A Prime Entrance

It's not often that you find an entry on a government website like the one seen above, but the Prime Minister's official itinerary, which can be viewed online, had that entry on it tonight. Justin Trudeau doesn't often attend sporting events unless there's a specific reason to do so, but it's pretty cool that he decided to take some out of his schedule to visit the newest professional team to call Ottawa home. Joining the man with the biggest title in Canada were his kids, Xavier and Ella, as Ottawa and Boston met in PWHL action tonight.

Trudeau met the players in their locker room for a bit of a pre-game speech prior to them taking the ice which is cool, but that's for the players to enjoy. That video is circulating on social media so feel free to looking if you're interested, but it was pretty cool seeing him and his kids fist-bumping players are they headed out onto the ice.
I'll be honest when I say I can't remember any other head of states doing this kind of thing, but remove the political sideshow from the equation and it's pretty to see that Justin Trudeau is a pretty down-to-earth human being. I'm not here to help push his ideologies or policies in any way, but when's the last time that Prime Minister fist-bumped the Ottawa Senators or the Ottawa RedBlacks as they came out of the tunnel? Hint: it doesn't happen often.

Boston would end up winning this evening in a very entertaining game after Theresa Schafzahl scored off an Ottawa giveaway with 52 seconds remaining to give Boston the 3-2 victory. I'm not one to complain about the result because the overall aesthetic of seeing 5208 people at a women's hockey game on a Wednesday night in late January is proof that professional women's hockey can thrive in the right markets. Ottawa may have lost, but no one went home unhappy because the game was so entertaining. Between the physicality, the developing rivalries, and the goals scored, professional women's hockey has driven a stake in the ground in terms of claiming their part of the hockey market.

Having the Prime Minister visit you before the game? That's an experience no one in that room will forget any time soon, but the memories for the Trudeaus might be equal since this is the first time that Ottawa's had a full professional women's hockey team. Those memories are the same priceless moments for every little girl who watches these games and sees the women living their dreams.

I'm glad the Prime Minister and his kids had a good time at the game tonight, but the 5208 people who showed up on a Wednesday night to watch professional women's hockey is proof that the PWHL was worth effort, the sacrifices, and the wait when it comes to having the best players competing at the highest levels!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!