money to construct future outdoor ice rinks in eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Entry to the event is $20 per person or $15 for seniors or children 12 and under.

    Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon the skateway will be the site of the junior skills national championship.

    The NHL skills competition will be at Scotiabank Place on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

    Four Ottawa Senators players — Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek and Erik Karlsson — are lacing up for the All Star game at Scotiabank Place on Sunday.

    The puck drops for the all-star game at 4 p.m. ET Sunday and can be watched on CBC and CBCSports.ca.

    What do you feel about this article?

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    6 comments

    • Redfoxx
      Redfoxx  •  Winnipeg, Manitoba  •  1 month 0 days ago
      A nothing game. prestige for the players selected and big bucks for the owners. The downside of it all is that some star players could get hurt and be sidelined for part or all of the backend run for the Cup. Hockey doesn't need an Oscar Night.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Toronto, Ontario  •  1 month 0 days ago
      Really? Hockey? What's next soccer?
    • Sweet Pea
      Sweet Pea  •  Montreal, Quebec  •  1 month 0 days ago
      Even with snow on the ground, I rather watch the grass grow than the game.
    • Red Army
      Red Army  •  Ajax, Ontario  •  1 month 0 days ago
      For this city to host this event is a joke, Ottawa politicians will try to make this city as a great place but it is not. We have city politicians that rather spend tax payers money on a stupid worthless transportation system while we have raw sewage running in the Ottawa River were we get our drinking water from. This city is very dangerous at night especially at 0200 a.m. were you can be attacked and even killed. This city will appear safe and a good place to live but it is not it is over expensive and not worth the crap to live in I live in Ottawa and I am not all that happy to be here and I would recommend anyone to stay away from this city.
    • A concerned Canadian
      A concerned Canadian  •  Burlington, Ontario  •  1 month 0 days ago
      Wake me up when its all over,,,,yawn,,,hockey,,,double yawn.
    • Larry
      Larry  •  Toronto, Ontario  •  1 month 0 days ago
      The worst facet of this event is the game, one that no player on either team cares about and it shows. They actually admit it. It's not even, by definition, a game. A game is a contest that competing bodies try to win. None of that here.
     Post a comment
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