What to know before attending Sens Skills

Who’s the fastest Sens player? Who has the best puck control? It’s time to find out!

Whether you’re a seasoned hockey fan or new to Canadian Tire Centre, Sens Skills presented by CAA North & East Ontario is the perfect family outing. On February 23, 2025, spend a day cheering on the Ottawa Senators and getting closer to the action. 

It isn’t just another hockey game—it’s your chance to see the Sens like never before. With players from the Ottawa Charge and local junior hockey stars joining the action, Sens Skills promises to be a high-energy showcase of talent and teamwork. And the best part? It’s all for a great cause.   

Ready to get closer to hockey and see just how skilled Ottawa is on the ice? Here’s everything you need to know before attending Sens Skills. 

What is Sens Skills?

Sens Skills is a family-friendly event returning to Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on February 23, 2025, putting Ottawa players to the test. The Senators will be split into two teams with two members of the Ottawa Charge, and two of the Sens Skills Junior draft on each team. 

Following the lead of team captains Brady Tkachuk Ottawa Senators captain and right winger, and Thomas Chabot, Sens alternate captain and defenseman, the teams will test their ability in different skills challenges. This year, players will be put to the test for these challenges: puck control relay, fastest skater, hardest shot, accuracy shooting, shootout, skill event and a 3-on-3 competition.

Hosted annually since 2010, Sens Skills brings hockey fans in the National Capital Region closer to the action. Watch your favourite players compete, all while supporting charity. On behalf of CAA North & East Ontario, the Ottawa Senators will donate the Sens Skills proceeds to the Senators Community Foundation and NHLPA Goals and Dreams Fund. 

Plus, all tickets are $20 and under, meaning you can see professional hockey players at a price the whole family can enjoy.

What to expect

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This year, girls in hockey are taking the spotlight at centre ice. There are four talented players from the Ottawa Charge, repping the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and participation from local minor hockey associations. See Olympians Brianne Jenner and Emily Clark, Ottawa-born Rebecca Leslie and Danielle Serdachny, drafted second overall in 2024 by the Ottawa Charge. 

The Sens and Charge players will be joined by four local minor hockey players and coached by special guest coaches Tristan Thompson and Jon Vacher. Tristan is an NCAA Division One defence player on Northeastern University's women’s hockey team and lives and breathes sports. She was a quarterback in TSN’s 2023 Girls Tackle football showcase and was a torchbearer and gold medalist at the 2022 Canada Games. 

Jon is a hockey dad, head coach of the Stouffville-Markham Girls Hockey Association, and an assistant coach of the Markham-Stouffville Stars girls under-15 select team. The team is currently ranked number one in the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) in their division. Jon also has a long-time connection with Canadian Tire Centre — he used to work there selling popcorn!

CAA North & East Ontario will be there with swag. Stop by the kiosk or watch for the CAA car on the ice during the swag toss to get your hands on mini sticks and foam pucks. 

Plus, there are special prizes to be won, like an Ingenium Museum Family Pass. You can also enter the Ultimate Fan Experience. The winner will receive four tickets to back-to-back games on April 5 and 6, as well as dinner at the Brookstreet Lounge, a penalty box photo op, a ride on the Fanboni, and two custom Sens jerseys. 

Meet the Junior Draft

 This year, four young players from Ottawa are hitting the ice for Sens Skills. They are dedicated players who bring a love of hockey and a passion to the event as they show off their skills alongside their heroes. 

Joining the Sens on the ice this year are Audrey Hafez and Gracie Vaive from the Ottawa 67’s under-13 AA team. Audrey is a forward for the 67’s, and her hockey hero is Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. Gracie plays forward, just like her hockey hero, Ottawa Charge rookie Danielle Serdachny. 

Gracie and Audrey are joined by Gracie’s twin brother, Jacob Vaive. Jacob is a defenceman for the Upper Ottawa Valley Aces under 13 AA team. Jacob’s hockey hero is Tim Stützle, centre for the Ottawa Senators. (Side note: The twins’ dad, Jeff, is a former top Ottawa 67s player and cousin to former Toronto Maple Leafs player and hockey coach.) Our final member of our 2025 Sens Skills Junior Draft is Dax Bennet from the Kanata Blazers under-10 team. Dax plays centre, following in the footsteps of his hockey hero Tim Stützle. 

Community impact

The best part of Sens Skills? It's all for a good cause! 

“This year, we are collaborating even more deeply with junior hockey clubs to support girls’ hockey and get more teams to the competition as one way to help build resilient communities,” says Jeff Walker, president and CEO of CAA North & East Ontario. 

Over the years over $800,000 has been raised, with over 150,000 fans in attendance since 2010. This year, free tickets will be donated to community groups and hockey teams across the region. This year, CAA has donated 1000 tickets to girls’ hockey teams, as well as families from Mathew House, as a part of CAA North & East Ontario’s First Time Fans initiative. First Time Fans focuses on creating life-long sports fans and introducing new Canadians to Ottawa’s favourite sports. 

“Sens Skills is one of our favourite sponsored events because it brings together so many diverse families and shows them to incredible skill and talent of the Ottawa Senators, as well as exposing kids to another aspect of Canada’s national passion,” Jeff Walker says. 

The event is all about bringing our community together and celebrating hockey in a way that is accessible to all Ottawans. 

Getting to Canadian Tire Centre

Sens Skills is held at Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata and is easily accessible from Highway 417. For those driving, parking is available; just take the Terry Fox Drive Exit or the Palladium Drive Exit and head towards the parking lots. 

For those looking for a public transit option, take OC Transpo’s routes 404, 405 and 406. Make sure to check OC Transpo’s website and route maps before planning your trip. Doors open at 11 a.m. 

What to bring

For Sens Skills, you only need to bring your essentials and a love of hockey and community. If you’re in need of some Sens gear, don’t forget to stop by the CAA kiosk for some swag, and bring your Membership to save 10 per cent at the Sens Store. 

Small clutches or wallets are allowed, but all larger bags must head through the designated gates for your bags to be checked by security. Concessions will be open, but it is a cashless event space. Most importantly, don’t forget to bring your energy and excitement for a day of hockey fun. 

Get your tickets now

Tickets for Sens Skills are available from ticketmaster.ca, starting at just $10 a person. Tickets have been on sale since December, so act fast to grab them before they’re gone! Best of all...parking is FREE!