Sens players, fans share love for Mike Fisher after retirement from NHL
Fisher, 37, announced his retirement from the NHL on Thursday after 17 seasons
Long-time Ottawa Senators forward Mike Fisherwhocaptainedthe Nashville Predators since September2016has decided to hang up his skates after 17 seasons, but not before leavingquite an impressionon Canada's capital.
Fisher played 11 seasons in Ottawa, which included one Stanley Cup final appearance, during some of the franchise's best years.
He played 675 games in a #Sens uniform with pride and class.
Congrats to Mike Fisher on a truly great career. pic.twitter.com/diNDM1faza
—@Senators
The Peterborough, Ont., native was also very involved in the local community. Ottawa fell in love with Fisher.
@mikefisher1212 Congrats on an awesome career and thanks from Ottawa!!
—@kimdaycare
Mike Fisher should be everyone's favourite Ottawa Senator. https://t.co/6KbZb0Tfc0
—@Geller18
The fact that Mike Fisher remains a fan favourite in Ottawa ~6years after being traded says so much... congrats @mikefisher1212
—@mRodrums
@mikefisher1212 You're one of my all-time favourite Senators. Your fans in Ottawa & Nashville were lucky to have you. All the best!
—@JohnstonWriter
Ottawa resident Joe Boughner shared a story about Fisher on Twitter.
He detailedthe time Fisher joined a practice for a house league hockey team he coached in Ottawa.
Mike Fisher is retiring and I've got A Story to tell about him. I think I've probably told it here before but, whatever. Here we go.
—@joeboughner
Boughner'sTwitter thread discussed how Fisher goofed around with the kids, who were about 10 years old, in the mid-2000s.
He also explained how he worried Fisher would injure himself and hurt the Senators' playoff hopes in the process. But, everything turned out just fine.
Anyway, they did the drill, Fisher slid and laughed along with them and everything was fine. Because dude's a pro.
—@joeboughner
And while there aren't too many current Ottawa Senators left from Fisher's tenure with the team, players takingpart in a pickup game Thursday inKanatasaid the veteran certainly left his mark.
"From what I heard, he was a really good guy. Got along with everybody, and a really good team player," said KyleTurris.
Former Senatorsdefencemanand Ottawa native MarcMethotcalled Fisher'scontributions to the city "second to none."
"He was always very involved with the charities here," saidMethot. "Mix that in with the fierce play he brought to the ice surface, [and] it made him an all around great asset to the community."
Here is one of the greatest memories from Fisher's time in Ottawa. He scored the overtime winner over Toronto in 2004.
Share your memories of Mike Fisher in the comment thread below, or tweet us @CBCOttawa.