Ottawa Senators get it right by including women in skills competition

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In what’s been disappointing season, just a day removed from the stench of a 7-2 loss to the New York Rangers, the Ottawa Senators did something right Sunday.

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Something really right.

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The key word: Inclusivity.

The Senators held their skills competition at Canadian Tire Centre with a big twist: Four players from Ottawa’s team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League were included.

Good on the Senators.

There was a big crowd on hand as the Senators got to enjoy themselves during a season that hasn’t been much fun for the players, the organization or the fan base.

When it was done, Team White, captained by Brady Tkachuk, had beaten Team Black, led by Thomas Chabot, 16-14.

It didn’t matter much either way in a competition where the two squads went head to head in various skill events, including a puck control relay, fastest skater, hardest shot, accuracy shooting, skills challenge, shootout and 3-on-3 competition.

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But, again, back to the participation of the women — Brianne Jenner and Daryl Watts (on Team White) and Emily Clark and Savannah Harmon on Team Black. Many mornings at the rink, Senators players watch highlights of the women’s teams on TSN.

It was a really big deal to the the fans, who cheered loud for the women. And, for the players themselves, who, while they were a bit nervous, are such tremendous ambassadors for the women’s league, which is in its first season.

“There were absolutely some jitters, but I was smiling and having fun with it,” said Harmon. “To be on the ice and be part of this event was a special opportunity. I was really excited to be here with my teammates, take it in and represent Ottawa. This community has been inclusive since they announced the team here. Today shows it. Our home-opener showed it. This is just the beginning.”

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“Exposure is an important thing,” said Watts. “Young girls see women like the four of us out there today and they can see themselves one day performing at a high level.”

“We know we’re the new kids on the block, we want to make connections and build relationships with the other sports teams here,” said Jenner.

A BOOMING SHOT: Defenceman Jakob Chychrun had the hardest shot, with a boomer of 107.1 mph. Zack MacEwen finish second with a rocket of 106.6 mph. The Senators’ record belongs to Jared Cowen, who has a blast of 109.5 mph in 2015. Asked about his blast, Chychrun said: “I’ve never done that before. I didn’t know what to expect. You just try to shoot hard and get lucky. Hopefully the boys will still screen the goalie for me. I’ll have to keep the shots down, I guess.” Tim Stutzle was asked if he was surprised at how hard Chychrun’s shot was. His answer, with a laugh: “Not really. (Chabot) always thinks he has a harder shot. It was kind of good to see Chabby (98.6 mph) lose, even if I was on his team. You don’t want to see Chabby do well … or you hear about it for four months.”

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The women didn’t participate in the hardest shot, but it’s something they’d like to try.

Said Watts: “We were joking about that; it could have been fun. We wouldn’t have put up scores like they did. We might go back to our team and try to get a skills competition like this for our fans.” Asked who has the hardest shot on the Ottawa women’s team, Watts said: “Ashton Bell. She hit me in practice once and I had a bruise for like three weeks, it was yellow.” Jenner also weighed in: “I might say (Hayley) Scamurra, I’d put my money on her.”

FAST AND FASTER: Josh Norris was the fastest skater (14.252 seconds). The team record is Colin Greening (13.434 seconds in 2012). At the NHL all-star game skills competition, Greening was even better (12.963 seconds). Speaking to TSN 1200’s Dean Brown, Norris said: “I just tried not to fall down. I got a pretty good start.” Clark clocked the fastest women’s time (15.206 seconds).

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NEXT UP: There has been frustration for Ottawa’s PWHL team this season as well. Ottawa has played six games, winning twice, but could have won any of the others. Three of their losses have come in overtime. Ottawa’s next game is Feb. 4 at home against New York.

The Senators? Well, they’ll try and shake off surrendering five second-period goals, after holding a 2-0 lead, in a 7-2 loss to the Rangers. Up next is a Monday home game vs. Nashville, followed by a Wednesday game in Detroit. Then, following the NHL all-star break, they have a Feb. 10 home game against Toronto.

THERE WAS MORE: Tkachuk won the accuracy shooting (7.898 seconds to hit four targets). Second was Claude Giroux (8.256 seconds). Jenner had 11.427 seconds, while Harmon was at 13.855 … The goalies — Joonas Korpisalo and Mads Sogaard — were solid in the shootout with just one shooter from each team (Ridly Greig, with a slapshot, and Chychrun) scoring … Dominik Kubalik scored the winning goal in overtime (3-on-3) to give Team White the competition win … Jenner roomed with Drake Batherson’s sister Mae at national team camp last year … Hockey instructor/stickhandling specialist/social media influencer Pavel Barber whirled and dipsy-doodled his way to scoring six times in 10 attempts. The guy’s a magic man with the puck on his blade.

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