It’s time to celebrate ten seasons of Belleville Senators hockey. 

Great food, theme nights, the Sens’ first true alternate jersey, and a Hockey Weekend in Quinte are planned for the 2026-27 season. 

“We have ten big things planned to mark ten years in the Bay of Quinte. It’s about recognizing the foundation we have built for the NHL Senators in Ottawa,” says David Foot, who manages Broadcasting and Communications for the team.

Teams from Wellington, Trenton, and Greater Napanee will take centre stage November 16-17. The Wellington Dukes will take on the Trenton Golden Hawks, The Picton Pirates will face off against the Frankford Huskies, and minor hockey teams from across the region will compete with proceeds from the weekend going to the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation. Game times are to be announced.

“The weekend will shine a spotlight on the broader world of hockey here. We’re talking about our Junior A teams, the Golden Hawks and the Dukes, our Junior C teams, the Pirates and the Huskies. Our friends at the Quinte Red Devils, the Belleville Bearcats, the Junior Bulls — basically, if it’s tied to hockey in the Quinte region, we’re going to celebrate it,” says Mr. Foot.

The weekend is an example of the team’s committment to community engagement. In total, the team has contributed more than $1.5 million to local organizations or initiatives. Last season alone, they contributed $350,000. 

That includes $143,000 in donated tickets, and $65,000 sent to 13 local organizations through a 50/50 program. Chuck-a-puck brought in another $39,000, donated to 21 community organizations. Another $11,000 was generated through jersey auctions. 18 schools took part in the Sens in School Program, which affects more than 5000 students across Quinte. 

A new school day game in Belleville sees the Senators invite students (and their teachers) to play hooky and watch hockey.

“If anyone ever tells you the Belleville Senators are not a community team, you can show them the $1.5 million number, and tell them the number is going to get bigger.”

Throughout the year, camera crews will be catching the ins and outs of the season while filming a documentary on the team’s time in the region, and the 2026-27 season. “We’re getting into the history of the franchise, from Binghamton, to the move in 2017, up to the pandemic, the rebuild out of that, and our time here in the Bay of Quinte,” Mr. Foot explains. 

Theme nights kick off with fans taking a trip to Bellevegas with playing cards featuring the Senators logo on October 16. The club celebrates its inaugural home opener on November 1. Belleville hosted the Crunch in their first ever contest in the Bay of Quinte on November 1, 2017, a game which ended in a 4-3 victory for the home side. 

November features the club’s annual Hockey Fights Cancer weekend, while Olympic Gold Medalist and NBC Hockey personality Jennifer Botterill makes the trip to Belleville for Women in Sports Day on Jan. 8.  

In the early spring, Belleville will trade black and red for camo on Military weekend in support of CFB Trenton. Details on the rest of the 10 initiatives the Senators are planning for their anniversary year will be made available in the coming months. 

“At the start of the summer we had a consultant do a pile of research, looking at things like ticket-buying habits, what people like, and what they don’t like. We want to give fans what they want.”

That means more affordable options. You can get in the building now for as low as $15, while high-end single game tickets are $45.15 Friday night games are included in a total of 36 at home. Fans can also expect to be in and out of CIBC Place earlier in the day. 4 p.m. starts on Saturdays mean getting home in time for Hockey Night In Canada. 

“You’ll be able to come here on a Saturday, watch the Belleville Sens, then make it home in time to watch the Senators in Ottawa as well,” Mr. Foot said. 

In the food department, the Sens have kicked it up a notch through a partnership with Aramark. Macaroni and cheese with bacon crumble jam, loaded foot-long hot dogs, deli-style sandwiches, nachos, and cinnamon donut holes will be on offer in the canteen.