With the 2026-27 season quickly approaching, Belleville Senators head coach Andrew Campbell and his staff are making the most of their time in Ottawa.<\/p>\n
Campbell and the Belleville coaching staff have spent the past two weeks working alongside the Senators\u2019 NHL coaching staff, led by Travis Green, through rookie camp, the Prospects Challenge, and main training camp, getting an up-close look at the systems, practices, and video work being implemented at the NHL level.<\/p>\n
For Campbell, the time in Ottawa has also provided an opportunity to prepare his staff and put the building blocks in place for what they want to accomplish once they return to the Bay of Quinte.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve spent a lot of time on that and then, have been sitting in with Travis and his staff just going through what he\u2019s showing in camp, their video packages and their training camp practices, and getting a handle on their systems,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cWe want to incorporate a lot of drills in Belleville that they do here in Ottawa, so we get a firm grasp on those and just being sponges. Sitting in and listening, and just trying to take in as much information as we can while we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Belleville staff also had the opportunity to work with Ottawa\u2019s young prospects during rookie camp, which featured one practice and two games played at the Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau, Quebec. Campbell felt the experience gave the prospects an important opportunity to get their feet wet in a competitive environment before moving into main camp.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it\u2019s pro hockey, right? It\u2019s maybe different to what a lot of guys have been used to wherever they played in junior college, and in the next step, it\u2019s only going to be magnified even more in the NHL. So, for them to play in front of management and, you know, the NHL staff and all the media that we\u2019re there, that\u2019s going to be what they\u2019re going to have to endure and go through for the rest of their career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campbell and the Belleville Sens are scheduled to return to the Bay of Quinte on September 28, where they will begin a short training camp ahead of the team\u2019s season opener on October 2.<\/p>\n
Despite the limited time in Belleville before the season begins, Campbell believes the groundwork laid in Ottawa will help. With returning players and newcomers spending extended time together through NHL training camp, the group has already begun building the familiarity and relationships that will be important once the team comes together in Belleville.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough we don\u2019t get next to any time back in Belleville once we get there before our season starts, these guys have already been around each other for quite a bit of time,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cThey\u2019re familiar with each other. And, you know, that helps build the bond that you\u2019re hoping for when our season starts.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the clock counts down to puck drop on the 10th season of Senators Hockey in the Bay of Quinte, Campbell admits he\u2019s eager to get back and start the Senators\u2019 preparations.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur season\u2019s creeping up here really fast,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cGetting a little anxious to get back there so we can get our stuff going.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Belleville Sens open the 2026-27 American Hockey League campaign on Friday, October 2, 2026, against the league\u2019s newest team, the Hamilton Hammers (AHL Affiliate of the New York Islanders). Tickets are available by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0full 2026-27 Belleville Senators schedule is available by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n Single-game tickets are\u00a0now on sale via Ticketmaster<\/a>. More information on season seat memberships, Sens on Demand ticketing, premium seating, the Business Edge program, and more is available on the Belleville Sens Website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u00a0<\/p>\n Visit the Belleville Sens website:\u202fwww.bellevillesens.com<\/a>\u00a0 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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