A Big Loss

In some rather shocking tonight, the Ottawa Senators reported that long-time owner Eugene Melnyk had passed away at the age of 62 after succumbing to an undisclosed illness. The Canadian businessman and philanthropist passed away "peacefully surrounded by his family and will be fondly remembered by his many friends and associates". To say that this is shocking news is nothing short of accurate, if not understated, as Melnyk, who never shied away from a reporter's microphone to opine on the state of the game, will be missed in hockey circles for his passion for the game at all levels and his love of both the NHL and AHL Senators.

It's never easy seeing someone like Melnyk pass away after all the headlines he seemed to produce. As we know, he received a liver transplant in May 2015 after making a public plea for donors following his being admitted to the hospital. He is currently peripherally-embroiled in a lawsuit with a superyacht owner over a vacation that went off the rails. His on-again, off-again flirtation with Lebreton Flats and a potential new arena for the Senators is ongoing. And there have been a number of other stories along the way that kept Melnyk in the headlines since he bought the Ottawa Senators in 2003.

Most of these headlines, though, overshadowed the good things that Melnyk did for the community and the game. He opened up the Canadian Tire Centre as a COVID-19 vaccination site, helping thousands in and around Ottawa obtain vaccinations against the virus. He pledged "to pay part-time and hourly workers at Canadian Tire Centre and in Belleville for the shifts they will miss" after the NHL and AHL paused games and played in front of empty seats. He "purchased meals from Thyme & Again for staff at Ottawa's hospitals" while providing front-line workers vouchers for two tickets to a Senators game. It's clear that he loved the community, even if that was sometimes hard to see with his other headlines being generated.

Born on May 27, 1959 to parents from Ukraine, the owner penned an open letter to all Canadians to support the efforts of Ukrainian people while opening their hearts to those fleeing the war in that country. He pledged to play the Ukrainian national anthem before every home game, and he committed to finding ways to use the Canadian Tire Centre as a drop-off point to collect donations of clothing and medical supplies. He never forgot his Ukrainian or Canadian roots, and he was proud of that heritage.

Tonight isn't the time or place to start bringing out skeletons. I'll full admit that I didn't always agree with the decision Melnyk made when it came to his sports franchises, but it was his business to run. There were times I thought his comments were misplaced, but, as anyone will tell you, the worst thing about being talked about is not being talked about. Melnyk was never afraid to start a discussion with his thoughts.

I have been to two Ottawa Senators games in my life. I saw Marc-Andre Fleury and his bright yellow pads in his rookie season when the Penguins visited the Senators in 2003-04 in a game where the Penguins ended up losing to the Senators 6-5 in a thoroughly entertaining contest (Mario Lemieux did not play). I enjoyed myself that night as the game was entertaining, there were good concessions, and there was a sense that the Senators were trending upwards. Melnyk's involvement with the team seemed to have everyone in a pretty positive mood at the arena!

Just for the record, the second game I saw in Ottawa was at the then-named Corel Centre on May 2, 1998 where Game Six between the Senators and the New Jersey Devilswas being played. The Senators eliminated the Devils from the playoffs in six games in that 3-1 win. I still have the playoff towel they gave out that night!

That last point aside, there's no denying that the father of Anna and Olivia, the son of Vera and Ferdinand, and the brother of Lydia always wanted to see the Senators win. He came close with a Stanley Cup appearance in 2007 before falling to the Anaheim Ducks, and an Eastern Conference Final appearance before falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He may not always have been right when it came to personnel decision. He may not always have thought before speaking. But there is no doubt that Eugene Melnyk always wanted to see the Senators win.

The chair can be filled in his office, but there will always be a void where Eugene Melnyk did business on behalf of the Ottawa Senators. He may have been a polarizing figure in the nation's capital, but he was always wanting to win. His charitable causes, his community intiatives, and his work done to better the Ottawa area for everyone may not be appreciated as much as it should be, but tonight's a good time to remember that Eugene Melnyk championed Ottawa whenever he could.

Rest in peace, Mr. Melynk. You will be missed.

Until next time, raise your sticks in honour of Mr. Melnyk!