Sens rookies take spotlight in pivotal push for the playoffs

As the Ottawa Senators continue their playoff push, rookies Carter Yakemchuk and Jorian Donovan are stepping into the spotlight. CTV’s Dylan Dyson reports.

Two fresh faces on the Ottawa Senators have stepped up when the team needed them most.

Carter Yakemchuk and Jorian Donovan made their NHL debuts with the Senators Tuesday in a must-win game to push the team closer to the playoffs.

Yakemchuk, the team’s top prospect and seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft, had a goal and an assist in his debut, a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

The win vaulted Ottawa over Detroit to claim the Eastern Conference’s second wild card playoff spot with 11 games to go in the regular season.

“Those are games you want to play in. They’re fun and they’re competitive. So yeah, it was a lot of fun,” Yakemchuk told reporters Thursday morning.

The 20-year-old defenceman was called up after the Sens defensive core was hit with a slew of injuries – most notably Thomas Chabot, who suffered a broken arm Monday versus the New York Rangers.

Senators head coach Travis Green said that Chabot could be out up to eight weeks after having surgery on his broken arm Thursday.

“I thought I played well,” Yakemchuk said of his performance against the Red Wings.

“Thought it was a good team win. [The team] helped out a lot, me and [Donovan], just all those little things. Obviously, it was our first game, so a lot of nerves, but they helped us out a lot, so it was good.”

Also called up to make his debut from Belleville alongside Yakemchuk – and hidden by his spotlight – was 21-year-old defenceman Jorian Donovan.

Donovan only registered a handful of minutes in his NHL debut, but the hometown player was ecstatic to represent the team he’s cheered for his whole life.

“I’m extremely excited to be home,” Donovan said Thursday.

“I’ve grown up here, been in this barn quite a few times, whether it was when I was ten years old with my shirt off in the stands and trying to get on the jumbotron or being in the room with my dad. So, you know, I’m excited.”

That Donovan name may be familiar to Sens fans, as Donovan’s father Shean played for the organization for three seasons between 2007 and 2010. The two have now become the first father-son duo to play for the franchise.

“Having your dad play for this organization, play a long time in the NHL and being able to kind of follow his footsteps, I’ve got to owe a lot to him,” said Donovan.

“He’s helped me so much throughout my career. I don’t think I would have been close to being here without him. I’m kind of just honored just to be here and be able to do that for him. It’s a pretty cool and special moment for us together.”

Green said he hopes to give Yakemchuk and Donovan more minutes Thursday night, as the Pittsburgh Penguins are in Ottawa to face the Senators.

It also gives Donovan the opportunity to step on the ice and face his idol, and former Senator, Erik Karlsson.

“I’m just fired up, I feel like a kid on Christmas right now,” said the rookie defenceman. “It’s just unbelievable, seeing the guys across the room, in the room. It’s pretty special.”

Green said Donovan brings a lot of energy with him to the dressing room, energy that he’s going to let the 21-year-old run with.

“We talk about bringing energy to every game,” said the Senators head coach.

“He’s got a lot of it. He’s got a high compete level as well. He’s not afraid to drop the gloves. He hopefully has a bright future in the NHL.”

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