Game Day Build-Up: Belleville Sens shoot for sweet finish to road trip in Chocolatetown, USA

Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up
Jan.17/25 @ Hershey Bears (AHL Affiliate: Washington Capitals)

The Set Up:

The Belleville Senators may not be exactly where they want to be as the season’s midway point nears. Still, optimism and energy are ripe around the group as they get set to visit the back-to-back defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears tonight. While the results haven’t been as consistent as they were at the start of the campaign, the Senators have been regularly outshooting opponents and continue to be one of the hardest-working, tough-to-play-against, and competitive opponents in the North Division and, in fact, the AHL’s Eastern Conference. As they navigate call-ups, injuries, and the other challenges of the season, the Sens will need to continue to stay focused and stick to their identity against the Eastern Conference’s best team and see if they can put a sweet finish to their shortened Pennsylvania road trip, in Chocolatetown, USA.

Previous History:

This is the first of four meetings between Belleville and Hershey this season, with the defending champs set to visit CAA Arena next weekend and the Sens finishing off the season series on the road in March. The Sens spoiled the Bears’ banner raising on opening night last season when Mads Sogaard made 30 saves in a 3-0 Belleville shutout victory. The Bears would return the favour with a 4-2 win in Belleville in February 2024. During their lifetime against the Bears, the Senators are 5-6-0-1, with an impressive mark of 4-1-0-1 at Giant Center in Hershey:

Roster Notes:

 As has been the case most days of late, there are a few transactions to report ahead of tonight’s game. Defenceman Donovan Sebrango was recalled to Ottawa and made his National Hockey League debut last night in the NHL Sens overtime loss at home last night, which coincidentally came at the hands of Hershey’s NHL parent club, the Washington Capitals. Belleville will get some added artillery up front as well, with Ottawa returning forward Zack MacEwen to the AHL. In a corresponding move, the Belleville Sens released forward Spencer Kersten from his professional tryout and returned him to the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL). On the injury front, Belleville will be missing goaltenders Mads Sogaard and Malcolm Subban, forward Tyler Boucher, and defender Wyatte Wylie. Sens captain and former Bears standout Garrett Pilon was injured last weekend and didn’t play in Allentown mid-week. He’s questionable about returning to the lineup tonight as well. Defenceman Kris Myllari made his AHL debut on Wednesday, on a professional tryout, also from Orlando, and remains with the club, as does PTO goaltender Mark Sinclair. You can click here for a full list of up-to-date transactions, with lineup details available before the game via the B-Sens social channels (@bellevillesens).

Who to Watch:

Senators forward Jamieson Rees made an immediate impact in his return from an 18-game injury layoff at Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. The 23-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, had a hard-working assist against the Phantoms, out-racing an opposing defender and diving to knock the puck to Jan Jenik, who would score for the Sens. The assist gives Rees points in back-to-back games after he scored in his last game before injury, back in November. Wyatt Bongiovanni (four goals) and Angus Crookshank (two assists) also have points in back-to-back games.

The Atlantic-leading Bears have been paced recently by forward Alex Limoges, who has five points (two goals, three assists) over a five-game point streak and veteran defender Ethan Bear, who has points in four straight games (six assists). Hershey also got a hat-trick performance from Mike Vecchione in their last game. The Sens will also potentially see a familiar face tonight as Brennan Saulnier could suit up for his new team after playing 66 games for Belleville between 2022 and 2024.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop today is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:50 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 all Belleville Sens home games through the 2024-25 season 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 can click the following links for more information on becoming a season seat member, purchasing a flex pack membership, or putting down a deposit for a group experience. For more details on those ticket options, plus details on premium seating and Business Elite packages, visit the Belleville Sens website or email tickets@bellevillesens.com.

The full Belleville Sens 2024-25 regular season schedule is available here. 

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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