The NHL territorial rules have created controversy in Gatineau after a public watch party for the Montreal Canadiens playoff series got cancelled at the Slush Puppie Centre.

The issue started when organizers announced that Saturday’s planned screening of Game 2 between the Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes had been canceled. Later, organizers were told that NHL territorial rules would not allow the screening to happen.

Gatineau falls inside the protected market area of the Ottawa Senators. Under NHL rules, teams get exclusive rights over their city and nearby areas. So organizers often need special permission for events linked to another team.

Producer Wassim Aboutanos said organizers tried to save the event by speaking with both the NHL and the Senators.

‘We have confirmed that there will be no way to give us the necessary permissions to hold such an event," says producer Wassim Aboutanos.

According to Aboutanos, the Senators pointed directly to NHL territorial regulations during those discussions.

“[The Ottawa Senators] confirmed to us that they were falling back on NHL regulations, in connection with territorial protection,” said Aboutanos.

Despite additional negotiations, organizers were told that no exceptions would be allowed in the future. Even if the events were free for fans.

Aboutanos said the organizers made one final attempt on Friday morning to keep the event going.

The event was supposed to bring Canadiens fans together to watch the playoff game on a big screen. Tickets cost around $13, and organizers planned to give the profits to community groups and nonprofits.

Reports Suggest Organizers Had Not Obtained Formal Approval 

As per the report by Thomas Gerbet, the organizers announced the event before getting approval from the Senators.

Still, the Senators did not directly cancel the watch party. A team spokesperson said the NHL mostly made the final decision, while Ottawa had only a small role in it.

The situation has become more sensitive because Gatineau has been a strong Montreal Canadiens fan area over the years. Even though it is close to Ottawa.

In recent years, the Senators have tried to grow their presence in the region through French-language outreach, local programs, and community events.

Even though the NHL rules applied, Ottawa’s involvement in the process may have created a negative impression around the situation, as per Alex Silverman of Sports Business Journal.

Read more at the NHL Fan Central

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Rudra Dubey