Gabriel Pizza Gameday Build-Up: Battle of Ontario resumes as Sens face off against Marlies for midweek matchup

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 vs Toronto Marlies (NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs)

The set-up:

The Battle of Ontario reignites in a rare Wednesday night matchup between the two rivals, with certainly no love lost following a 4-0 Belleville victory on Nov 19 over the Marlies at CAA Arena for the first-ever School Day Game. The Sens are trying to snap out of a three-game losing skid following a road defeat at the hands of the Manitoba Moose last week and back-to-back losses on Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend versus a strong Providence Bruins squad. The Marlies, meanwhile, split a two-game set in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a 5-1 loss Friday and a 5-3 victory over the Checkers on Saturday. The Sens currently sit two points up on the Marlies for fourth place in the North Division, but Toronto has two games in hand. Both teams sit at .500, with Belleville at 10-10-2-0 and Toronto at 9-9-1-1.

Previous History:

The Sens have had Toronto’s number thus far in the 2025-26 season, winning three of the first four meetings head-to-head, 4-2 on Oct. 25, 5-4 in a shootout on Oct. 26 and Nov. 19, with the Marlies winning the first meeting back in the Sens home opener on Oct. 18, 2-1 in overtime. Overall, the Sens hold a 44-35-4-6 lifetime record and will play the Marlies for the 90th time in franchise history on Wednesday.

Roster Notes:

The AHL reported on Tuesday that forward Hayden Hodgson has returned from the NHL Ottawa Senators after an eight-game stint. The 29-year-old had no points and 11 penalty minutes in his recall. Full roster and lineup details will be revealed closer to puck drop on the Sens social channels (@BellevilleSens).

Who to Watch:

Xavier Bourgault comes into Wednesday night with goals and points in back-to-back games, scoring both of his goals on the weekend at key times to nearly complete a comeback in both games versus the Bruins. Also, Stephen Halliday owns a three-game point streak, posting five assists to add to his team-leading total of 18 since being returned from the NHL Ottawa Senators last week.

For the Marlies, ex-Senators captain Logan Shaw produced a three-point outing on Saturday versus Charlotte, and Benoit-Olivier Groulx has recorded points in back-to-back games. If he starts, Vyacheslav Peksa could be a factor in net, after he made 35 saves in a game on Saturday, where the Marlies were outshot 38-20.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from CAA Arena, in Belleville, Ontario. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:50 ET, with Brock Ormond and Zach McGibbon, and is available on AHLTV on FloHockey or free to listen on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network.

Ticket Info:

Tickets for all Belleville Sens 2025-26 home games are now on sale via Ticketmaster or at the Belleville Sens Box Office located inside the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre. Details on season seat memberships, flex packs, premium seating, the Business Edge Program, and more can be found by visiting the Belleville Sens Website. 

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