‘What I dreamt of’: Ottawa’s Donovan Sebrango makes debut with hometown club

Kim Sebrango watches her son Donovan Sebrango take his rookie lap for the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre Thursday night. Sebrango made his NHL debut for the Senators. (Courtesy: TSN)

Donovan Sebrango attended Ottawa Senators games growing up, dreaming of one day playing for his hometown team.

On Thursday night, the 23-year-old Ottawa native played his first NHL game with his childhood team.

“That’s one I’m going to remember for sure,” Sebrango told reporters. “That’s what I dreamt of as a kid, so it means the world to me that I got to do it.”

Sebrango made his Senators debut in the Ottawa Senators 1-0 loss to the Washington Capitals at Canadian Tire Centre. Sebrango, called up from the Belleville Senators due to injuries on the Senators defence, played 11 minutes and 38 seconds in his NHL debut.

Before the game, he took his solo rookie lap with his mother Kim Sebrango watching in the stands.

“A single mom having to kind of teach me the ways of hockey and bringing me into this sport, that lap was for her. Everything tonight was for her,” Sebrango said.

“She’s the reason I’m here. To get in the building, this was probably the best day of my life so far. It was just a special moment and it’s all because of her.”

Kim Sebrango posted a photo on social media with her son as they arrived at Canadian Tire Centre for his debut.

“Here we are!!! Mom crying and Donovan ready to roll!!” Kim Sebrango said. “Enjoy this Donovan and give it all you’ve got.”

The NHL shared photos on social media of a young Sebrango attending Daniel Alfredsson’s 1,000 NHL game.

Speaking with TSN during the Senators game, Kim Sebrango said it was “unbelievable” to see her son make his debut at the Canadian Tire Centre.

“To think that moment happened here was one of the greatest moments of my life,” she said, holding a puck Donovan tossed to her during the pre-game skate.

“It’s just so worth it. To see people come up to us that he started playing with from a little town in Gananoque to the school in Rockland. It’s unbelievable.”

Speaking on the TSN 1200’s Senators post-game show, Donovan said his first NHL game “felt better than I even expected it to.'

“That’s what I dreamt of as a kid. I remember being here when I was a little kid for Alfie’s 1,000 game. So, I mean being able to be on the ice in my hometown meant the world to me,” Donovan said, adding putting on the jersey for his first game was special.

“Words can’t describe. That’s the jersey I grew up wearing and idolizing and to put it on and step on the ice.”

Sebrango said a bus load of friends attended his first game.

Sebrango was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round of the 2020 NHL entry draft. He was acquired by the Senators in the Alex DeBrincat trade in July 2023.