The NHL has released the schedule for the 2008-2009 hockey season. Here’s is the schedule for the Ottawa Senators.

I have also created a couple of desktop wallpapers that include the schedule.

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On Sunday July 20th a part of Ottawa history will be no more. The south side stands at Frank Clair Stadium will be demolished, wiping away 50 years of history in just the blink of an eye.

Frank Clair stadium, formerly known as just Landsdowne Park, was first built in 1909 for the Ottawa Exposition. For 50 years only the “North Side” stood, with seating for 10,000, the south side comprising of simple small bleachers. It was in 1960 that the South Side as we know it today was erected. The new structure added 6,414 seats in the lower bowl and 7,870 in the upper bowl. In 1967 the North Side was torn down and rebuilt to include 14,542 seats and also included the Civic Centre arena and convention space.

Over the years, Frank Clair stadium has been home to 2 CFL teams, the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Renegades. The yearly Panda Bowl between rivals Ottawa University Gee Gees and Carleton University Ravens was also held at the stadium.

It was after hosting part of the FIFA under 20 World Cup in 2007 that cracks and defects were found in the South Side stands. This lead to the immediate closure of the stands. Upon further investigation it was determined that fixing the problems would be too costly and that the South Side had to come down.

I have many memories of Frank Clair stadium. I spent one summer working at the stadium during the Rough Riders’ final season, dispensing beer to the many thirsty football fans that walked its halls. I attended many concerts, including the biggest concert to ever come to Ottawa. It was in the South Side stands that I sat for the 2005 Rolling Stones concert, sharing that experience with 45,000 others.

I also attended many football games, for both the Renegades and the Rough Riders. For most of those games I sat in the North Side stands (not by choice), but I always found the atmosphere more fun on the South Side. The North Side always appeared to have a more sophisticated, sports minded atmosphere while the South Side was always party central.

At 8am next Sunday the stands that tower over the Rideau canal will come crashing down in a puff of smoke, concrete dust and melting steel. Never again will fans hear a response to the famous local football chant “South Side sucks!”

The Ottawa Senators have added to their blueline by signing Jason Smith to a 2 year, 5.2 million dollar deal. The former captain of both the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers led the Flyers last year with 204 blocked shots and and 142 hits. He brings some much needed grit to the Sens’ defence and leadership in the dressing room.Its not the puck moving defenceman that Murray was looking for, but I believe he will be a good asset for the team.

There wasn’t much activity as far as acquisitions go for the Ottawa Senators yesterday. We lost 3 players, 2 of which I wasn’t surprised to see go. As for the 3rd, I was hoping we’d get to keep Stillman, but I guess he’d rather have the money instead of playing in a Canadian hockey city. Hopefully there will be more activity today, as we still need to pick up a defence and a forward. We can also hope that we’ll hear about Vermette and Meszaros re-signing with the team.

2:30pm: Shean Donovan has signed a 2 year deal with the Sens for an undisclosed amount.

3:00pm: Ottawa signs Jarkko Ruutu to a 3.9$ million, 3 year contract.

As July 1st comes around and NHL teams can sign RFAs (Restricted Free Agents) and UFAs (Unrestricted Free Agents), listed below is the activity as it relates to my home team, the Ottawa Senators. There’s a lot of activity happening this afternoon and over the next few days, with every team trying to land players that will make an immediate difference, or to create some breathing room in this cap restricted era. Listed below are the players we have added to our roster as well as those who have moved on to other teams. Once the dust has settled, I’ll analyze the new team from an armchair quarterback’s perspective.

3:40pm: Stillman signs with the Florida Panthers for $10.6 million 3 year contract.

4:27pm: Goaltender Alex Auld signs a 2 year, 2 million dollar deal with Ottawa.

6:00pm: Mike Commodore signs with the Blue Jackets for a 5 year 18.75 million dollar deal

7:37pm: Wade Redden moves to the New York Rangers with a 6 year, $39 million contract.

More to come as news comes in.