Photo: @Senators
It was a night and moment for Ottawa Senators’ forward Bobby Ryan that he will never forget. After completing 100 days of sobriety, he returned to the ice in his first home game and recorded his fifth career hat trick in Thursday’s 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
It’s been five and a half years since Ryan got a hat trick. The 32-year-old completed the fifth career achievement late in the final frame to seal the deal for the Senators and win by a score of 5-2 over the Canucks at Candian Tire Centre. It was his first goal since October 2. Ryan has 7 points (4 goals) thus far.
What a night.
Bobby Ryan gets THREE in his return to @CdnTireCtr for the @Enterprise hat trick. #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/ldOXFclCKC
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 28, 2020
Fans chanted his name and cheered in a massive standing ovation. Ryan, who was fighting back tears on the bench, gave a wave to thank the crowd.
Bobby Ryan just completed 100 days of sobriety.
In his first game back in Ottawa he recorded a hat trick and got the standing ovation of a lifetime 🙌
(via @BradyTrett)pic.twitter.com/S4B1vm7gwk
— SI NHL (@SI_NHL) February 28, 2020
He also earned Ottawa’s first star of the game.
Welcome home Bobby 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/wIVFlUkGVI
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 28, 2020
Your first star of the game… pic.twitter.com/byojqArRbG
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 28, 2020
Following the game, Ryan spoke to Ottawa media calling fans “an incredible community of people.”
“The fans, the ovation when I went out at the end… I can’t say it enough. It’s an incredible community of people.”
Bobby Ryan was emotional as he spoke to media after the game. pic.twitter.com/ibWIdqkJXJ
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 28, 2020
“It’s great to see people get behind him,” Senators head coach D.J. Smith told in a postgame interview. Ryan’s own teammates were chanting from the bench, which Smith said he heard.
Coach was asked if he heard the “Bobby” chants from the crowd…
“For sure I did, it was going on on our bench.” pic.twitter.com/Xe8L88bvov
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 28, 2020
It has been three months since Ryan took the ice with his teammates. His last game was on November 16. Four days later, he entered the NHL/NHLPA assistance program after admitting to having a problem with alcohol. Ryan opened up about battling his alcohol issue, “I got to a point where I said enough’s enough of this — of the shame and the guilt and not being the person you need to be for your family.”
Ryan returned to practice last week and played in his first official game back on Tuesday, which was a 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
These moments are remarkable and a wonderful accomplishment for Bobby Ryan!
By Della Young
