Fans of the Ottawa Senators were united Saturday.
While supporters have often disagreed as to whether the team should play in its current arena in suburban Kanata or in downtown Ottawa, they're currently on the same page about at least one topic: the future plans of Senators owner Eugene Melnyk.
Melnyk denied speculation Friday that he wants to sell the franchise, but left open the possibility of relocating to another city if fans don't turn out in better numbers.
Those statements didn't sit well with the Senators faithful, who successfully got the hashtag #MelnykOut trending on Twitter in Canada as the team played the NHL 100 Classic outdoors in Ottawa.
Eugene Melnyk just threw his fan base under the bus. Perhaps, the same bus you have to take to get to the next bus which takes you to the third bus that takes you to the games. #Senators.
— Gerry Dee (@gerrydee) December 16, 2017
Just like a Coach can lose the room Melnyk has lost the fan base #MelnykOut #Sens
— =O=ne Sens Fan 🏒 (@1sensfan) December 16, 2017
#MelnykOut is the best thing to come out of this PR disaster #NHL100Classic
— Lisa Kelly (@kellyx_ottawa) December 16, 2017
I’d like to see Bell donate 5 cents to Sens twitter for every #MelnykOut tweet. We could communally own the Ottawa Senators by the end of next week.
— goran (@senssensei) December 16, 2017
All of the Ottawa Senators' highest-profile fans are trying to get #melnykout trending, if you're wondering how things are going.
— James Gordon (@James_J_Gordon) December 16, 2017
I won't be watching the game today. Could have been fun, but I have no interest in supporting Melnyk's organization. It's a small act, but it's something. #MelnykOut
— Bonk's Mullet (@BonksMullet) December 16, 2017
The team's struggled to draw fans in recent months, with poor attendance during last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs run and a less-than-full home opener this season.
It was a different story Saturday night, as they played the Montreal Canadiens in front of a fuller crowd at Ottawa's TD Place Stadium.
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