Game Day Build-Up: Sens kick off home set against Amerks with 2024 Teddy Bear Toss

Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up
Dec.13/24 vs Rochester Americans (NHL affiliate: Buffalo Sabres)

The Set Up:

The Belleville Senators have just four games remaining before the holiday break and, with a continuation of their recent strong push, could find themselves among the North Division leaders by Christmas. The Senators are riding a season-high five-game win streak into their weekend double-header with the Rochester Americans, which begins tonight at CAA Arena, and enter the game just a point back of the Amerks and six from the North’s top team, the Cleveland Monsters. The Senators also hold four games in hand, which makes a pair of results against another divisional rival this weekend that much more important, as they could lead to more cushion in the standings through the second half of the season. The task won’t be easy, though, with Rochester rolling into Belleville coming off back-to-back wins and boasting the third-most productive offense in the division.

Previous History:

In their only other meeting of the season so far, the Senators spoiled the party in Rochester on opening night, skating to a 3-2 win over the Amerks at the Blue Cross Arena back on October 11. Xavier Bourgault scored his first goal as a Senators, Cole Reinhardt and Phil Daoust scored their first goals of the season, and Leevi Merilainen kicked off the season with a 22-save victory. Belleville and Rochester will play eight times this season, with the Senators looking to improve their records against the blue shirts of 25-12-5-1 overall, and 10-6-4-1 on home ice.

Roster Notes:

Forward Cole Reinhardt was the proverbial “bull in a China shop” for the Senators in their Wednesday win against Syracuse, picking up an assist and registering a game-high four shots on goal. That effort was immediately noticed again by the NHL Senators, with Reinhardt being recalled to Ottawa this morning. He and Zack Ostapchuk remain the only Belleville players in the NHL currently after Nikolas Matinpalo was reassigned to the AHL last week.

A full list of up-to-date transactions can be found by clicking here, with full lineup details available via the B-Sens social channels (@bellevillesens) before the game.

Who to Watch:

First-year Senator Jeremy Davies has been a critical piece for Belleville since joining the team in the summer, from Rochester. The 28-year-old from Quebec had his third three-game point streak of the campaign (four assists) snapped on Wednesday, sits tied for second on Belleville’s points list this season, and is among the top offensive defencemen in the league (15 points in 20 games). Forward Stephen Halliday extended his point streak to a career-high six games (three goals, three assists) with a goal on Wednesday.

The Americans boast a solid stable of Buffalo Sabres prospects, including Isaak Rosen, who had a goal in Rochester’s win over the Rocket in Laval on Wednesday. The 21-year-old former 14^th overall NHL draft pick (2021) has 18 points in 21 games to start his third AHL season (eight goals, 10 assists), including one helper in the last matchup against Belleville. Last season against the Senators, Rosen had five points (two goals, three assists) in five games.

At the Rink:

It’s Teddy Bear Toss Night at CAA Arena, supporting Shriners’ Children’s Hospitals. Fans are encouraged to bring a new or gently used stuffed toy to throw onto the ice when the Senators score their first goal of the game tonight. Those toys will be collected and distributed to children at the Shriners’ Hospital in Montreal, QC and at local Quinte Health Hospitals as well. Last season, Garrett Pilon sent the fur flying at the 16-minute mark of the opening period, against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from CAA Arena in Belleville, ON. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. ET with David Foot and Tim Durkin, and can be seen on AHLTV on FloHockey, or heard free on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network.

Ticket Info:

Tickets for all remaining 2024-25 Belleville Sens home games are now on sale via Ticketmaster, or by emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com. Hours for the Belleville Sens Box Office at CAA Arena are available here.

Fans looking to get a head start on locking up tickets for any game on the schedule can do so now by becoming a season seat member, purchasing a flex pack membership, or by booking a group experience.

More information on those ticket options, plus details on premium seating and Business Elite packages is available by visiting the Belleville Sens website or emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com.

About the Belleville Senators

The Belleville Senators are the American Hockey League affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators and have been operating in the AHL since the 2017-18 season. The Senators play their home games out of the CAA Arena at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre and have graduated more than 60 players to the NHL since moving from Binghamton, New York.

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