From left, Daniel Iasenza and Daphne Sucic — winners of the Darts for Charity tournament in support of the Senators Community Foundation — hold their trophy and ceremonial cheque alongside fundraiser hosts Kyle Turk from Meerkat Marketing and James Baker from Keynote Search at Manor Lounge. Photo by Caroline Phillips
‘Just here for the vibes’: Ottawa Senators win Darts for Charity tournament
Two employees of the Ottawa Senators walked away with the trophy on Wednesday night, though any comparison to the Stanley Cup stops right there.
Their shiny prize was the result of winning the third annual Darts for Charity tournament hosted by Meerkat Marketing CEO Kyle Turk and Keynote Search CEO and co-founder James Baker at Manor Lounge, a hybrid bar and restaurant known for its mix of food, drinks and interactive games.
The fundraiser raised $13,000 for the Senators Community Foundation, represented by president Jacqueline Belsito and her colleagues. This year, 21 teams competed for glory.
From left, Jennifer Cameron, director of events and fundraising for the Senators Community Foundation, with foundation president Jacqueline Belsito at the Darts for Charity tournament hosted by Keynote Search and Meerkat Marketing at Manor Lounge. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Cassandra Chiasson (facing), events specialist with the Senators Community Foundation, high-fives Daphne Sucic, who ultimately won the trophy with teammate Daniel Iasenza. Photo by Caroline Phillips
One of the key takeaways from the Darts for Charity tournament was this: recreational darts has little to do with ability. “Because the team that won is horrible at darts,” Baker said, only half-joking.
“Anybody can play, anybody can win, so it doesn’t matter; it’s just pure fun.”
Few would have predicted Daniel Iasenza and Daphne Sucic would come first — least of all themselves. “We’re just here for the vibes,” Iasenza, manager of the 50/50 programs and fundraising for the Ottawa Senators hockey club, told CiTC after they were presented with their trophy and massive matching championship rings.
Daniel Iasenza and Daphne Sucic from the Ottawa Senators hockey club hoist up their winning trophy at the Darts for Charity tournament hosted by Keynote Search and Meerkat Marketing in support of the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
“We did not expect to win,” agreed Daphne Sucic, donor and partner relations specialist for the hockey club. “We put this team together, like, 12 hours ago.”
The inexperienced players said they were nervous heading into the finals, knowing all eyes would be on them. “By the end it was like, ‘Okay, let’s calm down. We’re not going to win, it’s fine’,” said Sucic. “And then we did.”
The duo beat out the tournament’s inaugural winners, seoplus+. It’s a local digital marketing agency represented this year by co-founder and COO Brock Murray and account manager Austin Perron.
Turk is also VP of marketing for seoplus+.
The seoplus+ team felt some pressure to reclaim the 2024 title. “I can feel my heart beating,” Murray said, hand to his chest, after one of their victories.
A very focused Brock Murray, co-founder and COO of seoplus+, during the semi-finals at the Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Daphne Sucic appeared unfazed by the pressure at the Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Brock Murray, who made it to the finals, watched intently as the final match played out. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Daniel Iasenza was all smiles competing in the Darts for Charity tournament in support of the Senators Community Foundation, held at Manor Lounge on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Murray and Perron knocked off last year’s winners, Ryan Fleming of Fleming Property Management and realtor Barry Larocque, in the semi-finals. Larocque was playing through a recent work-related injury, after breaking the pinky on his dominant right hand when his finger got caught on a patio door handle during a house showing.
“The fact that Ryan still stuck with him through that adversity is, I think, something you need to recognize,” said Baker. “He had a chance to bring someone else but he stuck by his man, which I think is honorable.”
Added Baker, with a straight face: “I would have dropped him in a heartbeat.”
Larocque was a fairly serious dart player while growing up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Fleming said he never thought for a moment of cutting Larocque from the team “because I believe in him.”
Defending champ and realtor Barry Larocque returned to the Darts for Charity tournament with a broken pinky finger. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Seoplus+ also went up against WebMarketers, a competitor in the same business space, and came out on top. Asked about playing against business competition, WebMarketers CEO Kyle Smendziuk replied: “We don’t really consider them competition,” in a light-hearted jab. His darts partner was COO Alex Dorward, who would have preferred to win the tournament rather than be relegated once again to providing colour commentary duties during the finals. He did a good job, though.
Along with seoplus+, sponsors included RBC Wealth Management Dominion Securities (Montgomery Ouimet), Cabling Ottawa Telecom & Security, GDLF Wealth Management, Soutar Capital & Consulting and Remember Me Roofing.
Some supporters just came as spectators, including Erin McEvoy and Kiera Dixon from CLV Group. Their CEO, Mike McGahan, is part of the local minority ownership group of the Ottawa Senators.
From left, Austin Perron and Brock Murray from seoplus+ after beating their competition, Kyle Smendziuk and Alex Dorward from WebMarketers, during the Darts for Charity tournament hosted by Keynote Search and Meerkat Marketing at Manor Lounge. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Most fun to watch was first-time tournament player Shawna Blanchard, director of fund development at Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa. She was paired with Chris Ouimet, portfolio manager with RBC Dominion Securities.
