For nervous Sens fans, jersey kerfuffle a 'tragic misstep'
Team president apologizes after mascot appears wearing half-Senators, half-Nordiques logo
Ottawa Senators fans are voicing strong criticism over an announcement this week that featured the team's mascot wearing a half-Sens, half-Quebec Nordiques jersey.
One fan is calling the move "a ridiculous sideshow" that clashes with the new ownership group's usually measured approach.
At a news conference on Monday, the Senators announced plans to play two pre-season games in Quebec City. But that was overshadowed when team mascot Spartacat appeared clad in a jersey with the logos of both the Senators and the defunct Quebec Nordiques.
Fans reacted swiftly online, with some taking Sparty's jersey as a signal the team is about to up stakes and move to Quebec.
Longtime Senators season ticket holder Govindh Jayaraman expressed his disbelief at the stunt, calling it "just ridiculous." Jayaraman expressed concern that the team appears to be prioritizing growing its fan base in Quebec over focusing on its loyal supporters in Ottawa.
"The one priority for the Ottawa Senators is this market. This is the first market," he said.
Leeder issues apology
The new ownership group, led by Michael Andlauer, has earned praise from fans for its strategic and thoughtful approach after years of turmoil under former owner Eugene Melynk, who threatened to move the team to another city.
That fraught history means some fans still live with a lingering fear that the team could move.
In response to the criticism, Senators president Cyril Leeder took to social media Monday, acknowledging the mistake and apologizing to fans.
"Putting our beloved Sparty in a Sens/Nords jersey was wrong," Leeder wrote, adding the team logo "is sacred" and shouldn't have been meddled with.
Sens Fans. For clarity<br> 1. The team is not moving. Period. (other than hopefully downtown)<br> 2. Putting our beloved Sparty in a Sens/Nords jersey was wrong. Today was a good reminder that our logo is sacred. As CEO, I own this one<br><br>Now, hopefully we can all focus on WASH <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GSG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GSG</a>
—@cyleederJayaraman called it a "tragic misstep," and out of character for the new regime.
"This group has made themselves known in this community for being heart-centred, well-thought-out," Jayaraman said. "What they do next is going to be really important."
Jayaraman remains optimistic Senators ownership will learn from the backlash. He urged them to "stay out of their own net" and refocus on regaining the trust of the Ottawa fan base.
The split jersey announcement has overshadowed the team's recent success on the ice, including a six-game winning streak.
"That should be the narrative this week. That should be the narrative for the entire week, but it's not," Jayaraman said.