Ottawa Senators’ U.S. contingent participates in gold medal celebration

Published Jan 06, 2025  •  4 minute read

Team USA pose with the IIHF Cup after winning gold in overtime against Team Finland during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on January 5, 2025 in Ottawa. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/ /Getty Images

The Ottawa Senators’ young Americans joined the gold-medal celebration at the Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday night.

Captain Brady Tkachuk, along with Jake Sanderson, Josh Norris, and Shane Pinto made their way down to the United States dressing room to congratulate their fellow countrymen on their 4-3 overtime win in the 2025 IIHF world junior final against Finland.

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“It was really cool to see the excitement after having talked to them at the start of the tournament,” Tkachuk said. “It wasn’t really business or serious, but it’s always fun to see a celebration like that.”

The players were on hand in a box on the first level along with Finnish goalie Leevi Merilainen and German centre Tim Stutzle.

“We were talking about it being a pretty rare thing that they come into your NHL rink and they end up winning,” Pinto said. “We went down to the locker room after to congratulate them. That was a super cool moment and definitely something that I won’t forget.

“They were pretty fired up. It was awesome. We played in the world juniors and it was such a special tournament for us, and just to see them win it there’s nothing better when you’re at that age.”

KALIYEV TO THE RANGERS

The Senators studied the possibility of claiming winger Arthur Kaliyev on waivers, but he landed with the New York Rangers.

The 23-year-old Kaliyev was placed on waivers by the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, after completing a conditioning stint with the American Hockey League’s Ontario Reign, because he wanted a fresh start.

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Making $825,000 US, Kaliyev hasn’t suited up for a National Hockey League game this season after getting injured in camp. He has 35 goals and 71 points in 188 NHL games but had only seven goals in 51 games last season with Los Angeles.

We’re told there were “multiple teams” that put in a claim for Kaliyev and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Senators were among them.

Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager and Ottawa owner Michael Andlauer, have a long history with Kaliyev.

The trio won an Ontario Hockey League championship in 2018 with Andlauer’s Hamilton Bulldogs, who have since relocated to Brantford.

AN ADJUSTMENT

Everything old is new again for Sanderson.

The return of Artem Zub from a fractured foot has meant the duo has been reunited on the Senators’ top pairing.

It will stay that way for the foreseeable future, with veteran Travis Hamonic out for two to four weeks with an undisclosed leg injury. On Friday night, he took a hit from Nathan Walker during the club’s 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues, and Hamonic reached for his left knee.

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He finished the game but wasn’t 100 percent.

“It sucks. He’s a warrior and he battles hard,” Sanderson said. “He battles through every injury and it’s tough that we’re going to miss him for a while. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”

The good news is that Zub and Sanderson have spent a lot of time together over the last couple of seasons. Zub missed nearly seven weeks with a foot injury and returned last Thursday in a game against the Dallas Stars.

“It’s huge to have him back,” Sanderson said. “He just has a steady, consistent presence on the back end. I’m excited for him to return. He missed some time and I was playing with (Hamonic) for a bit so it’s going to take some time.

“It’s about getting the reps in practice and communicating with him.”

Communication is key for defensive partners, but Sanderson noted it’s a little different where Zub is concerned.

What’s the difference between Hamonic and Zub?

“One speaks really good English and the other doesn’t,” Sanderson said with a laugh. “Honestly, I’ve learned a lot from Travis and communicating is the No. 1 thing and yelling to your partner on the ice.

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“If you look back at my first year I probably didn’t say a single word to him, so I’ve come a long way.

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WATCH YOUR STEP

The players had a good laugh when Pinto stepped on the ice on Monday.

He didn’t realize that he hadn’t removed his skate-guard for the club’s skate and fell to the ice as he was prepared to take part in practice.

“I got out there and I thought a puck was under my foot. It ended up being my skate guard,” Pinto said. “I took a good fall. It didn’t feel good but the boys got a laugh out of it so that’s all that matters.”

Stutzle and Norris both noticed he was still wearing it, but didn’t say anything.

“I hate to say it but I saw him walking out with one,” Stutzle said with a smile. “I didn’t tell him. Josh saw it too. We were just kind of waiting until he got on the ice.

“I can’t believe he didn’t feel it. When you just have one skate guard on you usually feel it. But it’s Pints … I don’t know how he didn’t feel it.”

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