“Junior Hockey Giants” shares stories of Belleville’s hockey history

Hockey fans in the Bay of Quinte have a new way to reminisce about the region’s hockey history.

‘Junior Hockey Giants: Local Legends Belleville’ is the sixth book written by Belleville-based author, journalist, and photographer Aaron Bell, and was officially launched at Boston Pizza in Belleville on Tuesday afternoon. The almost 200-page book features unique stories dating back to the Belleville Jr. B Bobcats and the Belleville Bulls, along with archival photographs from Bell and the Belleville Intelligencer, and follows up on Bell’s previous “Junior Hockey Giants” book, released last summer.

“When I put (Junior Hockey Giants) out, I was like, there’s not enough local players, or local content,” Bell told BellevilleSens.com at his launch event. “So, I figured, let’s put it out and really celebrate those stories, and the reaction has been terrific.”

Junior Hockey Giants: Local Legends Belleville also includes a handful of features on more recent stars who have hit the ice in the Friendly City, either with the Belleville Sens or one of their American Hockey League opponents. Bell says fans need to keep in mind that while a new team and league call the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre home, the city’s current hockey tenant is helping to continue the same development pipeline that they’ve been used to.

“Probably a week doesn’t go by when someone doesn’t ask me about the Bulls,” said Bell. “And I always tell them the same thing, – I miss them too, but also don’t miss out on what’s happening now at the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre with the Belleville Sens. It’s incredible hockey, at an incredible level, and there are always so many players that you recognize from junior coming through.”

After going through a serious health situation in recent years, Bell made sure to heap praise on his wife Angela and others who helped through the process. He added that the early reaction to the book has been great, and he feels sharing these stories helps to cement Belleville’s legacy as a hockey hotbed.

“The game is so deep, especially in this region, and there are so many great stories,” said Bell. “To me, Belleville is such a hockey town, and I think that’s something we don’t want to lose sight of. And, I know the only way to keep that going is for people like myself to dig through the archives, talk to the players, coaches, and people who have been through it, and share those stories.”

Bell says plans are in the works for a few more similar books, possibly targeting some other historic hockey markets, and a four-episode ‘Junior Hockey Giants’ video series is slated to air soon on YourTV for Cogeco Cable customers. After those episodes air on TV, they’ll also be available to watch online.

To order your copy of the book, or to see more of the stories that Bell and his team are working on, head to www.hockeydocs.com/belleville.