Chris Neil

Adam Proteau writes about number retirements for Dustin Brown last week and Chris Neil Friday night and the Anthony Duclair Foundation.

The niche the grinder carved out in Ottawa is unlike any player in NHL history.

In that way, his perseverance embodies the spirit of the Senators, and it seems very appropriate to see his jersey raised to the rafters tonight. And he never crossed the line; never once was he suspended. Neil had the ability to make any moment in any game memorable. I’d point out that no team has had a grinder with the longevity of Neil. The Sens would’ve had a powerplay, but to put Glass in his place, Neil cancelled it out. But he gave off the impression of a guy who gave it everything every shift, and that was endearing to many. He gave the impression of the everyman, a hockey player from Flesherton, ON — a village of 500 — who used hard work to stick in the NHL. The Sens went on to win that game. After being drafted, he returned to the OHL and posted 72 points in 66 games. It’s a legacy unlike any in the NHL, and with the way the game as evolved, it’s on that I don’t think will ever be mirrored. [Red Wings](https://www.wingingitinmotown.com) and seven with the Blackhawks, the only one to play with just two franchises. Of the 19 players ahead of him, none of them spent their careers with a single team.

An Ottawa family wants people to know what Chris Neil, who is having his number retired by the Senators, means to them and the community.

But when you ask Lawson to list the reasons why Neil is worthy of a jersey retirement, he steers away from his on-ice accomplishments. “That number is going to be up in the rafters forever. Even though Lawson was sitting on the opposite blue line from where the hit occurred, he could feel the impact up in the 300-level of the arena. The next time Neil paid a visit, Matthew made sure he relayed a message of sympathy. “Matthew had his alphabet and he spelled out, ‘I’m sorry’ after he found out that Chris’ mom had died,” said Stephanie. It was on one of those bad days that Chris Neil and his wife, Cait, paid a visit to Matthew’s hospital room. “Chris never hesitated to come in and talk to Matthew directly. And he finished with a flourish, describing his mom’s reaction when he removed his ball cap to expose his botched attempt at a self haircut. Matthew required special permission for a one-day pass to leave the hospital, but his family was desperate to find any way to brighten his mood. That was the beginning for them.” It was during one of his extended stays in Toronto in 2014 that Matthew was first introduced to Chris Neil. “He sees more when he’s at home and watching on television,” says his father, Bruno.

Neil joins Daniel Alfredsson and Chris Phillips as the only Senators players in the modern era to have their jersey retired. Fans asked to arrive by 6 p.m.. The ...

house, with proceeds going to teen beating victim](https://bc.ctvnews.ca/judge-orders-sale-of-b-c-house-with-proceeds-going-to-teen-beating-victim-1.6279256) Dan LeBlanc and Andrew Stevens. [Fisheries department to shut 15 salmon farms off B.C. Three weeks after his brush with death, the team at London Health Sciences Centre are recounting the herculean undertaking it took to save young Waylon. [Edmonton](https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/) [Warrants issued for man in 'violent' homicide in central Edmonton in December](https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/warrants-issued-for-man-in-violent-homicide-in-central-edmonton-in-december-1.6279060) [Kitchener](https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/) [Freezing rain halts ION service](https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/freezing-rain-halts-ion-service-1.6278524) In one instance, a victim was sprayed with bear repellent. The lawyer for Pierre Ny St-Armand has requested his client undergo a psychological exam to determine his mental state. [London](https://london.ctvnews.ca/) [London man pleads guilty in violent death of partner](https://london.ctvnews.ca/london-man-pleads-guilty-in-violent-death-of-partner-1.6279313) A former Canadian sniper has triggered a cross-border battle over press freedom, after providing classified information to an American podcaster. A 16-year-old boy was arrested Thursday in connection with four Montreal robberies involving buy-and-sell websites. Neil played his entire 15-year career with the Senators, scoring 112 goals and adding 138 assists during 1,026 regular season games.

Suivez le match entre les Blackhawks et les Sénateurs avec RDS et le RDS.ca. Sommaire. Publicité. Chris Neil est maintenant un immortel de l'organisation ...

« J'ai eu le privilège d'avoir de grands entraîneurs en commençant par Jacques Martin qui a structuré mon jeu. Et ce n'est pas parce que nous allions en finale, c'est parce qu'il y avait 15 000 personnes qui nous attendaient à notre arrivée à l'aéroport. « Un de mes meilleurs souvenirs dans cette ville remonte à 2007 quand nous avons battu les Sabres de Buffalo pour atteindre la finale de la coupe Stanley.

From the moment he put on an Ottawa Senators jersey Neil was fully committed to the organization.

“He loved to be the prankster, but he didn’t take it back very well,” said Smith. He’s committed to his family and he’s one of those guys that what you see is what you get.” It was the second game of the series and the Senators were up 3-0 a lock to tie the series 1-1. He was the guy opposing D-men didn’t want to be on the ice against because Chris would make them pay.” “He didn’t need to fight him at that point, but it was a statement,” said Redden. Some hijinks included Neil putting Smith’s clothes in the ice machine during practice, leaving Smith in search of dry clothes. What many might not know about Neil was his love of pranks. During the final minute of regulation Neil took on Eric Cairns, who had a good four inches and 20 pounds on Neil. “I remember when he came to his first training camp and he just fought everybody,” recalled Wade Redden, who spent six years as Neil’s teammate and remains a close friend. Drafted in the sixth round, 161st overall, in 1998, Neil went on to play 1,026 games over 15 seasons with the Senators, finishing with 112 goals and 250 points. He brought a lot of energy and toughness everyday that he showed up to the rink. "I look back to when he first joined our team and what we were lacking.

