Top 30 Moments in Canadian Tire Centre History

Join us for a countdown to the 30th Anniversary of Canadian Tire Centre as we rank to top 30 moments at 1000 Palladium Drive with a memory every day.

No. 30: January 2, 1999 – Damian Rhodes sets an NHL record

Fans in attendance for this game witnessed some history, as Damian Rhodes became the first NHL goalie to score a goal and record a shutout in the same game. Rhodes was credited with an unassisted goal at the 8:14 mark of the first period, when Devils defenceman Lyle Odelein’s pass to a teammate went all the way back into a vacated New Jersey net. Rhodes was the last Ottawa player to touch the puck, earning him the goal that gave Ottawa a 2-0 lead. The Senators added four more goals and Rhodes stopped all 30 shots he faced in a 6-0 victory over the Devils. After the game Rhodes told reporters, “I couldn’t believe the puck went in.”

No. 29: September 8, 1996 – USA advances to World Cup of Hockey Final

A semi-final matchup in the inaugural World Cup of Hockey took place in Ottawa, just nine months after the arena opened. The United States faced Russia in a battle to see which country would face Canada in a best-of-three final. Pat LaFontaine opened the scoring just 26 seconds into the game, while Brett Hull added two goals as the United States cruised to a 5-2 victory. Watch the full game broadcast here for a fun trip down memory lane.

No. 28: April 1-4, 2016 – Garth Brooks sells out four shows in four nights

Canadian Tire Centre has been home to countless concerts and shows in 30 years, but Garth Brooks’ run in the spring of 2016 might be the most impressive performance from a solo artist. After shattering Ottawa box office records by selling 50,000 tickets in a single day for three shows, Brooks added a fourth show – which naturally sold out. Phil Collins, Tina Turner and other artists have performed on consecutive nights in Ottawa, but no performer has been able to replicate Brooks’ four-day run of success in this city.

No. 27: April 5, 2013 – Attendance record set for women’s hockey

An 8-0 victory for Team Canada over Finland at the 2013 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship featured a lopsided scoreboard and an even more impressive attendance figure. A raucous crowd of 18,013 filled Canadian Tire Centre, smashing the record for the biggest attendance at a women’s hockey game. The venue also held the previous record for a highest attendance for a women’s hockey game, as 16,437 attended a Canada-USA pre-Olympic game in 2010. In the 8-0 win over Finland, Meghan Agosta scored a hat trick, while future Ottawa Charge star Brianne Jenner also tallied a pair of goals for Team Canada.

No. 26: January 21, 2013 – Paul MacLean’s stunt double makes an appearance

The 30-year history of Canadian Tire Centre is riddled with fun and quirky moments. Paul MacLean’s stunt double making an appearance directly behind the Ottawa head coach in 2013 is certainly one of those moments that fits that list. Mike Watson – who affectionately was dubbed ‘Paul MacClone’ – sat in the first row behind MacLean and was a doppelganger for the Senators head coach. After the game, MacLean was asked about his stunt double, to which he quipped, “Apparently there’s quite a resemblance. I hope he gets as much help around town as I do.”

No. 25: April 13, 2002 – Roger Neilson coaches his 1,000th NHL game

Late in the 2001-02 season, Jacques Martin decided to step aside and allow his associate Roger Neilson to coach the final two games of the regular season – getting Neilson to the 1,000-game plateau as an NHL head coach. It was a remarkably kind and thoughtful gesture from Martin to his longtime friend and mentor. Neilson’s final game as coach featured him giving Bill Muckalt – who was searching his for his first goal of the season – plenty of opportunities on Ottawa’s power play unit. Muckalt fired a season-high five shots on goal, but failed to find the back of the net.

No. 24: January 15, 1996 – Bryan Adams opens the arena

Bryan Adams was the biggest name in Canadian music and a global superstar in the mid-1990s. Adams routinely opened new stadiums and venues across Canada, including GM Place in Vancouver in the fall of 1995. A few months later – on January 15, 1996 – Adams christened the Palladium with a sold-out concert. “On behalf of the band and myself, I want to say it’s a great privilege to be asked here tonight to be the people to open up your building for you,” Adams told a sold-out show. For a little nostalgia, check this archived news video from CBC Ottawa.