The NHL 2012 Fan Fair held at the Ottawa Convention Centre downtown was buzzing today, as hockey fans of all stripes flooded the venue, anxious to see players and to take in all the exhibits. There were lines and lots of them on the day, lines to get in, lines to get tickets, lines to access the venue, check out lines, and lines for photo ops and the like. The good news is that all the lines flowed fairly well during the early part of the day and while the event was busy, it wasn’t stifling.
My day began around noon, and after the lines were mostly passed, I made my way to the second level where dancers were already busy busting a move.There was a history of the Ottawa Senators on prominent display on this floor, a short film depicting the history of the All Star game, the latest and greatest NHL equipment on display and a live painting being produced right in front of the crowds. The NHL Network set up a broadcast booth while Upper Deck trading cards featured a make your own trading card set up.
There was plenty to do as bubble top games were scattered throughout the Centre, as well as various skills simulation and a Timbit playing area on the third floor for the kids. There was plenty to see as media personalities, both local and those from the wider sports community were on hand, as well as a few players signing autographs. There was plenty to buy as well, with merchandisers and collectibles on hand, with enough material to bring out the geek sweats in any die hard fan.
Ottawa and its surrounding areas were on display this weekend, with the NHL All Star Draft taking place at the Casino de Lac Leamy on Thursday night, the Fan Fair downtown at the Convention Centre and the actual skills competition and game taking place in Kanata at Scotiabank Place. The players will definitely have seen a lot and made some mileage- they are no doubt asking themselves the same question that many of us have asked over the years, namely, why the arena and downtown Ottawa aren’t closer together. They will have to learn to forgive that quirk, as many Ottawans continue to do.
The weather prevented Ottawa from showcasing its world famous longest skateway in the Rideau Canal, which was forced to close due to bad weather conditions and some fairly mild temperatures for late January. One doesn’t really get a sense of how great Ottawa can be unless they’ve had the chance to spend a day skating the entire Canal and stopping at the end for a hot chocolate and a beavertail. They do make the perfect cold weather treat after a hard skate.
Judging from the crowds today, hosting the NHL All Star Draft in Ottawa’s 20th anniversary season was a real boon to the city and an excellent opportunity to raise both the city’s profile and that of the place of hockey in the nation’s capital. It is, like for many Canadian cities, a religion in Ottawa and those who adhere to the Church of Alfie know this well. Even without a Stanley Cup or a downtown arena, Senators hockey is well-loved and well-supported and now, the rest of the hockey world knows it.
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Written by Mika Oehling
Office worker and sports nerd. Cannot play a professional sport to save my life, but love to write. Prone to rants, raves, snarky humour and caustic commentary. My team's the Ottawa Senators. Author of Armchair Hockey, a work of humourous fiction released this year and available for sale online at Chapters and Amazon.
