In a move that is sure to excite hockey fans in Quebec City and fuel speculation about the market’s NHL future, the Ottawa Senators announced Monday that they will spend part of their training camp and play two preseason games in the city next season. The Senators will face off against the New Jersey Devils on September 28 and the Montreal Canadiens on September 30 at the Videotron Centre, the state-of-the-art arena that has been waiting for an NHL tenant since opening its doors in 2015.
For the passionate fans in Quebec City, the chance to see NHL action, even if only in the preseason, is a tantalizing taste of what they hope will be a permanent return of big-league hockey to the market. The city was home to the beloved Quebec Nordiques from 1972 to 1995 in the WHA and NHL before the team relocated to Colorado. Ever since, there have been consistent efforts and a strong desire to bring a team back, either through expansion or relocation.
Senators Preseason Plans Ignite Quebec City’s NHL Dreams
While the Senators’ preseason visit is not directly tied to any concrete NHL plans for Quebec City, it does offer a glimmer of hope and reignite the conversation about the market’s suitability for a team. Senators owner Michael Andlauer emphasized that in addition to playing in front of the enthusiastic local fans, the trip will allow the players to spend time in the beautiful city as they wrap up their preparations for the new season.
In addition to playing two games in front of passionate fans, this short trip will allow our players to spend a few days in a beautiful city as they put the finishing touches on their preparations for a new season.
– Michael Andlauer, Ottawa Senators owner
The games against the Devils and Canadiens at the Videotron Centre will undoubtedly be packed with eager supporters wearing vintage Nordiques gear and dreaming of the day when they can cheer for a true home team again. The 18,259-seat arena was built with NHL specifications in mind and has been patiently waiting for its chance to shine as the home of Quebec City’s new hockey chapter.
Quebec City’s Passionate Hockey History and Future
Quebec City’s love affair with hockey runs deep, as the Nordiques were a source of immense civic pride during their 23-year run in the city. The team reached the playoffs 9 times during their 16 NHL seasons, including a trip to the Wales Conference finals in 1982 and two division titles before financial troubles forced the heartbreaking sale and relocation to Colorado in 1995.
The wounds from losing the Nordiques still linger, but the passion for the sport remains as strong as ever. Local fans have longed for the NHL’s return ever since, coming tantalizingly close in 2015 when Quebec City was a finalist for expansion along with Las Vegas. Despite having a suitable arena, solid ownership group, and loyal fanbase, Quebec City was passed over in favor of Sin City and has been waiting for another opportunity since.
Senators’ Visit Sparks Optimism
While the Senators’ preseason games are not directly linked to any relocation or expansion news, it does signal that the NHL is not ignoring the market. Bringing games to the Videotron Centre, even exhibition contests, helps keep Quebec City on the league’s radar and in the conversation for future possibilities.
The contests against New Jersey and Montreal, two geographic rivals with their own historical ties to Quebec, are astute choices to drum up excitement. The passionate hockey fans will undoubtedly pack the arena, showing off their enthusiasm and generating a playoff-like atmosphere even in the preseason.
Keeping the NHL Flame Burning
For Quebec City, the Senators’ visit keeps the hope and the dialogue about an NHL return alive. It’s a chance for the city and its modern NHL-caliber arena to showcase itself to the league and to a national audience. Most importantly, it will tap into the unending passion for the sport that Quebec hockey fans are famous for.
While a preseason visit does not mean relocation or expansion is imminent, it keeps the market in the mix and sustains the dream that has refused to fade for 27 years since the Nordiques left town. Hope springs eternal for Quebec City hockey fans, and the chance to see an NHL sneak preview and remind everyone of their undying love for the game marks another chapter in the city’s long quest to revive its hockey glory days.
For the Senators, it’s a chance to prepare for the new campaign at a site with no shortage of hockey fervor while drumming up some regional interest in the team. But for Quebec City, it means so much more – a glimmer of hope, an affirmation that their dreams of an NHL return are not forgotten, and a vibrant showcase of their insatiable appetite for world-class hockey. This preseason, Quebec City will be more than a pit stop for the Senators; it will serve as a reminder to the entire hockey world that this sleeping giant of a market is ready to roar to life again.
