Compas Poll / Survey

Ottawa residents are enormous Senators’ fans, and the three consecutive years of Ottawa and Toronto facing off in the playoffs have intensified rather than weakened their passions. That is the key finding from a n=354 representative sample survey of Ottawa residents conducted by professional interviewers using computer-assisted telephone interviewing systems May 13, 2002.

Almost three-quarters (72%) declare themselves Ottawa Senators’ fans compared to 7% for the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6% for the Montreal Canadiens, 3% for all three teams, 1% for Toronto and Ottawa, 4% for Montreal and Ottawa, and 5% other. Respondents were asked the question, “Are you a supporter of... (ROTATE) the Ottawa Senators, the Montreal Canadians, the Toronto Maple Leafs.” While a minority clearly supported other teams, there is no hint at all of an anti-Senators groundswell. Not one respondent volunteered “anybody but the Senators.”