OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators announced today the rosters for Team Red ( Erik Karlsson and Chris Neil ) and Team White ( Chris Phillips and Kyle Turris ) for this year’s Sens Skills competition, presented by Sport Chek, which will take place at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday, Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. The event, which features presenting sponsors Ashbury College, CAA, Gay Lea, London Life – Freedom 55, Play OLG, TSN 1200 and Rogers Television, will see doors open at 10 a.m. Parking will be available free of charge.

The family friendly event, held on New Year’s Eve, will halt temporarily just before 12 p.m. for a new year’s countdown to noon for young fans who may not be able to stay up until midnight. Fans are encouraged to bring noise makers, but will also receive Senators cheer cards courtesy of Sport Chek.

Returning for a third year due to its increasing popularity, Senators players will award their respective composite sticks to 22 lucky fans in an on-ice ceremony at the conclusion of the event. Upon entering Canadian Tire Centre, fans will be offered the chance to purchase a Canadian Tire Jumpstart foam puck (for a fee of $5) for a chance to win a Senators player’s event-used stick on the ice in support of the Ottawa Senators Foundation.

New this year, the Senators will finish Sens Skills with a 3-on-3 Challenge where each goal will be worth two points on the scoreboard.

This year’s rosters are as follows:

Team White: Chris Phillips (captain), Kyle Turris (assistant captain), Craig Anderson, Alex Chiasson, Dave Dziurzynski, Curtis Lazar, Zack Smith, Mark Stone, Chris Wideman, Patrick Wiercioch and Mika Zibanejad.

Team Red: Erik Karlsson (captain), Chris Neil (assistant captain), Mark Borowiecki, Cody Ceci, Jared Cowen, Andrew Hammond, Mike Hoffman, Marc Methot, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Shane Prince and Bobby Ryan.

Sens Skills will see players demonstrate their hockey skills in the following categories:

-Gay Lea puck control relay - observe players illustrating versatility in stickhandling.

-Play OLG fastest skater - see players showcasing their speed on skates.

-Freedom 55 hardest shot - witness the power of an NHL slap shot.

-CAA accuracy shooting - find out who shoots with the most precision.

-Ashbury College skills challenge - a team event featuring stickhandling, one-timers, passing and a 3-on-1 to stop the clock.

-Sport Chek 3-on-3 Challenge – watch the scoring chances unfold as the play goes up and down the ice. Each goal scored is worth two on the scoreboard.

The Senators will participate in a 10-minute warm-up, from 10:35 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., ahead of the skills competition.

Participating alongside the Senators will be 12 minor hockey skaters and four goaltenders from the National Capital Region as selected through the Senators Junior Skills Challenge presented by Canadian Tire. Senators defenceman Cody Ceci and team prospect Vincent Dunn are both graduates of the Junior Skills Challenge program.

Over the past eight years, more than 100,000 fans have attended Sens Skills presented by Sport Chek, with the Senators and the NHLPA donating more than $700,000 to local charities on behalf of their partners.

Tickets in the 100-, 200- and 300-level tickets for Sens Skills presented by Sport Chek are $20, $15 and $12.50 respectively (advance sales only) and are currently on-sale. For group ticket information (groups of 20 or more), please call 613-599-0210 or e-mail groups@ottawasenators.com. Ticket prices include taxes and CRF but exclude applicable convenience charges.

Sens Skills presented by Sport Chek tickets can be purchased visiting www.CapitalTickets.ca; by phone at 613-599-FANS (3267) or 1-877-788-FANS (3267); in person at each of the 10 participating Canadian Tire stores in Ottawa as well as the store in Perth, The Sens Store at Carlingwood Mall and Place d’Orléans, any Ottawa Sports Experts location, Les Galeries de Hull, Ottawa Festivals and at the Canadian Tire Centre box office.

Visit the Senators website: www.ottawasenators.com

Engage with the Senators on Twitter: @Senators

Like the Senators on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ottawasenators

Follow the Senators on Instagram: senators

- end -