Yesterday, the Ottawa Senators made a big announcement. The Senators announced they would be playing in two preseason games next season in Quebec City.
The announcement created controversy among the Sens fans. Some Sens fans could have some fear that the Senators will leave Ottawa and go to Quebec City. In 1995, the then Quebec Nordiques left Quebec City and relocated to Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche.
Senators mascot Spartacat would wear a half Senators and half Nordiques jersey when the announcement came. With all the controversy going around, Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot would make something clear to Sens fans.
Chabot says Senators aren't going anywhere
Today, Chabot talked about the preseason games in Quebec City. Chabot said he understood where the Sens fans were "coming from" with some being frustrated with Spartacat wearing a half Nordiques jersey and the Senators playing in Quebec City. Even with fans frustration, Chabot made it clear of one thing.
Sens D Thomas Chabot discusses the controversy surrounding Sens mascot Spartacat wearing a spliced Nordiques/Senators jersey. pic.twitter.com/hsdNd1p2N9
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 28, 2025
"At the end of the day, the Sens are not going anywhere," Chabot said. "We're in Ottawa. We love being in Ottawa. There's nowhere else we'd rather play than Canadian Tire Centre here every single night."
What some might not know is Chabot is a Quebec native. By the time Chabot was born in January 1997, the Nordiques were gone and the Avalanche were in the middle of their second season. Today, the Nordiques jersey is still popular and some fans will still wear Nordique jerseys to NHL games. Chabot called the Nordiques jersey a "famous jersey."
Chabot also expressed how his father would be "pumped" to see the Spartacat wear half of a Nordiques jersey. Chabot made another comment on Spatacat wearing the Nordiques jersey with the Senators playing in Quebec City.
"You're gonna go to Quebec City, the jersey's famous, everybody loves the jersey there," Chabot said.
The Senators have called Ottawa home since the 1992-93 season. With Chabot expressing that he loves playing in Ottawa and even though the Senators will play two preseason games next season in Quebec City, he's made it clear the Senators aren't going anywhere.
The Sens fans' controversy with Quebec City will still go on and some fans have a right to be concerned. However, there is still a season to finish and the Senators can't be distracted with outside noise surrounding Quebec City. A big game on Thursday night against the Washington Capitals is next on the schedule.