Harper Night in Canada
by Romeo St. Martin

[PoliticsWatch posted 10:50 a.m. May 9, 2006]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper shakes hands and poses for pictures during the second intermission of an NHL playoff game in Ottawa Monday evening.

OTTAWA  — Prime Minister Stephen Harper shook hands and talked with fans Monday evening at Game 2 of the Ottawa Senators/Buffalo Sabres NHL playoff series. 

The PM watched the game with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman a few rows behind the glass on the lower level of the Scotiabank Place. 

The Senators lost to the Sabres 2-1, and now trail the series two games to none heading back to Buffalo. 

Harper arrived during the second period with a large security entourage.  

He spent the entire second intermission signing autographs, shaking hands and posing with other fans for pictures. 

Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli, Tory MPs Brian Jean and Lee Richardson were among the other politicians in attendance at Monday night's game, which possibly could be the last home game of the season for the Senators.  

Prime Minister Stephen Harper signs the jersey of a future voter during the second intermission of an NHL playoff game on Monday evening.

Harper is a hockey fan and had been working on a book on the early history of professional hockey.   

Before the playoffs began, Harper said the Senators and the Calgary Flames both had a good chance to go all the way this year.  

The Flames have since been eliminated and Ottawa now appears to be in trouble. 

Harper joked in April that the prime minister not having the power to legislate the winner of the Stanley Cup is "one of the great regrets I have in my job."

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