Harrington and family excited for another season in the Bay of Quinte

After spending much of the past several off-seasons waiting to see where his next opportunity would come from, veteran defenceman Scott Harrington already knows exactly where he and his family will be when training camp opens in September.

Back in the Bay of Quinte to help the Belleville Sens make some big strides during the club’s 10th anniversary campaign.

“It’s been nice. I haven’t had this in four or five years,” Harrington said. “It’s nice to not have to stress where my family and I will be for once in the summer. Knowing that we’re heading back, and our place is locked in. I’m just looking forward to getting back and seeing the guys again.”

Stability in professional sports is something that players and staff alike deal with consistently, and that’s been true for Harrington, whose pro hockey career has spanned 13 years in the AHL and NHL, as well as a one-year stint in Europe. But now, as another season approaches in Belleville, that stability has allowed Harrington to focus on something even more important away from the rink. His daughter celebrated her first birthday this summer, giving the family another milestone to enjoy together while he trains in Nashville.

“It’s been really nice. My daughter turned one this summer, which was cool. We’re enjoying this part of our lives with others around us in a similar spot as well.”

Signing a two-year contract last season and now returning to Belleville has also meant returning closer to where hockey first began for Harrington. The Kingston native spent his childhood just east across Highway 401 before leaving home to chase his hockey dream more than 15 years ago.

“It certainly does,” Harrington said when asked if Belleville feels close to home. “I spent my whole childhood in Kingston and it had been 15 to 16 years since I left.”

The second-round draft pick made his junior hockey debut in the OJHL with the Kingston Voyageurs, playing just 20 games before beginning a four-season stint with the London Knights of the OHL, where he won two OHL championships. Coming home for the first time meant more than just revisiting memories — it also meant being able to visit family and return to the passionate hockey community of Quinte.

“I think the first time I played back at home was when Springfield came back to Belleville. For me it felt like a long time but I really appreciated the support and you can tell with Belleville that it’s a junior hockey town, the way they support the team and players. It was special, my parents were basically at every home game, my buddies were as well, truly a full circle moment that was special.”

Now entering another season with the Senators, Harrington will once again be one of the veteran voices in a dressing room that has welcomed many new faces over the summer. Those new faces include players such as Philip Tomasino, Ryan Suzuki, Sammy Blais, Kasper Halttunen and Christian Kyrou, giving Belleville a much different look. For him, that transition is simply part of life in the American Hockey League.

“The challenging part of the AHL is that personnel changes from year to year,” Harrington said. “Obviously we all get used to each other but that’s the great part about professional sports is that it takes about two days of skating and practicing together, and you’re fast friends. Everyone knows someone, somehow by mutual friends and it doesn’t take long to get that going so that’s exciting.”

While Harrington hasn’t crossed paths with every newcomer, he already has some familiarity with the aforementioned forward, Philip Tomasino, from past summer skates.

“I’m not super familiar,” Harrington said. “I’m familiar with Tomasino when he was in the Predators organization… he seems like a great guy.”

Like many returning players, Harrington is also excited to see Andrew Campbell begin his first full season as Belleville’s head coach. Campbell was extended by the Senators on a three-year contract back in June after taking over on an interim basis last season. Harrington wasn’t surprised to see Campbell return.

“It’s great for him, I think all of the guys returning are really excited for him. We had a great coaching staff last year and obviously it’s difficult when the team makes a coaching change but with that comes new opportunity and I think Soup (Andrew Campbell) really took that.”

And with that, Harrington praised Campbell and the staff around him.

“Looking back at all of the injuries, it was really unique but also challenging. I think our staff did the best they could in preparing us and working with the guys. When you see that effort put forth to help the players, and you see those guys get rewarded, it’s great.”

With another season approaching and a clean slate ahead, Harrington’s focus now shifts back to preparing for training camp. For him, it’s nothing different than what he’s done before.

“Kind of the same as usual,” Harrington said. “We’re into the full swing of things for skating and training. For myself, just getting ready for camp properly is what I need, because every year the game is getting more skilled so the older I get the harder you have to work to keep developing your game.”

Away from the rink, Harrington’s summers have become a little different than they once were. After spending previous off-seasons travelling to different destinations, including one in Europe, this summer included a family trip to North Carolina and plenty of time with those closest to him.

“We went to the beach in North Carolina for a weekend and we’ve been doing that for a couple of years now,” Harrington said. “Back when me and my family were in Europe it was about traveling to various different countries around us but now it’s really just about getting to see those who mean the most.”

For the first time in years, Harrington enters an off-season without wondering what comes next. With his family settled, another season in Belleville ahead and a familiar group waiting for him at training camp, the veteran defenceman can focus on what he has done throughout his 13-year professional career: preparing for another season and helping the next generation of players find their footing.

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