Gabriel Pizza Gameday: New faces draw-in as Senators start back-to-back with Bears

Saturday March 14, 2026, vs. Utica Comets (NHL Affiliate: Washington Capitals)

The Set Up

Coming off a massive win in commanding fashion last Saturday night at home against the Utica Comets, the Belleville Senators face a new challenge this weekend as they start the first game of another back-to-back, this time in Hershey against the Bears. A 7-3 final score is where Belleville left off after breaking their six-game losing streak, as they look to turn the tide in a more positive direction. In his Senators debut, Graeme Clarke made quite the impression with two goals and four points, with Olle Lycksell matching that point total along with three assists. Those were just two of the eight Senators who contributed to what was a much-needed offensive output. Belleville will now take on the Hershey Bears, who have been on a bit of a slide as of late, losing three of their last four games and holding an even 5-5-0-0 record over their last ten. Aside from their notable rookie leaders in Andrew Cristall and Ilya Protas, this will be a double reunion game for former Bear Clarke and former B-Sen Wyatt Bongiovanni, who spent the last three years in Belleville prior to his move to being traded for each other last week. With so much on the line, both sides will be looking to make a big impression for their new teammates and strengthen their playoff position.

Previous History

The season series will come to an end this weekend, and the Senators have a chance to improve their all-time record versus Hershey which sits at 8-9-1-0. On the year, Belleville is 1-1-0-0 against the Bears, with their most recent game being a 3-1 win back on February 16th at CAA Arena,. Their last meeting came right down to the wire, as Philippe Daoust buried an empty-net tally, with Lassi Thomson picking up two helpers and Leevi Merilainen saving 30 of 31 shots. The quick stats on the series have the Bears outscoring the Senators 7-6, but Belleville outshooting them 69 to 54.

Roster Notes

There are three trades to announce for the Belleville Senators. The first came on Thursday, as Belleville sent forward Jan Jenik to the Ontario Reign in exchange for defenceman Samuel Bolduc. Bolduc has played the full year in Ontario (AHL Affiliate of the LA Kings), posting six goals and 20 assists for 26 points in 56 games. The second is a deal that sends forward Jake Chiasson and goaltender Hunter Shepard to the Laval Rocket (AHL Affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) in exchange for forward Riley Kidney. In 46 ECHL games for the Trois-Rivières Lions, Kidney has scored 11 goals and added 22 assists for 33 points. In his six AHL appearances for the Rocket, Kidney recorded one goal. The third trade has defenceman Ryan O’Rourke heading to Belleville for future considerations. In 11 ECHL games this season for the Trois-Rivières Lions, O’Rourke has scored one goal for one point. In his 11 AHL appearances for the Rocket, he recorded two assists. On the injury front, defender Cam Crotty and forward Phil Daoust are still out, and joined on the IR by defenceman Jorian Donovan, who is not on the trip. Full roster and lineup details will be available closer to puck drop on the Sens’ social media channels (@BellevilleSens).

Who to Watch

As mentioned earlier, Graeme Clarke made a lasting impression on the Belleville faithful last Saturday. Tonight marks a special moment for him, however, as Clarke will be facing Hershey for the first time since being traded. The opportunity is an intriguing one for the 24-year-old forward, who is feeling hot after his four-point night and has already shown impressive chemistry with his new teammates. In 50 games for the Bears this season, Clarke posted 24 points, with 15 of them being goals, and now he has a chance to add to that total in two pivotal games for the Senators’ playoff push.

Wyatt Bongiovanni spent a good chunk of his career in Belleville prior to being dealt to Hershey, and now he finds himself on the other side. Bongiovanni’s time with the Senators was productive both on and off the ice. The Birmingham native recorded 42 goals and 26 assists for 68 points in 122 career games with Belleville. It was always hard to miss the six-foot winger and the type of impact he brought to every game. Bongiovanni, so far with the Bears, has put together one point in three games and will look to increase that total against a lineup he knows very well.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. with David Foot and can be seen on AHLTV on FloHockey, with a free-to-listen option available 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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