Easy. Step one, make sure the baby doesn’t sleep in the morning (ah ah, easy with Mark!). Step two, head to the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata for the open Ottawa Senators practice. Step three… enjoy!

Admission and parking were free, and the arena was packed with kids and fans of all ages, eager for the hockey season to start. I had forgotten how chilly it was so close to the ice but we enjoyed the action and being able to be so close.

I’m not sure I would like Mark to play hockey, though. Not so much because of the risk of injuries, but because I’ve heard that “ice time” is precious and that kids are often scheduled to practise at ungodly hours in the wee morning!

Canadian Tire Centre
Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre
Ottawa Senators Practice at Canadian Tire Centre

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18 Comments

  1. Colleen Brynn October 7, 2013 at 4:09 pm

    I went to one of these practices for the Winnipeg Jets. It was lots of fun. Really cool to be so close!

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 7, 2013 at 4:20 pm

      Feng is a big Jets fan 😉

      Reply
  2. Dennation October 7, 2013 at 6:18 pm

    Well, Mark is almost one now! Pretty soon he’ll be walking and then running and then… He’s is Canadian after all!

    You know, I had to look up the Canadian Tire Centre on Google! While I was reading your post I kept thinking, “I think she’s talking about the Palladium.” That’s what it was called way back when it was built (and that’s the name that’s stuck in my mind).

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 7, 2013 at 9:32 pm

      I know, the first “real” Canadian of the family… Still, maybe not hockey player material with his Chinese and French genes!

      Reply
    2. Zhu October 7, 2013 at 9:34 pm

      It went through so many names! The Palladium when I first arrived, and then Scotiabank Place, and now Canadian Tire Centre. Confusing eh?

      Reply
  3. Jeruen October 8, 2013 at 1:14 am

    Wow, I didn’t know that practice sessions are open to the public!

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 8, 2013 at 10:01 am

      To be honest, I didn’t know either! I think only some games are, right before the start of the season.

      Reply
  4. Christiane October 8, 2013 at 10:54 am

    That’s awesome ! My husband hooked me up to ice hockey 🙂

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 8, 2013 at 12:02 pm

      Ah, a true Canadian!

      Reply
      1. Christiane October 8, 2013 at 9:43 pm

        LOL indeed ! Now i need my own jersey 🙂

        Reply
        1. Zhu October 8, 2013 at 10:48 pm

          I don’t even have one! I should though but I’m not a huge fan of the new Sens jersey design.

          Reply
          1. Christiane October 9, 2013 at 9:47 pm

            The old or new design ?

          2. Zhu October 9, 2013 at 10:56 pm

            I don’t like the “new” design (which is based on the historic design, I think).

  5. Abby Ang October 8, 2013 at 7:47 pm

    Hello there!

    Thank you very much for sharing great photos here. I didn’t know that practice session is open for public. Thank you for sharing this.

    -Abby

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 8, 2013 at 9:25 pm

      I didn’t know either to be honest, first year we go!

      Reply
  6. La Madame October 9, 2013 at 2:39 am

    Wouah c’est cool, je savais pas que l’entrée pour les pratiques étaient gratuites! 🙂 C’est une belle sortie à faire ne famille, t’as raison! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Zhu October 9, 2013 at 10:05 am

      C’était une bonne occasion, oui!

      Reply

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