Report: Sens owner rips fanbase for dismal support

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk isn’t known to keep his feeling to himself. Maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise then that he’s taken to the media to express his disappointment in his team’s fanbase. 

With thousands of tickets left unsold for tonight’s potentially historic  Eastern Conference Final game 6, Melnyk shared his feelings on the matter, saying “It’s very disturbing, however, knowing the players and coaches they will be trying their hardest for Ottawa.”

Attendance has always been an issue for the Senators but it’s only this postseason that the story has become so well publicized throughout the league. In all fairness, the Senators are a small market team. But, small market teams should sell out games as large as tonight’s, especially small market teams in Canada.

Regardless of how Melnyk feels about the situation, it’s likely that Canadian Tire Centre will not be filled to capacity for tonight’s game. And, if attendance continues to slide into next season, there will be serious questions about the viability of Canada’s capital city as an NHL market moving forward.