Rod Bryden is a Canadian businessman and former owner of the Ottawa Senators hockey team. He was born in 1942 in Ottawa, Ontario, and grew up playing hockey in the city. After completing his education, Bryden worked in the financial industry before becoming involved in the sports world.
In the early 1990s, Bryden became interested in owning a professional hockey team. He was part of a group that attempted to purchase the Quebec Nordiques, but the deal fell through. However, Bryden was undeterred and continued to pursue his dream of owning a team.
In 1992, Bryden was part of a group that successfully acquired an expansion franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team was based in Ottawa and was named the Senators. Bryden became the majority owner of the team and was heavily involved in its operations.
Under Bryden's ownership, the Senators struggled on the ice. The team had a losing record for several years and failed to make the playoffs. However, Bryden was committed to building a winning team and invested heavily in the franchise. He hired experienced coaches and brought in talented players through trades and the NHL draft.
In the late 1990s, the Senators began to turn things around. The team made the playoffs in 1997 and advanced to the second round before being eliminated. The following year, the Senators won their division and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Buffalo Sabres.
Despite the team's success on the ice, Bryden faced financial challenges as the owner of the Senators. The team was losing money and Bryden struggled to find investors to help cover the costs. In 2003, he sold the team to Eugene Melnyk, a Canadian businessman who remains the owner to this day.
After selling the Senators, Bryden remained involved in the sports world. He served as the chairman of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, which oversees several sports franchises in the city. He also became involved in the development of a new stadium for the CFL's Ottawa Redblacks.
Overall, Rod Bryden's tenure as the owner of the Ottawa Senators was marked by both success and challenges. While the team struggled in its early years, Bryden's commitment to building a winning franchise eventually paid off. However, financial difficulties ultimately led to his decision to sell the team.
🏒