For a lot of Ottawa kids, growing up a Senators fan means dreaming of one day wearing that jersey. For 24-year-old forward Graeme Clarke, that dream is suddenly looking very real.
Just ten days after being acquired by the Ottawa Senators organization, Clarke has been nothing short of spectacular with the AHL's Belleville Senators — racking up nine points in his first three games with the farm team.
Who Is Graeme Clarke?
Clarke is an Ottawa-born forward who grew up with the Senators as his hometown team. At 24, he's at the stage of his career where he needs to prove himself at the pro level to earn a contract — and he's making a very strong case right out of the gate.
Nine points in three games is an extraordinary pace for any player, and it has put Clarke firmly on the radar as someone the Senators' brass will be watching closely in the weeks ahead.
What It Means
For the Ottawa hockey community, Clarke's story has all the ingredients of something to get genuinely excited about. A local kid, returning to his hometown organization, performing at a high level — it doesn't get more Ottawa than that.
The Belleville Senators serve as Ottawa's primary development affiliate in the AHL, and many of the players who have gone on to meaningful NHL careers with Ottawa first proved themselves there. Clarke will be hoping to write the same story.
Watching from Ottawa
Belleville Senators games are broadcast on AHL TV, and Ottawa Senators fans have every reason to keep tabs on what Clarke does over the coming weeks. If this level of production holds — or even comes close — it may not be long before he gets a call to the big club.
Check sportsnet.ca or the Ottawa Senators' official channels for updates on Clarke's progress in Belleville.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
