Ottawa Senators Foundation and hockey club set to split after 22 years
Posted Jun 4, 2020 07:03:00 PM.
The Ottawa Senators Foundation says its contract with Capital Sports and Entertainment Inc., the owners of the Ottawa Senators hockey club, will be ending this summer.
“We will look to fulfill our current operational, legal and charitable obligations by July 31, 2020, after which we will focus on the Foundation’s future,” says the charity in a statement, Thursday, June 4.
What its future could look like, however, is unknown, and the foundation says it will not be commenting any further.
Since 1998, the foundation has been working to empower children and youth by investing in social recreation and education programs that promote physical and mental wellness.
Thursday's statement goes on to say the charity has worked closely with the Ottawa Senators, “its players, alumni, staff, corporate partners and fans as well as the community at large, and together we have made a measurable difference in the lives of children and youth throughout the National Capital Region.”
There's speculation that a tweet published by the foundation, regarding George Floyd's death and the fight against systematic racism, may have upset the owners of the Senators, as the team is one of few in the National Hockey League not to have publicly commented on the situation.
— Ottawa Senators Foundation (@sensfoundation) June 3, 2020
But the club has come out and denounced that notion, saying, “The statement issued by the Ottawa Senators Foundation is completely unrelated to erroneous speculation related to racism statements, we have nothing further we can add to the story.”
Meanwhile, Ottawa sports broadcaster Steve Warne said on 1310 NEWS, Thursday, “It could be nothing, it could be something — at very least it speaks to them being on different pages.”
