The National Hockey League game between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed following the fatal shooting of a soldier in the Canadian capital.
"The game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, scheduled for tonight at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, has been postponed," the NHL said in a statement.
"The National Hockey League wishes to express its sympathy and prayers to all affected by the tragic events in Ottawa."
A decision on when the match would be replayed would be taken at a later date.
The move came just hours following chaotic scenes in Ottawa after a gunman struck at the heart of Canada's government, storming into the parliament's Centre Block building after shooting and killing a Canadian soldier who was conducting a ceremonial guard at the nearby National War Memorial cenotaph. The gunman was eventually shot dead by the assembly's sergeant-at-arms.
"We are shocked and deeply saddened by today's tragic events on Parliament Hill and in downtown Ottawa," Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said in a statement.
"Our collective thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims as well as with all members of Parliament and staff who have had to manage through today's difficult circumstances."
The Leaf players were caught up in the lockdown on the Parliament Hill area as their hotel was located in downtown Ottawa near the scene of the chaos.
Leafs' forward Joffrey Lupul described the events on Twitter.
"Surreal scene outside of our hotel right now. Lot of very brave police officers we should all be very proud of."
The Pittsburgh Penguins paid tribute to the dead soldier, Corporal Nathan Cirillo, on Wednesday night by playing "O Canada" prior to their NHL game against Pennsylvania rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers.
Source: AFP