As the American Hockey League season winds down to its final few days the Belleville Senators know they have already clinched a berth in the Calder Cup playoffs. What they don’t know is where they will finish in the North Division standings.
The B-Sens play their final regular season game Saturday afternoon when they host the Toronto Marlies at 3 p.m. at the CAA Arena.
Belleville is in fourth place, just two percentage points behind third place Laval and just ahead of the Marlies. The difference between the three is getting a bye to the second round or opening a best of three series on the road.
Sophomore winger Igor Sokolov is one of more than a dozen players who will make their Calder Cup playoff debut. Sokolov says the team is ready.
While many Belleville players look forward to their first taste of professional post season play, this will be the fourth for veteran defenceman Dillon Hetherington. In fact, he won a Calder cup with the Lake Erie Monsters (now Cleveland) in 2016. Hetherington was asked what advice he would pass along to his younger teammates.
Hetherington isn’t the only B-Sen with a Calder Cup ring. Forward Clark Bishop and coach Troy Mann have as well.
If Belleville finishes in fourth place they will host their first AHL playoff game in franchise history next Wednesday night (May 4) at the CAA Arena. If they finish in fifth place they will open on the road next Wednesday. If they overtake Laval for third, the B-Sens advance to the second round of the playoffs.
It might come down to the Senators’ final game of the regular season Saturday afternoon when they host the Marlies.
Playoff tickets go on sale today.
