Best skills on the ice: Dean Brown and Gord Wilson shoot the puck on this year’s Sens Skills
4 Minute Read
There are no bad seats when it comes to watching the high-octane Sens Skills competition, but TSN 1200’s Dean Brown and Gord Wilson’s ice-level view has given them upfront insight into the fastest and most talented players on the Ottawa Senators’ squad.
And when Sens Skills sponsored by CAA North & East Ontario returns to Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 1 p.m., Brown and Wilson will be right there for all the action as the Sens and a handful of young Junior Draft players hit the ice.
CAA Magazine caught up with the opening day voices of the Ottawa Senators to talk about their experiences being the annual on-ice hosts for the event. Here’s an edited version of the conversation.
Why do you think CAA Sens Skills is important in connecting the community to the Senators?
Gord Wilson: It brings out the hardened fan. Young fans get the opportunity to see their heroes, and the players respond by putting on a tremendous show. The players love the fact there are people in the stands who may not be able to afford to get to a game.
Dean Brown: It lets the community see them as more than just hockey players. They’re out there without helmets on. Lots of them have their own kids on the bench with them. They goof around. They’re natural. So, it gives fans a chance to see a little behind the curtain of what they are as people.
You guys have been around NHL players every day since the Senators arrived, but what more do you learn from them due to the Skills day?
GW: It’s an emphasis on what we already know. These are the most competitive people on the planet and I don’t say that in a negative way. Even in these events, they bring to the table the most competitive nature you can imagine. It’s almost as if they’re playing a game and their lives depend on it. They feast off it.
DB: For me, the most amazing thing is the speed of these players.
As hosts, you two also interact with those crowds of screaming kids. How much fun is that?
GW: Well, in the early years, we had our skates on and were with them on the ice and that was an absolute blast. Now, from the bench, it’s still an absolute blast. And you are able to interact with the fans. If you’ve never watched a game up close and personal, it’s a completely different game. These are special people with special talents. To see them up close and personal, it’s pretty cool for me.
DB: It’s always easier doing anything when the people who are there doing it are having a good time. It’s such a positive thing on the ice. It’s such a positive thing in the stands.
The event has changed a bit over the years to keep it fresh. What has the addition of young boys and girls and Charge players added to the mix?
GW: These are young girls and boys who have competed for an opportunity to get on the ice with the NHL players. They’re on a big stage. Who wouldn’t want to skate on an NHL rink? It’s a thrill of a lifetime and the players fully embrace it, too. It’s high fives and big hugs after they do something.
DB: It leads to some great generational stories. Cody Ceci was involved in this as a child and then ended up becoming a first-round draft pick by the team. And now having young female hockey players is great. Women’s hockey has exploded in Canada like nothing else. If you saw any of the crowds that have been at Charge games since their inception and how they interact with the community…there are very few feel good stories that feel as good as that one.
What are the most impressive or funniest moments from the skills event over the years?
GW: There were records set 10 years ago that are still held today. Colin Greening had a lap around the rink that was phenomenal. One of the funnier moments was when Jarko Ruutu put on a wig and a ball cap, so the hair was flowing in behind him and he had fireworks in the back of his skates when he was introduced. He had his arms way up in the air, waving to the crowd. He was an entertainer and not a hockey player on that day.
DB: For me, it’s about when you have the fastest skater (competition). You have the kids with their faces pressed up against the glass. You can tell they have the ‘wow’ face on, they’re going, ‘wow, that’s unbelievable how fast these guys are.”
Win tickets to watch the Sens Skills Competition
Do you love cheering on the Ottawa Senators every season? CAA North & East Ontario has hundreds of tickets to give away to Sens Skills!
Tickets for Sens Skills will also be available at ticketmaster.ca on Thursday, November 6, at 10 a.m. Tickets start at $12.50 and do not exceed $20. Families of four or more can purchase a Family 4 pack for $10 per ticket in select sections.
