David Bell begins his fifth season behind the Belleville Senators’ bench but his first as their head coach.
Bell took over on an interim basis for the final ten weeks of the last AHL season.
After the team responded with a 14-9-3-3 record, the interim tag was removed from his title.
The former Ottawa 67 was a rugged defenceman known as a straight forward, honest player and he has carried the same traits into his long coaching career. Bell says that won’t change as he transitions from an assistant to head coach.
With 12 returning players and a number of veterans added to the line-up, Bell expects a little more offence.
The B-Sens open the new AHL season Saturday night in Hershey against the Calder Cup champion Bears.
Then it’s a Sunday matinee in Allentown Pennsylvania against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Belleville’s home opener is Saturday October 21 against the Laval Rocket.
