Hamonic loving life in Ottawa Veteran defenceman feeling rejuvenated on and off the ice with Senators By: Jeff Hamilton Posted: 7:00 PM CST Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022

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This article was published 19/12/2022 (639 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Playing on his third team over the past four years, in what is his 13th NHL season, one might assume things have been quite hectic for veteran defenceman Travis Hamonic.

Ask Hamonic how he’s handling the rigours of the unpredictable NHL lifestyle and the St. Malo, Man., product is feeling right at home in the nation’s capital. The 32-year-old, along with his wife and two children, have loved every bit of their time with the Ottawa Senators, who acquired Hamonic from the Vancouver Canucks midway through last season in exchange for a third-round pick.

“When I look back, my first game as a Sen was here in Winnipeg after the trade and nine months later (it’s incredible) how much life can change for the better,” Hamonic told the Free Press following Tuesday’s morning skate, ahead of the Senators road game against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre. “What a great organization, unbelievable group of guys, both on and off the ice, staff, wives — everyone went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable.”

He added: “I feel like I fit in really well and found a role on the team.”

Hamonic has played in all 31 games for the Senators this season, registering three goals and three assists, while averaging 18:27 of ice time per night. He’s in the final season of a two-year deal that pays him a combined US$6 million.

The Senators have been a work-in-progress over the last few years and have not qualified for the playoffs since the losing in the Eastern Conference final back in 2017. Since then, Ottawa has been in a slow rebuild, going five straight years with a losing record (138-194-41).

That includes this season, with the Senators entering Tuesday’s action with a record of 14-15-2 — good enough for last place in the Atlantic Division. They’ve been playing better hockey of late, though, with points in five of their last six games (4-1-1).

“We’re a young group. We kind of had a stretch there that wasn’t going well, but we stuck through it,” Hamonic said. “Our game is kind of catching back up, results are matching where we feel we should be at as a group. We still have ground to make up, we’re well aware of that, but we feel like it’s starting to come for us.”

“I feel like I fit in really well and found a role on the team.”–Travis Hamonic

Hamonic said at this point in his career he knows exactly what he offers an NHL locker room and especially one as young as the Senators. With his years of experience, including seven seasons with the New York Islanders — the club that drafted him in the second round, 53rd overall, back in 2008 — Hamonic understands a big part of his role is to set a good example for the younger generation.

There remains a physical element to Hamonic’s game, and he’s still relied on to kill penalties. He’s played alongside a few different defence partners, but has been mostly paired with Jake Sanderson, who, at 20 years old, is in his first NHL season.

“For anyone who hasn’t seen him live, he’s a heck of a player, a special, special talent and the organization is very lucky to have him for a long time,” Hamonic said. “To be able to play with him for his first year, even at my age it makes you feel young again and gives you some young legs and makes me have to keep up a little.”

“He’s lighthearted. When things are real serious and some young guys might be squeezing (the stick a little hard), he’s a funny guy,” added Senators head coach D.J. Smith. “It’s great for a guy like Sanderson to be around and not take stuff too seriously.”

Hamonic looks back fondly on his start in New York, followed by stops in Calgary, where he spent three seasons with the Flames, before jumping from Vancouver to Ottawa. His name has been attached to trade talks with the Jets over the past few years, offering a bit of a tease that he might head back to his home province to continue his career.

Asked about how close, if at all, things got to him being acquired by the Jets, Hamonic stayed pretty hush about the possibility.

“Your career brings you places where you don’t really know it would bring you,” he said. “My kids are now at the age where they really enjoy coming to games all the time, and they’re fighting over whatever Sens gear they can pull out of the dirty wash pile every night.”

Things didn’t always go to plan with the Canucks, with the 2021-22 season beginning with Hamonic taking a leave of absence from the team. Reports eventually surfaced that Hamonic’s break from the club had to do with his lack of a COVID-19 vaccine, but the Canucks maintained it was due to a personal matter.

Either way, whatever did end up transpiring ultimately led to both sides agreeing to part ways and the start of a new journey for Hamonic and the Senators.

“It’s weird how fast time can go. I remember being the young guy coming into the league and everyone’s telling me how it goes by quick. You don’t realize it until you look back and go, ‘Wow, it did go quick,’” Hamonic said. “Being in Ottawa has rejuvenated my career, both on and off the ice, and I come to the rink smiling, enjoying myself every day. I’m very happy.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

After a slew of injuries playing hockey that included breaks to the wrist, arm, and collar bone; a tear of the medial collateral ligament in both knees; as well as a collapsed lung, Jeff figured it was a good idea to take his interest in sports off the ice and in to the classroom.

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