Ottawa Senators forward Chris Neil set to play in 1,000th career game
OTTAWA — From the time he was a child in elementary school, Chris Neil was determined to play in the National Hockey League.
The hard-nosed Ottawa forward not only made it to the NHL, he’s set to become just the 52nd player to reach the 1,000-game plateau with the same team. Neil, who first cracked the Senators’ lineup in 2001, will reach the milestone Saturday night in Los Angeles.
“When you first start out you’re just excited to get your first game,” Neil said Thursday. “And before you know it, you have 100 and then 500 and then over the years they just keep accumulating, and then it’s a pretty exciting accomplishment.
“Being with the Senators my whole career has been awesome, it’s been an honour to suit up for one team.”