Good news for fans of the Battle of Ontario. The siesta the rivalry has taken since the days of Pat Quinn, Tie Domi and Darcy Tucker et al, is about to end.

Thanks to Toronto’s man of letters, Brian Burke, and his counterpart in Ottawa, Brian Murray, so different and yet so much alike, the rivalry shows every sign of heating up. Soon. Burke has promised a tough team, and we thank him for bringing the word truculent back to common usage.

In his first season, the Leafs couldn’t compete, but they should be better, should give the Senators a better battle. Think of the potential with Dion Phaneuf, Mike Komisarek, Colton Orr and Francois Beauchemin mixing like oil with water against Chris Neil, Matt Karkner and Mike Fisher. Maybe Zack Smith.

Leaf prospect Nazem Kadri showed his pest potential at the rookie tournament, but there is doubt he will make the NHL club out of camp.

However the rosters shake out, the potential for spicy rivalry is huge as the Leafs take on more of a presence in the east.

NUPTIALS FOR NICK

Nick Foligno expects to be a lot busier next summer than this one. He recently became engaged to his girlfriend from Sudbury, whom he met during his OHL junior days.