Fans welcome Ottawa Senators back to Canadian Tire Centre

The Ottawa Senators were welcomed back with open arms.

As the Senators prepared to host the Toronto Maple Leafs in an exhibition game on Sunday afternoon at the Canadian Tire Centre, the club held its annual Fan Fest outside the rink under sunny skies.

There was a big crowd gathered around the red carpet to greet the players as they arrived for the club’s only exhibition game in Ottawa before the regular season gets underway Oct. 9 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road.

Brady Tkachuk was a fan favourite on the red carpet as he took time to sign countless autographs and pose for photographs Sunday. Tkachuk signed John Kirk’s prosthetic leg on the red carpet.

Captain Brady Tkachuk was one of the first players to arrive on the red carpet, and he was greeted by big cheers. He spent a lot of time with the fans before heading into the building to make his appearance on a line with Tim Stutzle and Claude Giroux against the Leafs.

After making the playoffs for the first time in eight years last spring before losing in the first round against the Leafs, there is no shortage of excitement with this group, and the organization has added 13 new corporate partners along with new season-ticket holders.

Thomas Chabot walked the red carpet Sunday at Fan Fest.

This club is built around its core, which is led by Tkacuk, Stutzle and defencemen Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson, along with Drake Batherson, Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto and Dylan Cozens.

The Senators normally hold the Fan Fest with an open practice, but the building was booked for the first three days of camp. That’s why the players had been skating at the nearby Bell Sensplex.

The club will head to Quebec City for two exhibition games against the New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens after a skate here on Thursday.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

Brady Tkachuk was a fan favourite on the red carpet as he took time to sign countless autographs and pose for photographs, including a selfie with 15-year-old Noémie Brousseau on Sunday.

 

Tim Stutzle, followed by Jordan Spence, walked the red carpet at Sunday’s Fan Fest.

 

Thomas Chabot walked the red carpet Sunday at the Fan Fest.

 

Sens player Lassi Thomson walked the red carpet Sunday at the Fan Fest, greeting supporters.

 

Tim Stutzle walked the red carpet at Sunday’s Fan Fest.

 

Zack MacEwen walked the red carpet, greeting fans Sunday.

 

Nikolas Matinpalo walked the red carpet at the annual Fan Fest Sunday.

 

Jan Jenik walked the red carpet Sunday at the Fan Fest.

 

The Ottawa Senators’ Donovan Sebrango walked the red carpet at Sunday’s Fan Fest.

 

Ridly Greig walked the red carpet at Canadian Tire Centre greeting fans Sunday.

 

Lassi Thomson is interviewed on the red carpet Sunday at Fan Fest.

 

Zack MacEwen walked the red carpet, greeting fans Sunday.

 

The Ottawa Senators’ Jan Jenik walked the red carpet Sunday at the Fan Fest.

 

Drake Batherson walked the red carpet, greeting fans at Fan Fest Sunday.

 

The Ottawa Senators hosted their annual Fan Fest at the Canadian Tire Centre on Sept. 21, 2025, welcoming fans back ahead of the team’s first preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

Drake Batherson walked the red carpet greeting fans at Fan Fest Sunday.

 

Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators captain, was a fan favourite on the red carpet as he took time to sign countless autographs and pose for photographs Sunday.

 

Ridly Greig walked the red carpet Sunday at Fan Fest.

 

Olle Lycksell walked the red carpet at Fan Fest Sunday.

 

Senators fans were excited to meet some of the players and get autographs during Fan Fest on Sunday.

 

The Ottawa Senators hosted their annual Fan Fest at Canadian Tire Centre on Sept. 21, 2025, welcoming fans back ahead of the team’s first preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

Oskar Pettersson walked the red carpet, greeting fans Sunday.

 

Summer Guilmette flashed peace signs as she eagerly awaited the players arrival on the red carpet Sunday.

 

A large group of players took time to sign autographs for fans Sunday at Fan Fest.

 

Jackson Parsons was part of the large group of players taking time to sign autographs for fans Sunday at Fan Fest.

 

Tyler Boucher was part of the large group of players taking time to sign autographs for fans Sunday at Fan Fest.

 

Brady Tkachuk was a fan favourite on the red carpet as he took time to sign countless autographs and pose for photographs Sunday.

 

The Ottawa Senators hosted their annual Fan Fest at Canadian Tire Centre on Sept. 21, 2025.

 

Brady Tkachuk signed John Kirk’s prosthetic leg on the red carpet Sunday afternoon.

 

Brady Tkachuk was a fan favourite on the red carpet as he took time to sign countless autographs and pose for photographs Sunday.

 

Dave Poulin, senior vice-president of hockey operations with the Ottawa Senators, spoke with Ian Mendes on stage during Fan Fest.

 

Dave Poulin, senior vice-president of hockey operations with the Ottawa Senators, spoke with Ian Mendes on stage during Fan Fest.

 

Cyril Leeder, president and CEO of the Ottawa Senators, spoke with Ian Mendes on stage during Fan Fest.

 

Cyril Leeder, president and CEO of the Ottawa Senators, spoke with Ian Mendes on stage during Fan Fest.

 

Players walked the red carpet, trying to greet as many fans as they could, on their way into the Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday.

 

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