Exit Interviews 2024-25: #31 Michael Simpson

With the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs well underway and the Belleville Senators wading into the offseason, David Foot sat down with the players to reflect on a year filled with challenges, growth, and standout moments. In this exclusive series of year-in-review interviews, players open up about their personal journeys, team milestones, and what it meant to represent Belleville and the Bay of Quinte this season. From locker room highlights to on-ice battles, these conversations offer a behind-the-scenes look at the season that was — and a glimpse at what’s ahead.

Today, we catch up with goaltender Michael Simpson, who spent his first professional season on American Hockey League contract, bouncing back and forth between Belleville and Orlando (ECHL).

DF: Let’s talk about your first pro season coming off back-to-back Memorial Cup appearances with Peterborough and London, then signing an AHL contract with the Senators in the offseason. How was your first year in pro hockey?

MS: Definitely a lot of ups and downs. Being here in Belleville was great, and splitting time in Orlando was also good; it was really fun. I enjoyed creating some relationships with guys from around the OHL that I kind of knew and guys from other leagues, then integrating with some school guys, so it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it.

DF: There is a deep crease here in Belleville and in the Senators’ organization. How did you handle going from being the number one guy to falling down the depth chart?

MS: It’s a bit of an adjustment from coming out of junior where it’s your crease and you’re playing every game, so it’s an adjustment trying to come in here and try and get those habits back that you learned as a 16-year-old in the OHL. But I thought it was good. Gibby (Goaltending Coach Paul Gibson) did a really good job with keeping me honest and making sure that I was doing all of the right things to try and earn that spot, and I can’t thank the older guys enough. Leevi, I played against him in junior hockey, and then Subby (Malcolm Subban), who had an NHL career, were both great guys to learn from. Even Sogy (Mads Sogaard) – it was an unfortunate year for him with injuries, but he was also a guy who I could lean on, ask questions, and get some good feedback on what I need to do to stay in this league.

DF: What’s your summer look like? Will you head back to London, ON?

MS: Yeah, I’ll go back home to London and enjoy some time. It’s too bad, obviously, that we didn’t make the playoffs. But it’ll be nice to have a summer to decompress again, do some training, and hopefully be back in Belleville in October.

DF: It’ll be an interesting offseason for you from that standpoint, looking for a contract for next year. Is there anxiety? How do you handle that for the first time?

MS: I think not going through it before, it’s definitely going to be interesting and I don’t think it’s hit yet that I’m “homeless”. But as the summer goes on, it’s just about trusting that I’ve put in some good work this year and someone will take advantage.

DF: How will you spend your summertime when you’re not training?

MS: A lot of golfing. I’ve got a membership at a course down the road from me, so doing that. And just hanging out with friends. I didn’t get to see them a lot last year because of the long playoff pushes and then you’re jammed into the stuff you need to do for next season. So I’m just excited to chill and maybe get away for a bit.

DF: And then get right back at it and see what October brings.

MS: Exactly. I’m excited for next season and can hopefully continue on this pro journey.

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