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Thursday, October 28, 1999
A Corel farewell for Sens, Flames?
The Calgary Flames and Senators normally bring out the worst in each other whenever they get together. But at least when they step onto the ice this evening for 60 minutes, they'll still be alive to do it.
That might not be the case down the road.
"You don't want to even think about it, but the reality is, this could be the last Calgary-Ottawa game in this city," said Senators defenceman Chris Phillips, while peeling off his equipment yesterday after practice.
"You just hope it isn't. The Canadian teams are so important to the National Hockey League and you think of all the people that grew up in both cities watching Hockey Night in Canada. I hope it can be saved."
To survive under today's economic conditions, the Flames and Senators are both in serious need of financial help. They're not looking for tax breaks, they're looking for tax relief so they can stay alive in the future.
In a world of rising salaries, the Flames and Senators are two of the league's more responsible teams. Ottawa ranks 23rd in the NHL with a payroll of $21.7 million US, while Calgary is 24th at $21.6 million US.
At the moment, the Senators are getting the results and the Flames aren't, but the situations are similar.
While both teams are trying to keep their costs down, they're being buried by a league that operates in U.S. currency and a government which has shown an indifference towards giving out tax relief.
Places like Calgary, Ottawa and Edmonton should feel the most nervous about the future of their teams because there is no guarantee any of them will be around in the next five years if something isn't done.
"I listen to (Ottawa owner) Rod Bryden and I know everybody should believe what he has to say," said Senators defenceman Jason York, an Ottawa native. "I don't think he's just making idle threats to move the team.
"He's a businessman and if he doesn't think he's going to be able to make a go of it here, then he's going to move it somewhere else. Nobody wants this team to leave Ottawa, but it could happen."
Talk surfaced yesterday the Senators could be sold to a group in Oklahoma City. Suitors in Portland, Ore., and Houston are also waiting in the wings. If Canadian teams go up for sale, they'll be snapped up in a flash.
The Senators could be the first to go. They'll be followed by Calgary, Edmonton and possibly Vancouver. Sixty percent of the players in the NHL grew up in Canada and know how important the game is here.
They look forward to games against the Canadian rivals.
HOCKEY IS VITAL
"I know being from the west what hockey means out there," said Phillips. "Games between the Oilers and Flames, those are big games to those people. Those communities would really miss hockey if it's gone.
"Just look at the support we have in this city and the games against Toronto and Montreal. The whole city gets excited about this. My personal opinion is that we will survive because there's so much support here. I just hope that I'm right about it."
The players don't have a say in the matter. They go wherever the road takes them. Nobody wants to move. They want to be back here next when the Flames come to town for their only visit.
"I know being from Ottawa what this team means to this community," said York. "I've seen this team come a long way in the last five years. Guys like Kevin Dineen and Joe Juneau signed here because they wanted to play here.
"Look at the comments from Joe Juneau where he talked how exciting it was to play in this building in the Stanley Cup playoffs. That says a lot about the city and the interest that's been generated in hockey. You hope this isn't the last Calgary-Ottawa game here."
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