Gabriel Pizza Gameday Build-Up: Sens host Comets for Sunday matinee at CAA Arena

Sunday, December 28, 2025 vs Utica Comets (NHL Affiliate: New Jersey Devils)

The Set-Up:

A busy schedule for the Belleville Senators ahead of the calendar turn to 2026 continues this afternoon, as they host another divisional rival, the Utica Comets, for a Sunday matinee at CAA Arena. The Senators will likely be pleased to see an opponent other than the Toronto Marlies, whom they’d played the past three games, including a 2-1 defeat in the annual Boxing Day Classic at Scotiabank Arena a couple of afternoons ago. The Boxing Day loss pushes the Sens back down to sixth in the American Hockey League’s North Division, now one point back of fifth-place Cleveland, three points behind Toronto in fourth, and five points away from the top three, which include Laval (first), Syracuse (second), and Rochester (third). The Comets are the only team in the North currently seeded lower than the Senators and will be pushing hard for points as they try to make up a 10-point gap on Belleville and an 11-point spread from the North playoff places.

Previous History:

This is just the third of 10 meetings this season between Belleville and Utica, with the Senators holding a 1-1-0-0 record after visiting the Comets on November 7 and losing 3-0, before avenging that defeat with a 4-3 shootout victory a week later. Today’s game is the only meeting between the teams this month, with their next clash coming on January 18, 2026 at Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata. After that, Belleville and Utica will meet twice each in February, March, and April. Ahead of this 49th matchup with Utica, Belleville is 24-19-5-0 overall, and 14-8-2-0 on home ice.

Roster Notes:

Two players were called up from Belleville to Ottawa after the game in Toronto on Boxing Day, including defenceman Dennis Gilbert and forward Xavier Bourgault. Bourgault became the 45th Belleville Senators graduate to make his National Hockey League debut with Ottawa, logging three shots on goal in a little under seven minutes of ice time. Bourgault played alongside Belleville native Nick Cousins and former AHL Sens teammate Stephen Halliday, who also remains on recall, along with goaltender Leevi Merilainen. There have been no changes to Belleville’s injured list from earlier in the week, with defencemen Matt Andonovski and Carter Yakemchuk, and forward Tyler Boucher, all still out hurt. Full roster and lineup details will be available closer to puck drop on the Sens social channels (@BellevilleSens).

Who to Watch:

Arthur Kaliyev may not have scored on Boxing Day, but he did extend his point streak to seven games (four goals, four assists), tying a season high. Both Garrett Pilon (two goals, three assists) and Lassi Thomson (two goals, two assists) are on three-game point streaks, while Wyatt Bongiovanni has collected three points over his last two games (one goal, two assists) and scored a late goal on Friday afternoon in Toronto to keep the game close.

Utica forward Kyle Criscuolo has points in three consecutive games (two goals, three assists), including a couple of assists yesterday in a shootout loss at home to Toronto. Sens fans will likely be looking for number nine in a Comets uniform this afternoon as well, as Angus Crookshank could make his return to Belleville after being sent back from the Comets’ NHL affiliate, the New Jersey Devils, this morning. Crookshank, who is Belleville’s all-time leading goal scorer and signed with the Devils organization in the offseason, has seven points (five goals, two assists) in 17 AHL games with Utica this season, and one goal in eight NHL games with New Jersey.

At the rink:

It’s a Sunday afternoon game at CAA Arena, with some fans taking advantage of the Belly’s Sunday Brunch ticket add-on before the game! The Senators will be recognizing the Quinte Royals U13 baseball team for winning a provincial championship over the summer, and helping raise funds for the Cold Creek Comets hockey team during a second intermission Chuck-A-Puck. Plus, fans will find some great Boxing Week deals at the Locker Room Store, Gate 2 merchandise stand, or Belleville Sens online store, including 25% off replica jerseys and headwear, and Violent Gentlemen pullover jackets for only $75!

Follow the Action:

Puck drop this afternoon is set for 3:00 p.m. ET from CAA Arena in Belleville, Ontario. Broadcast coverage begins at 2:50 ET with David Foot and Brock Ormond, and is available on AHLTV via 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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