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A chorus of boos awaited former Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk as he made his return to the ice at Canadian Tire Centre Wednesday night.
It was a packed stadium of vocal Sens fans who did not hold back in letting Tkachuk know how they feel about him.
“He’s a traitor, there’s not much else to say,” said fan Jack Kelso.
“He promised he’d give us the [Stanley Cup], but he left.”
Earlier this year, the 27-year-old requested a trade to join the Florida Panthers alongside his older brother and podcast co-host, a move that was unpopular with many fans.
Nearly every time Tkachuk took the ice, or touched the puck, chants, often profane in nature, erupted through the stadium.
“I was expecting it, I just didn’t think it would be this much,” said fan Lesley Miller.
WATCH | Harsh homecoming for Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa Senators fans:
Harsh homecoming for Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa Senators fans
Former Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk faced off against his former teammates for the first time Wednesday night since requesting a trade to the Florida Panthers in the spring. Fans at the sold-out Canadian Tire Centre booed him throughout the entire game. The CBC’s Emma Weller was there.
A number of attendees also altered their Tkachuk jerseys to showcase their new upset with the player, with some replacing his name with that of the team’s new captain Thomas Chabot.
Others chose to throw their jerseys onto the ice.
On an episode of his Wingmen podcast, Tkachuk committed to donating any Sens jerseys tossed on the ice by upset fans to the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa.
During the game, a video tribute was made to Tkachuk, who waved to the crowd amid the chants.
Shortly after, he scored the first goal of the night in a power-play goal midway through the first period.
The Sens bounced back, winning the game 5-1.
Fans Elissa Robillard, left, and Lesley Miller, right, said there was a big reaction to Brady Tkachuk’s return to Ottawa. (Emma Weller/CBC)
Tkachuk focuses on fun
After the game, Tkachuk said he has no hard feeling towards anyone and just tried to enjoy the experience.
“It’s new, those were my teammates not too long ago,” he said.
“It was nice to be in front of this passionate fan base,” he added when asked about the fan’s reaction to his return.
Travis Green, head coach of the Ottawa Senators, said the game felt “as close to a playoff game as you’re gonna get.”
“It was very emotional, physical, was a hard fought game and I thought our team was excellent tonight,” he said.
Tkachuk spent eight seasons with the Senators after being drafted fourth overall in 2018.
He is set to return to the Canadian Tire Centre on March 18.