Breaking: Major announcement as Ottawa Senators appoint new communications vice president, director

The Ottawa Senators have announced a new director and vice president of communications, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

Cyril Leeder, the president and CEO of the Ottawa Senators, revealed the appointments of Ian Mendes as vice president of communications and Sylvain St-Laurent as director of communications.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ian and Sylvain to our team. The broadcasting and media landscape is undergoing significant changes, and the sports industry is also evolving,” said Leeder. “We believe Ian and Sylvain will play crucial roles as we navigate these changes in sports and media.”

Mendes previously served as the communications manager for the Ottawa Senators from 2000 to 2002 before working for various media outlets covering the team, including Rogers Sportsnet, TSN 1200, and The Athletic.

“Returning to the organization that kickstarted my career is a truly special experience,” Mendes remarked. “I’m eager to apply my skills as a journalist and storyteller to help produce engaging content across multiple platforms.”

St-Laurent brings his own extensive background in sports and media, having worked as the manager of media relations for the PWHL Ottawa during their inaugural season and serving as a columnist and beat writer for Le Droit for over 20 seasons.

“I was very impressed by Michael Andlauer’s immediate commitment to making the Senators the team for the Ottawa-Gatineau region,” St-Laurent stated. “Having spent two decades sharing hockey stories, mostly with French-speaking fans, it feels natural for me to continue this work in the Outaouais and Eastern Ontario communities.”

Both communication professionals are set to begin their roles in early August.