Chris Neil naturally chose the home team penalty box from which to salute Senators fans following his jersey retirement ceremony.

"He's not just running out of his way to make sure he gets his hits," Alfie said, during a series against the Rangers. Neil and his wife Cait have been affiliated with Roger's House, a palliative care facility named in honour of the late Roger Neilson, for more than a decade. He came into that series (Game 5) and changed the tone of the series." "Chris, as a player, was a warrior, on and off the ice. He sits 20th on the NHL’s all-time penalty minutes list and is one of only two players in NHL history to compile over 1,000 games and 2,500 penalty minutes while playing the entirety of his career for a single franchise. Neil is one of only three players (with Alfredsson and Phillips) in Senators history to dress in 1,000 games for the club. "And I think that’s kind of how he announced himself to the team ... 25 jersey is the fourth in the history of the Senators franchise to be retired and third of the modern era. 25 for all he has given the Senators and this region. Filmed walking out to the ice from the Senators room, where he donned his Sens sweater for one more time, Neil walked through a phalanx of ex-teammates, with Phillips and Alfredsson the last pair to greet him. And he had to crack a lineup on the right side that included Alfredsson, Marian Hossa and Martin Havlat. All those times he would win a fight and raise his arms to ignite fans in the stands?

The tough winger's jersey is only the third retired in modern franchise history, joining those of Daniel Alfredsson and Chris Phillips.

“It’s about the amount of time and work that people put into an organization,” Smith said. “When you’re on the fourth line, and in and out of the lineup, teams don’t have to deal with you. “How many buildings did guys go in and get an extra foot or two feet because he was out there. “How many players played better because Chris Neil played with them in what was a really tough era,” current Senators head coach D.J. It was Neil’s debut in the post-season that spring and he brought valuable experience after being part of so many previous playoff runs. The two teams combined for 78 penalty minutes in Game 4 and the Senators didn’t like the perception they had been pushed around by the Rangers. Kyle Turris scored the winner in overtime in a 5-4 victory, giving Ottawa a 3-2 series lead, and he credited Neil’s presence. Born in Flesherton, Ont., Neil has made his home in Ottawa with his wife Caitlin and their three children. He also thanked former coaches Jacques Martin, Paul MacLean, Dave Cameron and the late Bryan Murray. “This truly is a special honour to have number going beside two legends with Alfie and Philly,” Neil told the crowd. 11 delivered the banner to the sounds of thunderous applause and a standing ovation. Article content

Chris Neil spent 15 seasons with the Senators, skating in 1026 NHL games. He holds the franchise's all-time leading penalty...

In typical Neil fashion, he exited the ceremony via the penalty box. During Neil’s jersey retirement ceremony, former teammate Chris Phillips spoke on Neil’s toughness, ability to fire up the crowd and most importantly how great of a player and person he is. Neil’s jersey will join Chris Phillips and Daniel Alfredsson as the third member of the modern-era Senators to have his jersey retired.

Chris Neil, the greatest enforcer in Ottawa Senators history, is now forever No. 25 in the rafters at Canadian Tire Centre.

He came in that series, changed the tone of the series, we beat the Rangers, and Chris had a lot to do with it." "He was obviously cut from a different cloth than the rest of us. "I look back to when he first came and joined our team and where we were as a team," Redden said. "How many players played better because Chris played with them over that amount of time in a real tough era?" "That tells you that he never crossed the line," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. But the real truth behind it was to let my mom know I was okay."

Les Sénateurs d'Ottawa vont faire sourciller plusieurs amateurs de hockey à l'extérieur de la capitale nationale vendredi quand ils vont hisser le numéro 25 ...

Il avait rampé sous la table pour mettre de la moutarde sur son soulier et il était pas mal fier de son coup. Moi, en grandissant ici, il était quelqu’un que j’admirais et j’ai beaucoup appris à ce niveau à son contact quand je me suis joint à l’équipe», a relaté le défenseur des Predators de Nashville Mark Borowiecki, coéquipier de Neil à Ottawa et fréquent partenaire d’entraînement l’été. J’essayais d’éviter de le provoquer, parce que ça pouvait dégénérer rapidement avec ‘Neiler’», se rappelle Borowiecki. Il s’est impliqué alors qu’il était jeune et il a continué toute sa carrière. à l’époque) m’avait envoyé au North Dakota avec lui pour faire un entraînement de ‘power skating’. Il a amené notre équipe à un autre niveau en arrivant en même temps que ‘Fish’ (Mike Fisher)», s’est rappelé son ancien coéquipier Wade Redden, l’ancien défenseur dont le nom a été placé à l’Anneau d’honneur de l’équipe en décembre dernier. Il savait quand c’était le temps de se battre, et il était capable de jouer à l’intérieur d’un système aussi. Il allait toujours défendre ses ‘chums’, mais il était capable de compter des buts aussi. C’est un pugiliste qui était capable de ‘scorer’. «Je suis honoré d’être le directeur général alors que nous allons retirer le chandail de Chris Neil. Et il était très professionnel dans sa routine de préparation», s’est rappelé Alfredsson lors d’une entrevue avec Le Droit jeudi. Il était fier de le remplir chaque jour.