SENATORS ANNOUNCE THEIR 2005-06 SEASON-OPENING ROSTER
Final cut sees Denis Hamel assigned to Binghamton (AHL)

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators today announced their 2005-06 season-opening roster. The club will carry 21 players, and an additional player - Vaclav Varada - on the injured reserve, when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday, Oct. 5 (8 p.m. start time). The club also announced they have designated left-winger Denis Hamel for assignment to the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League, pending waiver clearance on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at noon.

Ottawa's roster now consists of two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 12 forwards (see attached document). Varada opens the season on the injured reserve after suffering a right knee sprain (MCL ligament) in Ottawa's Sept. 18 pre-season match-up against Toronto. He is expected to be out four to six weeks from the date of the injury.

The Senators finished the pre-season with a 7-1-0 record - the club's best ever pre-season result. Ottawa's initial 2005-06 regular-season schedule sees them play five straight inter-division games. They face each Northeast Division rival in the early going: Toronto on Oct. 5 and 10, Buffalo on Oct. 8, Montreal on Oct. 11 and Boston on Oct. 15.

Hamel, 28, played in six pre-season games with Ottawa, contributing a goal and assist, and a +1 plus-minus rating.

The native of Lachute, Que., joined the Senators organization prior to the 2003-04 season, recording no points for Ottawa in five games. He played the balance of the schedule with Binghamton. Hamel has played in a total of 135 NHL regular-season games, including 130 with the Buffalo Sabres. He has 13 goals, nine assists and 67 penalty minutes over five NHL seasons.