Tailgate Party, Live Entertainment Before Saturday Home Opener

Manotick Mariners open up Senior A hockey season Sat., Sept. 21 against South Grenville at 7:30 p.m.

For the first time in more than 30 years, Manotick will be home to a Senior A hockey game.

The Manotick Mariners will play their inaugural Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League game at the Manotick Mike O’Neil Arena Sat., Sept 21. Face-off against the South Grenville Rangers is at 7:30 p.m., but the festivities will begin long before puck drop.

“This is a team that will represent the community, and it belongs to the community,” said the team’s owner and President, Tal Baroudi. “Senior hockey is fast and exciting, and it is very family-oriented. We are going to be working with various groups to get a lot of minor hockey players out to the games.”

The team will play 10 games at home and 10 on the road this season. All of their home games are on Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m.

Before Saturday’s game, the Mariners will be hosting a tailgate party with a beer tent at the Manotick Arena. The Mario Brothers will be providing live music entertainment, and there will be a number of prizes and giveaways.

Baroudi, who owns the Vault in Manotick and is also a former Senior A hockey player, origi9nally wanted an expansion team in the league, but the EOSHL had no openings for an expansion team in the eastern area of the league. However, the Cornwall Prowlers were for sale, and the EOSHL approved the sale of the team and its relocation to Manotick.

“It’s going to be a good team, and there will be a lot of local players,” Baroudi said. “Most of the players have played Junior A or NCAA hockey, and many have pro experience.”

Among the local players signed is Liam Dennison of Manotick. He played junior hockey in the USHL for the Youngstown (OH) Phantoms, and spent five years playing at Merrimack College. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Dennison headed to Salt Lake City to play for the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.

Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Ryan O’Connell, who played at Michigan Tech and spent last year playing professional hockey in France, has been signed to strengthen the blue line.

Thomas Vezina and Chris Newhook were acquired from the South Stormont Mustangs. Veniza scored 41 goals and had 45 assists for 86 points in just 36 games for the Mustangs. Newhook has 96 points in 68 career games with the Mustangs.

Goalie Berk Berkeliev played in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League before playing junior hockey in the NAHL for the New Jersey Titans and the Chippewa Steel. He spent the last three seasons playing college hockey for Trinity Western University of the Canada West University Athletic Association.

Baroudi said there are also a number of players from Barrhaven who have been signed, as he is aiming for as many high-end players who are from the Manotick area as possible.

Season tickets are on sale and are available at manotickmariners.com. Tickets are also available at Great Canadian Dollar Store, Pet Valu, Paul’s Pharmasave, Kelly’s Landing, and Manotick Home Hardware.