The B-Sens Beat: 10th season officially underway
The Belleville Senators officially began their 10th season with two home games at the newly renamed CIBC Place this past Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
Opening weekend already has plenty to unpack.
A revamped roster opened the year with a 5-2 loss to the expansion Hamilton Hammers, then bounced back with a 3-2 shootout win over Rochester.
Through the opening weekend, three things stood out: too much time in the penalty box, Kasper Halttunen getting every opportunity to become a primary finisher, and a strong introduction from Jonas Johansson.
Quick results
Friday, October 2, 2026: Hamilton Hammers - 5 vs. Belleville Senators - 2
Xavier Bourgault scored the first goal of the 2026-27 season for the B-Sens. It was also the third straight year he scored on opening night.
Shane Bowers (yes, that Shane Bowers) scored a goal for the Belleville Senators. He is currently signed to the team on a PTO.
Jonas Johansson made 28 saves on 32 shots in his Belleville debut.
Mitchell Chafee not only scored the first goal in Hammers franchise history, but he also scored the first-ever hat trick in Hamilton's inaugural AHL game.
Sunday, October 4, 2026: Belleville Senators - 3 vs. Rochester Americans - 2 (SO)
Phil Tomasino and Sammy Blais scored their first goals for the Belleville Senators.
Jonas Johansson made 36 saves on 38 shots through overtime and stopped three of four in the shootout.
Blais and forward Phil Daoust scored the goals in the shootout as the B-Sens got their first victory of the 2026-27 season.
Penalties galore in both matchups
Penalties were the main story for the Belleville Senators as they started the season.
Over two games so far, the B-Sens have accumulated 13 penalties: seven in the season opener against the Hamilton Hammers and six in Sunday's matchup against the Rochester Americans.
In Friday's matchup, Head Coach Andrew Campbell spoke to the media about the need for more discipline, as they allowed three goals from those seven penalties.
"The stick penalties, the poor penalties at inopportune times, and, you know, teams always seem to find a way to score on the stupid ones you take," Campbell said on Friday.
"So, we obviously need to be a lot better in that area."
The tone shifted for Sunday's game, as Campbell pointed out that the Americans had eight penalties of their own.
"14 minors over the course of the game. Half the game is played on special teams, so it disrupts a lot of flow," Campbell said to media on Sunday.
"It's emotional. It's kind of painful, to be honest. But you know, credit to our PK for doing a great job. Power play got us one and found a way to win."
The B-Sens went 1-for-8 on the power play during the Amerks game.
Campbell says he doesn't foresee more high-penalty games as the season rolls on.
"I think that's a one-off. You're not going to see many games where there are 14 minors called," Campbell said.
"It's early in the season. It's early in the season for the players, coaches, the refs, everybody. So hopefully, from here on, we don't see another one of those."
Because of the penalties, the five-on-five was tough to gauge.
There were spurts of high-quality chances and flashes of what can come, but the sample size is still too small.
Keeping penalties to a minimum will be key as the team continues to mesh and build chemistry as the season goes on.
Kasper Halttunen is set up to be the clear finisher on offence
All eyes will be on forward Kasper Halttunen this season as he slots into the top line with Xavier Bourgault and Phil Daoust to start the 2026-27 season.
Halttunen was acquired as part of the trade that sent William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Brandon Svoboda also went to the Senators in that trade.
During his 2025-26 season with the San Jose Barracuda, Halttunen tallied 16 goals and 19 assists over 69 games.
Halttunen's size has also been noticeable in puck battles. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound forward has shown he can use his frame to protect pucks and battle along the boards.
Head Coach Andrew Campbell has liked what he's seen from Halttunen since his arrival to the B-Sens.
"He brings good energy. He's invested in practice. He's invested in the game. You know, he's into the game. He's chirping," Campbell told the media after Sunday's game.
Over two games, the B-Sens have clearly been looking at Halttunen as a finisher on plays, with many looks coming to him parked in the faceoff circle on one-timers.
Halttunen leads the team in shots with 11 so far through two games.
