Ottawa (ⁱ/ˈɒtəwɑː/ or /ˈɒtəwə/) is the capital of Canada. It is the second largest city in Ontario and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, located on the north bank of the Ottawa River; together they form the National Capital Region (NCR).

Founded in 1826 as Bytown and incorporated as "Ottawa" in 1855, the city has evolved into a political and technological centre of Canada. Its original boundaries were expanded through numerous minor annexations and ultimately replaced by a new city incorporation and major amalgamation in 2001 which significantly increased its land area. The name "Ottawa" is derived from the Algonquin word adawe, meaning "to trade". Initially an Irish and French Christian settlement, Ottawa has become a multicultural city with a diverse population.

The 2011 census had the city's population as 883,391, and the metropolitan population as 1,236,324.Mercer ranks Ottawa with the second highest quality of living of any large city in the Americas, and 14th highest in the world. It is also rated the second cleanest city in Canada, and third cleanest city in the world. In 2012, the city was ranked for the third consecutive year as the best community in Canada to live in by MoneySense.

Max Pacioretty (born November 20, 1988) is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was called up from the American Hockey League (AHL) for the second time on December 12, 2010. He was drafted 22nd overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.

Pacioretty played high school hockey at New Canaan High School during his freshman year, and then moved on to The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut. He signed a three-year contract with the Canadiens on July 17, 2008, thus forgoing his remaining eligibility at the University of Michigan.

Pacioretty made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens on January 2, 2009, scoring his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot in a 4-1 loss against the New Jersey Devils. He is the first player in franchise history to wear the jersey #67. He recorded his first career hat trick on February 9, 2012, against the New York Islanders, in the same game Scott Gomez ended his year long goal scoring drought.

David Desharnais (born September 14, 1986) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Desharnais was never drafted into the NHL, but signed as a free-agent with Montreal in 2008.

Desharnais spent his major junior career with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He became a prolific scorer over the course of his four seasons with the team, increasing his goal totals each year, scoring 38 in 61 games during his last season there. Serving as team captain, he totalled 374 points in 262 games. He won the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the QMJHL's most gentlemanly player three times consecutively from 2004-05 to 2006-07 when he was also named the most gentlemanly player of the Canadian Hockey League. Despite his junior success Desharnais was passed over in the NHL Entry Draft, due in part to his small size.

The Montreal Canadiens saw enough potential in Desharnais to invite him to their training camp in the fall of 2007. Although he did not make the team, he earned an assignment to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). He had a phenomenal professional debut in Cincinnati, putting up 106 points in only 68 regular season games to lead the league in scoring before adding 33 points in 22 playoff games to lead the Cyclones to their first Kelly Cup championship. Desharnais was named ECHL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player and was named to both the All-Rookie Team and the First All-Star Team.