CARLETON PLACE – Veteran NHL player Shean Donovan was clearly moved by the home town reception he got last week.
The Ottawa Senator, who grew up in Carleton Place, was here to be honoured before a Carleton Place Canadians game on Jan. 8.
After signing dozens of autographs for young fans in the stands, the 34-year-old was brought out onto the ice to be congratulated for his success to date and for being a role model for local players.
While Donovan was told to expect this, he didn’t know the Canadians also planned on unfurling a banner in his honour. It has the image of a Senators jersey with Donovan’s name, hung beside the Canadian flag above the rink.
“That’s really special and more than I could ask for. It was pretty awesome,” Donovan said afterwards. “I didn’t expect that.”
Donovan wasn’t the only Senator in the arena Friday.
Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson also came to take in the night along with the team’s head athletic therapist Gerry Townend and conditioning coach Chris Schwarz, who both have Carleton Place ties.
During an intermission in the game against the Cumberland Grads, Donovan congratulated Canadians co-owner and head coach Jason Clarke for bringing Junior A hockey to the area and for providing good, entertaining hockey for fans.
Sporting a Canadians jersey, Donovan said he now lives in Carp which allows him to keep in touch with family and friends.
“It’s close to the rink. It’s not far to get here and we know the way,” he said with a smile.
The 15-year NHL veteran was born in Timmins, but grew up in Carleton Place where he attended school and began his hockey career with the Ottawa Valley Titans and Ottawa 67’s.
In the 1993 NHL entry draft, Donovan was chosen in the second round, 28th overall by the San Jose Sharks. Since then, Donovan has played more than 900 games for several teams including the San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators.