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Senators heighten security, plan 'very special anthem presentation' for Saturday

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Saturday's game against the New Jersey Devils will be the Ottawa Senators' first since Wednesday's attacks in Canada's capital, and as such, the team has several tributes planned.

Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, the military reservist who was killed while guarding the National War Memorial, will be honored by the team for the balance of the season, team president Cyril Leeder told Wayne Scanlan from the Ottawa Citizen.

The NHL postponed Wednesday's game between the Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs in the wake of the shootings on Parliament Hill, at the War Memorial and near Rideau Centre Mall.

“We’re all shocked and saddened by what happened,” Leeder said.

“We think it was obviously the appropriate thing for the league to do to cancel the game, we supported that decision. But now, our leaders - our prime minister, our premier, our mayor - are asking us to move forward and help with the healing process. We’re hopeful that hockey can help in some small way.”

The Senators will also have increased security measures in place for the game at the Canadian Tire Centre.

"I think, like everybody else, we’ll be more vigilant,” Leeder said, “more aware of what’s going on around us and people coming in the building.”

The game will feature a unique pre-game ceremony including a moment of silence and what Leeder described as a "very special anthem presentation."

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