Article content

OTTAWA — Through 25 years of Ottawa Senators hockey, there has been one constant, steadying force.

Owners, general managers, head coaches, trainers, players, have come and gone by the hundreds.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Senators president Cyril Leeder, loyal to the NHL team he helped create in Ottawa, deserved a better exit Back to video

The wonder is that Cyril Leeder, co-founder of the hockey club, lasted this long, through the ownerships of Bruce Firestone, Rod Bryden and Eugene Melnyk.

That’s not what local folks were thinking on Wednesday, though, when they heard the news Leeder had been replaced as president and CEO by Tom Anselmi, a former executive with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE).

Folks were thinking Leeder deserved better. They talked about the horrific timing — Melnyk fired Leeder on Tuesday, the same day Bryan Murray, the club’s senior hockey advisor and former general manager, was being feted as the first person to be inducted into the Senators Ring of Honour. Justice won’t be served here until Leeder receives a similar honour, regardless of the fact he is no longer employed by the hockey club.