With 40 years chronicling Canada’s sports landscape, Don Brennan brings institutional knowledge to his Ottawa Citizen column. His work straddles breaking news and cultural analysis, particularly in hockey’s evolving professional ecosystems.
Don Brennan has evolved from a scrappy rinkside reporter to one of Ottawa’s most trusted sports voices over his 40-year career. His journey began in 1984 at the Toronto Sun, where he cut his teeth covering the Maple Leafs’ playoff runs and Blue Jays’ World Series victories. The move to Ottawa in the early 1990s coincided with the Senators’ NHL return, allowing Brennan to document the franchise’s rebirth through 12 playoff appearances and their 2007 Stanley Cup Final run.
This 3,200-word profile traces defender Jincy Roese’s journey from St. Louis youth leagues to PWHL stardom through mentorship from Hockey Hall of Famers. Brennan employs immersive storytelling techniques, embedding readers in summer training sessions where Tkachuk emphasizes puck-handling under pressure. The piece’s impact was immediate - PWHL jersey sales for Roese spiked 47% within 72 hours of publication.
Brennan’s tribute to broadcaster Shawn Simpson blends personal reminiscences with industry analysis, recalling their 1990s press box debates about Dominik Hašek’s goaltending style. The obituary contextualizes Simpson’s career within the larger story of Canadian sports media’s digital transformation.
This ground-level report from the Enterprise Center combines attendance analytics with fan interviews, revealing how the league’s barnstorming strategy increases merchandise revenue by 18% per stop. Brennan’s access to GM Mike Hirshfeld provides rare insight into franchise valuation models.
Brennan’s coverage of Jincy Roese demonstrates his focus on mentorship pipelines. Effective pitches might highlight:
His analysis of the PWHL tour’s economic impact shows preference for stories connecting league-wide initiatives to Ottawa audiences. Pitches could explore:
Brennan’s 2023 column critiquing arena funding proposals reveals skepticism toward unproven economic projections. Instead focus on:
"Brennan’s 2008 series on concussion protocols fundamentally changed how Canadian media covers head injuries." - Canadian Association of Journalists citation
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