OTTAWA, Ontario — The Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils participated in an emotional pregame ceremony Saturday night to honor slain soldiers Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent.
As fans waved mini-Canadian flags and glow sticks, players from the Senators and Devils joined together around center ice while military personnel from Cirillo’s division and local first responders stood at attention in the center of the circle.
It’s the first hockey game in Ottawa since Wednesday’s attack on Parliament Hill that included the shooting death of Cirillo at the National War Memorial. Vincent was killed in a hit-and-run attack Monday near Montreal.
The coordinated ceremony included the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Bell Centre in Montreal and Air Canada Centre in Toronto, and fans in all three arenas observed a lengthy moment of silence.
In Ottawa, Lyndon Slewidge performed the “Star-Spangled Banner” before the emotional rendition of “O Canada” got underway.
When the anthem was over, fans continued to stand and applaud.
The Senators and Devils welcomed their opportunity to be a part of honoring Cirillo and Vincent before the game.
“I really think it’s an opportunity for us to help with the healing process that has started here in the city,” Ottawa coach Paul MacLean said Saturday morning. “It started (Friday) night with the Redblacks and all the other stuff that’s going on with the tragedy. Now we get an opportunity to come in and help with that healing.”
The CFL’s Redblacks held a pregame ceremony Friday with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on hand as the league’s largest Canadian flag was unfurled on the field. It was the first major sporting event in the city since the shooting.
Thumbnail photo via USA TODAY Sports Images