As a result of her participation, she’s developed a new passion for darts, despite a dartboard that had gone untouched in her basement for 20 years. Asked why she hadn’t used it before, Blanchard laughed: “Same reason I don’t go on the treadmill in my basement.”
She said she had a blast at Manor Lounge, which she was visiting for the first time. “This is the most incredible event,” she said. “It’s a great way to bring the community together while supporting a charity. It’s fantastic.”
Other first-time participants included Neha D’Souza and Tim Thomas of Perley-Robertson Hill & McDougall. It soon became evident that Thomas performs better at his charity trivia nights than at darts. Hardly surprising, given the lawyer’s earlier joke: “I’m not sure if I’m left-handed or right-handed yet.”
For reasons nobody could quite explain, calling out “Kyle” risked turning a good chunk of the room around. There was Kyle Turk, Kyle Smendziuk, Soutar Capital & Consulting founder and CEO Kyle Soutar and Kyle Gourgon, account executive with the Ottawa Senators hockey club. All that was missing was Kyle Braatz.
Chris Ouimet, portfolio manager with RBC Dominion Securities, and Shawna Blanchard from Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa clearly had a blast competing in the Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Co-hosts Kyle Turk, CEO of Meerkat Marketing, and Keynote Search co-founder and CEO James Baker welcomed teams to the third annual Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Kyle Gourgon, account executive with the Ottawa Senators hockey club, was back to compete in the Darts for Charity tournament in support of the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Erin McEvoy, senior marketing and communications associate at CLV Group, Senators Community Foundation events specialist Cassandra Chiasson and her colleague, foundation coordinator Hannah Newsome, and Kiera Dixon, talent acquisition and engagement coordinator at CLV Group. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Stacey McMillan, corporate strategy partner with Modern Niagara, teamed up with Kyle Gourgon to play in the Darts for Charity tournament. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Chris Ouimet, portfolio manager with RBC Dominion Securities, and his teammate, Shawna Blanchard, from Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa, at the Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge in support of the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Ehima Ojei, business operations specialist at Business Sherpa Group, Rob Mendzigall, sales professional at Diversco Supply, Soutar Capital & Consulting founder and CEO Kyle Soutar and Business Sherpa Group CEO Todd Luckasavitch socialize over pints during the Darts for Charity tournament at Manor Lounge. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Meerkat Marketing CEO Kyle Turk, Senators Community Foundation president Jacqueline Belsito and Keynote Search CEO and co-founder James Baker at the Darts for Charity tournament co-hosted by Meerkat Marketing and Keynote Search at Manor Lounge on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Brock Murray, co-founder and COO of seoplus+, Perley-Robertson Hill & McDougall COO Neha D’Souza and senior partner Tim Thomas, and Austin Perron, account manager at seoplus+, competed against each other, with seoplus+ winning, during the Darts for Charity tournament in support of the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Alex Dorward, COO at WebMarketers, was thinking “I really hope I hit 20 to win this game” during his turn at the Darts for Charity tournament. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, the Ottawa Senators’ Daphne Sucic, Cassandra Chiasson from the hockey club’s charitable foundation, Ryan Trahan, client engagement manager at Gifford Carr Insurance Group, and Jennifer Cameron, also with the Senators Community Foundation, at the Darts for Charity tournament. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Lorne Turk, left, with his daughter-in-law Courtney Turk, whom he played against at the Darts for Charity tournament, and his son Kyle Turk, who co-hosted the fundraiser for the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Soutar Capital & Consulting founder and CEO Kyle Soutar in action at the Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 in support of the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
seoplus+ co-founder and CEO Eddy Abou-Nehme enjoying a laugh at the Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge in support of the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
At age 26, seoplus+ accounting manager Austin Perron, who made it to the finals, was one of the youngest players in the Darts for Charity tournament held in support of the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, Meerkat Marketing CEO Kyle Turk with Mike Abbott, partner at BDO Canada, at the Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Brock Murray, who eventually made it into the finals, enjoying himself during the Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Returning champ Ryan Fleming, property manager at Fleming Property Management, was back to try and defend his team’s title at the Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, business leaders Kyle Turk and James Baker created the Darts for Charity tournament in 2024 as a way of bringing people together to have fun and raise funds for a good cause. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Executive search director Stephanie Aloia of Keynote Search is always one of the more animated competitors at the Darts for Charity tournament. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Chris Ouimet, portfolio manager with RBC Dominion Securities, and his teammate Shawna Blanchard wore matching neckties to compete in the Darts for Charity tournament. Photo by Caroline Phillips
From left, seoplus+ co-founder and COO Brock Murray, co-founder and CEO Eddy Abou-Nehme, account manager Austin Perron, content producer and editor Devon Baines, and content writer Christian Villeneuve at the Darts for Charity tournament held at Manor Lounge in support of the Senators Community Foundation. Photo by Caroline Phillips
Attendees, including Kyle Gourgon from the Ottawa Senators hockey club, next to the winning trophy, at Manor Lounge on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 for the Darts for Charity tournament. Photo by Caroline Phillips
This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WEALTH (WCPD), Syntax Strategic, RBC, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law and Prime Benefits Group.
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