No NHL player ever forgets their NHL debut, and Zack Ostapchuk was not an exception when he received the call on Tuesday night from Senators Associate General Manager Ryan Bowness, announcing his debut.
During his limited career in the AHL, Ostapchuk has emerged as a formidable force in his rookie season. Ostapchuk, who uses his size, power, and range to intimidate opponents every time he touches the ice, has 13 goals and nine assists for a total of 22 points in 38 games this season.
An NHL debut is a significant event for the players personally, but it’s also a time to honour those who gave up something to advance. Ostapchuk talked about his mother, who gave up a lot to help him realise his ambition and served as his only source of transportation to hockey since he was 14, so it was clear that she wasn’t forgetting this.
During the game, a TSN reporter had the opportunity to speak with Charlene, Ostapchuk’s mother, in the stands.
In his debut, Ostapchuk made a lasting impression on the game by playing 12:44 and taking two shots. His debut was most spectacular in overtime when he looked up to see Sidney Crosby skating down the ice after getting the tap to hit the ice. He made Crosby commit an error, which preserved the Sens’ chances and allowed Drake Batherson to win in OT.Presumably a night that Ostapchuk, his loved ones, and Sens supporters will all remember for a very long time.
