Gabriel’s Pizza Gameday Build-Up: 2025-26 season begins with visit to Lehigh Valley

Saturday, October 11, 2025 @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms

The set-up:

After a lengthy offseason, the Belleville Senators begin their ninth season of American Hockey League play tonight, visiting the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop. There’s a renewed sense of optimism around the club coming out of training camp, with the Senators boasting one of their deepest rosters in a few seasons, thanks to the offseason efforts of incoming General Manager Matt Turek and Ottawa Senators GM and President of Hockey Operations Steve Staios. And, after narrowly missing the Calder Cup Playoffs last season, this group that includes a solid core of returning players, an influx of veteran talent and leadership, and a fresh batch of first-year pros looking to make their mark, the Sens are primed for a strong start against the Phantoms tonight.

Previous History:

The Senators and Phantoms split their two-game season series last year, with the home team winning each contest respectively, by 3-2 scorelines. Phil Daoust was the most productive returning Senator against Lehigh Valley, recording two assists in two games, while fellow returnees Wyatt Bongiovanni, Stephen Halliday, Hayden Hodgson, Jan Jenik, Djibril Toure, and Tyler Boucher all scored over the course of the two-game set. Lifetime against the Phantoms, the Senators are 7-6-1-0, with a 2-4-1-0 lifetime mark on the road at PPL Center.

Roster Notes:

Line combinations and scratches for tonight’s game will be released when the team hits the ice for warm-ups (approximately 6:30 p.m.), but the Senators did announce their 24-player season-opening roster earlier today. This year’s group includes two goaltenders, eight defencemen, and 14 forwards. Fifteen of those players are returning from last year’s group, with four players set to make their professional debuts this season. In finalizing their roster from training camp, the Senators assigned forward Danny Katic and goaltender Jackson Parsons to the club’s ECHL affiliate, the Allen Americans. The Senators also announced on Friday they’ve signed veteran defenceman and Kingston, Ontario native Scott Harrington to a two-year AHL contract.

Who to Watch:

It’ll be tough to miss Senators’ rookie Carter Yakemchuk when he hits the ice for his professional debut. Standing about 6’4’’ and over 200lbs, the recently turned 20-year-old is looking to show that he belongs in the pro ranks and is deserving of closer looks and opportunities with the NHL Senators in Ottawa, sooner rather than later. The defender from Fort McMurray, Alberta, has an offensive upside that was proven by a 49-point performance (17 goals, 13 assists) in 56 games with the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen last season. Sens fans will also be watching Belleville’s 2024-25 leading scorer, Stephen Halliday, who looks to build off his 51 points (19 goals, 32 assists) in 71 games last year.

The Phantoms, meanwhile, will be without their top scorer from last season, after Olle Lycksell (44 points in 43 games) signed with the Ottawa Senators over the summer and at this point, has stayed up with the NHL Sens. Lehigh Valley does have three of its next highest point getters from 2024-25 back in the likes of Jacob Gaucher (38 points in 70 games), Anthony Richard (36 points in 42 games), and Zayde Wisdom (32 points in 68 games). Helge Grans is the most productive returning Phantom against Belleville, notching three points (one goal, two assists) in the 2024-25 season series.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:05 p.m. ET from PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:55 p.m. ET with David Foot and can be seen on AHLTV on FloHockey or heard free on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network.

Ticket Info:

Tickets for the Belleville Senators home opener on Saturday, October 18, 2025 against the Toronto Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) and all home games in the first half of the 2025-26 season 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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