Emery family to ring Senators' bell at home opener Thursday

Ray Emery's family will ring the ceremonial bell before the Ottawa Senators' home opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Oct. 8, at Canadian Tire Centre.

Paul and Sharlene Emery were invited to start the season in the building where their son backstopped Ottawa to its only Stanley Cup Final berth of the modern era in 2007. The team is marking the 20-year anniversary of that 2006-07 squad. Sharlene says she wants her grandchildren to take part, including a grandson whose middle name, Raymond, honours his uncle.

Emery died in a swimming accident in the summer of 2018. He was 35.

His parents live in Ashton, about a 15-minute drive from the arena. They moved to the Ottawa area from Cayuga, Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic to be closer to family, and their other two sons, Andrew and Nick, also live in Ottawa with their families. They have quietly attended Senators games over the past couple of years.

"Being in Ottawa means a lot to us," Sharlene said. "It's comforting and healing. Lots of memories and it's the healing steps we're taking. It's the place to be."

Paul remembers the 2007 playoffs, when fans chanted the family name. "One of the most surreal parts of the playoffs was to hear our name chanted," he said.

The family also watched Emery rebuild his career in Philadelphia after a degenerative hip condition, and stood on the ice at TD Garden in 2013 when his Chicago Blackhawks won the Cup in Game 6. Ottawa, though, is where it began. Emery was drafted by the Senators, and Paul says the family's reaction was simple: "Yes!!!"

"It's for Ray and that's my focus," Sharlene said. "He loved the game of hockey. Just to be thankful."