Imagine the Canadian Tire Centre buzzing with around 18,000 fans, roaring as Brady Tkachuk barrels down the ice in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s the Battle of Ontario, the first playoff clash with the Toronto Maple Leafs since 2004, and the energy is electric. But there’s a catch! Those seats might not all be filled with Sens supporters. Brady Tkachuk’s recent plea to the Ottawa community and growing fan frustration over ticket sales highlight a critical issue as the Senators gear up for their first postseason in eight years.
Tkachuk, the heart-and-soul captain of the Sens, didn’t mince words when asked about the importance of fans dominating the Canadian Tire Centre (CTC) by an Ottawa reporter, Claire Hanna. The tweet on her X handle said, “I said this right when we clinched. It’s going to take everybody. Not just the guys in this room…it’s going to take this whole city. Its going to take all the support, all the passion that we thrive off of. In an ideal world, hopefully it’s 17-18,000 Sens fans, but we’ll have to wait and see and worry about that when the time comes.”. He’s dreaming of a sea of red, with 17,000-18,000 Sens fans packing the arena, but he knows it’s not guaranteed. Why? Because Leafs fans have a habit of invading Ottawa’s rink, and this playoff series is no exception.
Now, with playoff tickets for Games 3 and 4 at the CTC going on sale April 17 at noon, the stakes are higher. Per Janson Duench’s report in the Ottawa Citizen, the Senators are fighting back, cancelling 125 accounts flagged as “garage brokers”—scalpers, many from outside Ottawa, reselling tickets to Leafs fans. The team is prioritizing Sens fans with pre-existing season ticket memberships to keep tickets local, but single-game seats are limited, and prices are steep. The cheapest ticket for Ottawa’s first home game? A jaw-dropping $418 on StubHub, compared to $369 for Game 1 in Toronto.
Fans are fired up, and not just about the costs. One passionate supporter put it bluntly by tweeting, “Please don’t sell your tickets to Leafs fans…while it’s tempting, it is an embarrassment to our fan base and our team.” It’s a sentiment rooted in pride. Ottawa swept Toronto 3-0 in the regular season, outscoring them 9-3, and fans want to flex that dominance at home. A rink full of blue and white would sting, especially after Tkachuk’s plea for unity.
Brady Tkachuk was asked about the importance of #Sens fans dominating the CTC during playoffs:
“I said this right when we clinched. It’s going to take everybody. Not just the guys in this room…it’s going to take this whole city. Its going to take all the support, all the…
— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) April 17, 2025
This is a developing story...
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