Weekly Recap: Sens suffer two tight defeats as calendar turns to 2026

The Belleville Senators marked the end of 2025 and the start of 2026 in the same way, with a pair of hard-fought defeats. The Sens fell 4-3 to the North Division leading Laval Rocket (AHL Affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) on New Year’s Eve, before opening the new year with a 3-1 loss at home to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL Affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers) a few days later. It was a rare week without points for the Senators, who fell back to sixth place in the division, two points back of the Cleveland Monsters (AHL Affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets).

Here’s a rundown of the action, as Belleville prepares for a vital three-in-three this coming weekend.

Wednesday, December 31, 2025: Belleville Senators – 3 vs Laval Rocket – 4

The Belleville Senators got locked into another tight battle with their divisional rivals from Quebec, skating to a 4-3 loss to the Laval Rocket on New Year’s Eve. Xavier Bourgault scored twice, while Phil Daoust also tallied for Belleville, and Mads Sogaard stopped 36 of 40 shots he faced in the loss. It was Belleville’s seventh meeting against Laval this season, with three more still to come.

GAME RECAP | BOX SCORE

Saturday, January 3, 2026: Belleville Senators – 1 vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms – 3

While they accomplished the goal of supporting women in sports and raising funds for the Belleville Bearcats last Saturday night, the Belleville Senators suffered their second loss of the season to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Arthur Kaliyev was the only scorer for Belleville, tallying his AHL-leading 21st goal of the season and 12th on the power play, while Mads Sogaard made his second start of the week, stopping 24 shots.

GAME RECAP | BOX SCORE

Recent Transactions

• Jan.2/26: #2 Matthew Andonovski (D) – DELETE – Reassigned by Ottawa (NHL) to Kitchener (OHL)

You can click here for a full list of Belleville Sens transactions.

Statistical Leaders

Points: 37 (2nd in AHL)
#43 Arthur Kaliyev (F) – 21 G + 16 A

Goals: 21 (1st in AHL)
#43 Arthur Kaliyev (F)

Assists: 20 (T-7th in AHL)
#10 Phil Daoust (C)

Power Play Goals: 12 (1st in AHL)
#43 Arthur Kaliyev (F)

Plus/Minus: +5
#44 Djibril Toure

Penalty Minutes: 74 (8th in AHL)
#42 Hayden Hodgson (RW)

Goals Against Average: 3.16
#30 Hunter Shepard (G)

Save Percentage: .905
#30 Hunter Shepard (G)

Wins: 5
#30 Hunter Shepard (G)

Shutouts: 1
#31 Jackson Parsons (G)
#40 Mads Sogaard (G)

This Week:

The Senators play a three-in-three this weekend, which includes the final two games of the 2025-26 Battle of Ontario, on Friday in Toronto and then back at CAA Arena on Saturday evening, before the Sens entertain the Rochester Americans on Sunday afternoon. Saturday night (January 10) is also Belleville’s annual Indigenous Communities Night, in partnership with Seeing Red Media and Anish Branding.  You can follow all the action by listening on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network, or watching along on AHL TV on FloHockey. 

Ticket Info:

Single-game tickets for all home games in 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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