Ottawa businesses brace for hit thanks to Senators' playoff miss
With no Canadian teams in the post-season, lean spring ahead for sports shops, bars catering to hockey fans
The disappointing season for fans of Canada's seven NHL teams will likely see hockey jerseys gathering dust on shop shelves and beer kegs drained with less frequency, local businesses say.
The Ottawa Senators may have beaten the Winnipeg Jets last night, but a shootout win by the Philadelphia Flyers less than an hour later officially eliminated the Sens from playoff contention.
For the first time since 1970, no Canadian team will make the playoffs.
- Senators eliminated from playoffs despite win over Jets
- NHL playoffs will have no Canadian teams this year
- NHL players lament lack of Canadian teams in playoffs
- ANALYSIS: Just breathe, Senators fans, as disappointing season draws to close
Eric Laniel, owner of Lacroix Source for Sports in Orléans, said around 90 per cent of the jerseys the shop sells each spring are to fans buying specifically for the post-season.
"Canadian teams being in the playoffs, you could be looking anywhere from 50 to 100 jerseys versus when there aren't any Canadian teams in the playoffs, you're lucky if you sell five or six," Laniel lamented.
"You usually get a big rush at the beginning, it slacks down and then if they get into the second or third rounds [and] it picks up again."
Megan Punnett, general manager of St. Louis Bar & Grill on Elgin Street's "Sens Mile," said this year has a completely different vibe than the end of last season when the Senators and four other Canadian teams made it to the playoffs.
"It was really exciting, and every game the restaurant was full. This year obviously it's not quite as exciting so we're seeing a difference in the business for sure," sPunnett said.
Punnett said hockey-related business in the spring is notoriously unpredictable, so the restaurant treats the extra income as a bonus rather than depending on it.
Turning on or tuning out?
We put the question out there: Are you going to cheer for one of the 16 American teams in the NHL playoffs? Maybe pick a new favourite player? Or will you tune our and start dreaming about baseball season?
Here's some of what you had to say:
<a href="https://twitter.com/amkfoote">@amkfoote</a> I picked the 67s but not sure that is going to work out
—@jpmacnab<a href="https://twitter.com/amkfoote">@amkfoote</a> Sorry, already moved on to Blue Jays. Probably won't watch a period of postseason.
—@JudgeGuireI'm Canadian but a bruins fan. I will cheer for a u.s. team if they have a lot of Canadian players. Never Montreal! <a href="https://t.co/HhjVwA0Nme">https://t.co/HhjVwA0Nme</a>
—@conrad1320<a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOttawa">@CBCOttawa</a> with all Cdn teams out and a nation poised to change the channel, it's time for an all-cdn tourney, yes?
—@KellyPOV<a href="https://twitter.com/slowhnds">@slowhnds</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOttawa">@CBCOttawa</a> yep, completely. Couldn't care less about the other six (in fact I actively cheer against at least 2 of them).
—@OtownSensFanMan<a href="https://twitter.com/amkfoote">@amkfoote</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOttawa">@CBCOttawa</a> I believe the Raptors are second in the East. What are you talking about?
—@Chapperton