Senators launch French social media channels | Ottawa Senators

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Saturday, October 11th 2025 at 15:03 GMT by National Hockey League

The Ottawa Senators have officially launched a full suite of French-language social‑media channels, signaling the team’s commitment to serving the province’s sizable francophone community and to strengthening its brand across Canada’s bilingual landscape. On Monday, the Senators unveiled new handles on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, all under the unified “@SenatorsFr” brand. The launch is part of a broader strategy to create a distinct French presence that mirrors the team’s existing English‑language channels but focuses on culturally relevant content, local fan engagement, and bilingual accessibility.

The primary goal of the French‑language channels is to foster a deeper connection with Ottawa’s French‑speaking residents, a demographic that constitutes roughly 15 percent of the city’s population. Senators’ Head of Social Media, Mathieu Lafrenière, explained that “our fans in French have long been an integral part of the Senators family, and this launch provides them with a dedicated platform that reflects their linguistic and cultural identity.” Lafrenière added that the move would also extend the Senators’ reach into the broader Quebec market, where French‑speaking sports fans dominate.

In terms of content strategy, the French channels will feature a mix of game previews, post‑game highlights, player interviews, behind‑the‑scenes footage, and community stories—all presented in French. The team’s communications team will curate a bilingual schedule: key announcements will appear simultaneously in both languages, while certain posts will be exclusive to the French channel to give francophone fans a unique experience. According to a statement from the Senators’ General Manager, Jay Woodcroft, “The French channel allows us to bring the Senators’ story to life for fans who prefer to engage in their first language. It’s about inclusivity and making sure everyone feels part of the Ottawa sports community.”

A notable component of the launch is the integration of the French‑language version of the Senators’ official website (https://senators.nhl.com/fr) and the NHL’s French portal (https://www.nhl.com/fr). Both sites now include a “Français” tab that redirects to localized news, roster updates, ticket information, and interactive fan features. The French website also hosts a dedicated page for the new social media channels, providing quick links and content previews.

The move also coincides with the NHL’s broader push to expand its French presence across North America. The league has recently partnered with French‑language broadcasters to provide live game commentary in French for national audiences, and the Senators’ initiative dovetails with those efforts by ensuring that fans can follow the team’s narrative across multiple platforms. The French channel’s inaugural post was a short video featuring a montage of recent games, narrated by Senators star Alex Formenton speaking in French, accompanied by the hashtag #SenatorsFR.

Beyond the digital realm, the Senators’ French initiative extends to community outreach. The team will collaborate with local French‑language community organizations to host events such as “Café avec le Sénateur,” where fans can meet players in a relaxed setting, with all communication in French. In addition, the club will offer bilingual coaching clinics and school visits, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity.

The French channels are expected to be active throughout the season, with real‑time updates during games, fan polls, and interactive contests. Fans can follow the new channels on Twitter at @SenatorsFr, Instagram @SenatorsFr, TikTok @SenatorsFr, Facebook SenatorsFrance, and YouTube SenatorsFr. The hashtags #SenatorsFR and #OttawaFr will help track conversations and gather feedback from the francophone community.

The Senators’ French launch has already begun to generate buzz on social media. In the first 24 hours, the French Twitter handle amassed over 2,000 followers, while the French Instagram account received nearly 1,200 new likes on its debut post. Early metrics indicate a high engagement rate, suggesting that the new channels are resonating with their target audience.

In conclusion, the Ottawa Senators’ French‑language social media channels represent a significant step forward in the franchise’s ongoing efforts to honor Canada’s bilingual heritage and to foster a sense of belonging among all its fans. By offering tailored content, bilingual communication, and community outreach, the Senators aim to strengthen their bond with the francophone community, ensuring that the excitement of NHL hockey is accessible to everyone, regardless of language.