In a bid to raise space awareness and the role it plays in the lives of Canadians, MDA Space has signed a multi-year partnership with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Under the terms of the agreement, MDA Space is now an Official Partner of the Ottawa Senators, with prominent brand visibility at Ottawa’s Canadian Tire Centre and through digital and broadcast mediums. According to an MDA Space news release, this partnership “will feature a range of engaging activations and initiatives designed to reach STEM audiences across Canada, raising awareness through the significant platform provided by the league.”
“Professional hockey demands the highest standards of performance and drive to succeed, and we are proud to partner with the Ottawa Senators, an organization that shares our commitment to excellence and leadership,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. “Together, we look forward to inspiring fans and young Canadians to dream big, reach for the stars, and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”
“We are excited to welcome MDA Space to the Senators family,” said Cyril Leeder, President and CEO of the Ottawa Senators. “Our organizations share a passion for innovation and impact, and this partnership will allow us to connect with our fans and inspire the next generation of leaders in both sports and science.”
Amy MacLeod is MDA Space’s Vice President of Corporate Communications. Asked why a prominent Canadian space company decided to sign a deal with the Ottawa Senators, she replied, “Hockey is one of the ties that bind us together as a country, and so is space. By partnering with the Ottawa Senators, we’re tapping into a platform that unites Canadians from coast to coast to coast and allows us to showcase the vital, and often unseen, role space plays in Canadians’ everyday lives.”
“It also is a way to celebrate and honour Canada’s space leadership,” MacLeod added. “As the third country to put a satellite in space 60-plus years ago — behind only the US and what was the USSR [now Russia] — Canada is one of the most space capable countries on the planet. We’re aiming to raise awareness of Canada’s achievements and inspire interest in space among new audiences, in Ottawa and across the country.”
According to MacLeod, striking a partnership with the Senators is a logical next step in MDA Space’s ongoing efforts to advance and secure Canada’s role in the space sector. “Key to that is investing in the most critical resource powering our company and the space industry as a whole: people,” she said. “A major focus for us in this partnership is to strengthen Canada’s STEM talent pipeline and help ensure we have the expertise needed not just for today’s projects, but for the challenges of tomorrow.”
“The space domain is invisible to many, but critical to all,” MacLeod concluded. “Partnering with an NHL team like the Ottawa Senators gives MDA Space a unique platform to connect with Canadians beyond our traditional audiences. It’s an opportunity to inspire, educate, and engage Canadians across the country about the critical role space plays in their everyday lives — using a medium that resonates widely and authentically. Look for MDA Space on the ice when the puck drops.”