Weekly Recap: Senators open 10th American Hockey League season with two-game split

The Belleville Senators returned to the ice last weekend to drop the puck on their 10th season in the American Hockey League, hosting a pair of games against North Division rivals. Belleville hosted the newly relocated Hamilton Hammers (AHL Affiliate of the New York Islanders) at the newly renamed CIBC Place on Friday, then welcomed the Rochester Americans (AHL Affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres) on Sunday afternoon.

Here’s a recap of last week’s action as the Senators prepare for their first road game of the season and first back-to-back set, coming up later this week.

Friday, October 2, 2026: Belleville Senators – 2 vs Hamilton Hammers – 5

The Belleville Senators opened their season at the newly named CIBC Place, welcoming the Hamilton Hammers and falling 5-2. Forward Xavier Bourgault scored on opening night for the third consecutive season, while professional tryout (PTO) signing Shane Bowers notched his first goal in a Belleville uniform. Jonas Johansson stopped 28 of 32 shots he faced in his Belleville debut. Hammers forward Mitchell Chafee scored a hat trick in Hamilton’s inaugural AHL game.

GAME RECAP | BOX SCORE

Sunday, October 4, 2026: Belleville Senators – 3 vs Rochester Americans – 2 (SO)

The Senators needed a shootout to get past their North Division rivals from across Lake Ontario on Sunday afternoon. Phil Tomasino and Sammy Blais picked up their first Belleville goals in regulation time of a back-and-forth, physical affair, and Jonas Johansson made 36 saves on 38 shots through overtime, before stopping three-of-four Amerks shooters in the shootout. Blais would tally again in the shootout, along with Phil Daoust, to help the Sens seal their first win of the new season.

GAME RECAP | BOX SCORE

Recent Transactions:

• Oct.2/26: #5 Hoyt Stanley (D) – ADD – Returned on loan from Ottawa (NHL)
• Oct.2/26: #51 Shane Bowers (F) – ADD – Signed to PTO
• Oct.5/26: #11 Jorian Donovan (D) – DELETE – Recalled from loan to Ottawa (NHL)

Click here for a full list of Belleville Sens transactions.

Statistical Leaders 

Points: 2
#13 Xavier Bourgault (RW) (1 G + 1 A)
#19 Sammy Blais (LW) (1 G + 1 A)

Goals: 1
#13 Xavier Bourgault (RW)
#19 Sammy Blais (LW)
#51 Shane Bowers (LW)
#53 Phil Tomasino (RW)

Assists: 1
#6 Ryan Suzuki (C)
#13 Xavier Bourgault (RW)
#15 Christian Kyrou (D)
#16 Tyler Boucher (RW)
#17 Eskild Bakke Olsen (C)
#19 Sammy Blais (LW)

Power Play Goals: 1
#13 Xavier Bourgault (RW)
#19 Sammy Blais (LW)

Plus/Minus: +1
#8 Mark Duarte (RW)
#32 Oskar Pettersson (RW)
#51 Shane Bowers (LW)

Penalty Minutes: 10
#19 Sammy Blais (LW)

Goals Against Average: 2.92
#30 Jonas Johansson (G)

Save Percentage: .914
#30 Jonas Johansson (G)

Wins: 1
#30 Jonas Johansson (G)

Shutouts: 0

Ticket Info:

—

Visit the Belleville Sens website: www.bellevillesens.com
Engage with the Belleville Sens on X: @BellevilleSens
Like the Belleville Sens on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BellevilleSens
Follow the Belleville Sens on Instagram: @BellevilleSens
Listen to the Belleville Sens on Mixlr: www.bellevillesens.mixlr.com