Florida Panthers Ottawa Senators To Play Pre-Season Game In Nova Scotia

With the Stanley Cup Conference championships just set in stone last night, the pre-season schedule is already underway for the NHL.

It was announced today that the Ottawa Senators will face the Florida Panthers in pre-season action on Tuesday Sept. 15., 7pm local time, at the Halifax Metro Centre.

The Nova Scotia area is not unfamiliar to either team.

Ottawa has played seven exhibition games in the maritime province (six in Halifax and one in Truro).

One of those games was against the Panthers in 2002 and ended in a 2-2 tie.

While the Senators will run their training camp out of Ottawa, the Panthers will conduct their medicals in South Florida on Sept. 12 and begin their training camp in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia the following day.

The Panthers will also start training camp in Nova Scotia in 2010 and 2011 as part of an agreement with the Bluenose League.

The mission of the Bluenose League is to position the Maritimes as the home of NHL pre-season hockey.

Bluenose League works with communities, teams, the NHL, major event venues, sponsors and other stakeholders to establish a viable sport hosting scenario that provides a unique entertainment and cultural experience in the region.

In a release issued by the Panthers today, GM Jacques Martin said: "We are excited about the opportunity to open our training camp in Port Hawkesbury and to play an exhibition game in Halifax."

"This is an ideal situation because it gives our team the chance to train at a great facility and allows our players the opportunity to bond together early in training camp."

"At the same time, it will provide the residents of Port Hawkesbury and Halifax the chance to see NHL hockey in their hometown setting."

The rest of the Panthers' preseason schedule is expected to be finalized in about two weeks, according to the team.

They will open the 2009-10 NHL regular season with two games against the Chicago Blackhawks in Helsinki Finland.

"The Senators have always had a great response from our fans in Halifax," said Roy Mlakar, president and chief executive officer of the Ottawa Senators and Scotiabank Place.

"Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Atlantic Canada region have been key components in our game broadcasts on Rogers Sportsnet."

"This game is an opportunity for our team to get back into a community that has been very supportive of the Senators," added Mlakar.

Any NHL fans in the Nova Scotia area, interested in attending the game in Halifax, can log onto www.Ticketatlantic.com or call the Ticket Atlantic box office at [phone].