His shot count also ranks him fifth in the AHL, but he is the only player in the top five to be pointless so far this season.
Campbell says that the goals will eventually come with Halttunen.
"He's a little snake-bitten right now. He's had a lot of pretty good chances through two games that he hasn't been able to connect on. But those are going to come," Campbell said on Sunday.
"He's going to score a lot of goals. Once he gets that first one, the floodgates are going to open."
Jonas Johansson starts strong in net
After the Vancouver Canucks claimed Leevi Meriläinen off waivers, the Senators moved quickly to replenish their goaltending depth, acquiring Jonas Johansson from the Tampa Bay Lightning for future considerations.
During his 2025-26 season with the Lightning, Johansson posted an 11-10-2 record with a 3.29 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage.
Johansson admitted to the media on Sunday that it has been a bit of an adjustment to be with a new organization but that the team has been treating him well since his arrival.
"It's been a little challenging moving our whole life, basically with the family and everything, but since we came here, everyone with the Sens organization has really been outstanding at welcoming us," Johansson said following his first victory with the Sens organization on Sunday.
"I just enjoy coming to the rink and being with the guys and seeing what this area has to offer. So it's been all positive since we got here, and I'm really happy to keep going."
In his first two games with the B-Sens, Johansson has looked strong in net.
In a 5-2 loss to Hamilton, Johansson made 28 saves on 32 shots and was repeatedly tested as Belleville gave Hamilton seven power-play opportunities.
Johansson then followed up with a first-star performance against the Rochester Americans, totaling 36 saves on 38 shots through overtime and allowing only one goal in the shootout.
"I felt better today than the first game; I mean, it's been a while since I played," Johansson told media.
"I felt more confident, more comfortable out there today, and I think the whole team did. You know, we got off on the right start right away and just kept building."
Campbell spoke highly of Johansson's presence since his arrival in the locker room.
"He's been a great pro. Brings a great attitude, brings a great energy. So those guys are always infectious to their teammates," Campbell said.
"We're lucky to have him, and obviously playing both games this weekend, with it not being a back-to-back, I think was great for him. He hasn't played a lot of hockey lately, so yeah, we'll continue to push forward."
For now, Johansson says he'll keep getting to know his new teammates.
"They're all good guys in there. A few Swedes that I haven't met before, so I'm getting to know them," Johansson said.
"It's a lot of young guys, so I talk a lot with (Scott) Harrington. He's a little bit more my age and has kids and stuff, but I get along well with all of them."
Other news & notes
Before Friday's game, a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially announced the new arena name, with top Senators executives in attendance. All were in town ahead of the Ottawa Senators' season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs the next night at Scotiabank Arena. You can read my coverage of the ceremony for my day job at Quinte News, which includes comments from Senators owner Michael Andlauer with a Belleville-specific focus.
A couple of prospects weren't in the lineup for either of Belleville's games. Djibril Toure served a two-game suspension that carried over from the previous AHL season. Blake Montgomery, Landen Hookey, Luke Mistelbacher, Matt Andonovski, and Kevin Reidler were some of the Sens prospects who did not dress.
The Belleville Senators had no pre-season games before their matchup with the Hamilton Hammers on Friday.
As of this posting, Jorian Donovan and Jonas Johansson have been called up to the NHL's Ottawa Senators.
Man, it is fun to watch Sammy Blais play. He's been all over the ice since his arrival in Belleville, and Campbell notes he is a heart-and-soul type of player. I wouldn't be surprised to see him called up to the fourth line for the Ottawa Senators at some point this season.
New acquisitions Christian Kyrou, Ryan Suzuki, Phil Tomasino and Sammy Blais all recorded points over Belleville's opening two games.
The B-Sens will hit the road and head to Syracuse to take on the Crunch (AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning) on Saturday at 7 p.m. They will then head back to Belleville the next day for a 5 p.m. matchup against the Utica Comets (AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils). I will be in the broadcast booth for Sunday's game with David Foot, calling the action on AHLTV on FloHockey.
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