Defenceman Julius Bergman made his Belleville Senators debut in a 3-1 loss to the Utica Comets Saturday night. (Photo: Lindsay A. Mogle / Utica Comets)
The Belleville Senators put forth a valiant effort Saturday night in its season opener in Utica, New York, but it wasn’t enough, as the host Comets emerged with a 3-1 win.
Former Comet Joseph LaBate scored Belleville’s first goal of the 2018-19 American Hockey League season early in the second period, assisted by Boston Leier and Stuart Percy.
Unfortunately for the B-Sens, that was about all the offense they could muster and Utica would score three unanswered to win.
LaBate spoke about returning to Utica and scoring against his old team.
Senators head coach Troy Mann says there’s a lot of positives to take away, despite the loss.
Veteran goalie Mike McKenna stopped 26 shots in the losing cause.
Former Belleville Bull Brendan Gaunce scored Utica’s first tally of the night.
The B-Sens are next in action on Friday night as part of back-to-back games in Winnipeg against the Manitoba Moose. Friday’s game begins at 8 p.m. eastern, 7:50 on CJBQ, Saturday’s game starts at 7 p.m., with a 6:50 broadcast time on CJBQ.
