There’s a new member of the Ottawa Senators management team and he’s got local roots. Peter MacTavish will start his new role as one of the team’s assistant general managers on October 1. MacTavish, 44, is from Hawkesbury and attended Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute (VCI).
In 1997, MacTavish graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston with a Bachelor of Science (Honours). He graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2002 with a law degree. He is a partner specializing in labour and employment law at the Ottawa office of global law firm Norton, Rose, Fulbright Canada. MacTavish’s experience in sports law includes 15 years in player representation with CAA Hockey, a firm that provides players with agents. At CAA, he was involved with player recruitment, management, and contract negotiations. For the Ottawa Senators, MacTavish will be involved with contracts, salary arbitration, and managerial support, both for the team in Ottawa, but also for the Belleville Senators, their American Hockey League farm team affiliate.
According to a Canadian Press story on Sportsnet, MacTavish is replacing former assistant general manager Randy Lee. He resigned from the Senators organization in August after 23 years. Lee was arrested and charged in Buffalo, New York on May 31 on charges of alleged harassment at an NHL event there.
Peter MacTavish’s appointment comes during a time of self-described rebuilding for the Ottawa Senators. Fans were shocked on September 13 when defenceman Erik Karlsson was traded to the San Jose Sharks. Karlsson had been with the team for nine years and had been its Captain since 2014. The Karlsson trade was made in return for four new players.
