Ottawa Senators fans have a fresh reason to cheer for their head coach, and this time it has nothing to do with what's happening on the ice at Canadian Tire Centre. Travis Green, who has been steering the Senators bench, is being inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame, a career honour that recognizes decades of work as both a player and a coach.
Green grew up in Castlegar, British Columbia, where his hockey story began long before he ever set foot in Ottawa. He first made a name for himself as a dominant player in the Western Hockey League, the kind of junior talent that scouts circle on their calendars. That success translated into a lengthy NHL playing career, with Green suiting up for 970 regular-season games — a milestone that puts him in rare company among players who came out of the WHL.
From Player to Championship Coach
After hanging up his skates as a player, Green didn't stray far from the game that shaped him. He returned to the WHL, this time behind the bench, taking over as head coach of the Portland Winterhawks. It was there that he proved he had just as sharp an eye for coaching as he did for playing, leading Portland to a championship in 2013. That title cemented his reputation as a coach capable of building winning teams from the ground up, a skill set that eventually opened the door to NHL head coaching opportunities.
The Ottawa Connection
For Ottawa hockey fans, Green's induction into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame is a nice reminder of the pedigree steering the Senators right now. When a franchise brings in a head coach, that coach's résumé matters, and Green's includes a championship pedigree and nearly a thousand NHL games of playing experience. It's the kind of background that gives fans in the capital confidence heading into the next chapter of the team's rebuild.
Having a coach recognized at this level also raises the profile of the Senators organization more broadly. Green's name now sits among the province's hockey greats, a distinction that follows him into every rink he coaches in — including Ottawa's own. For a fan base that has weathered plenty of ups and downs in recent seasons, seeing their head coach honoured for a body of work built on and off the ice is a welcome bit of good news.
What's Next
The induction is as much a nod to Green's past as it is a signal of what he could still bring to Ottawa. Coaches with championship pedigree tend to instill that same expectation in their locker rooms, and Senators fans will be watching closely to see whether that experience translates into results at Canadian Tire Centre in the seasons ahead.
For now, though, it's a moment to celebrate. Green's journey from Castlegar rinks to WHL stardom to an NHL bench — and now to the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame — is a story Ottawa hockey fans can be proud to have as part of their team's story.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
