Belleville Senators Captain Garret Pilon knows the assignment: help mold the young B-Sens into a growing concern in the American Hockey League’s North Division.

For inspiration, he’s drawing on a well known local hockey hand.

The 27-year-old pivot from Mineola, NY is at something of crossroads in his pro hockey career. He’s had a cup of coffee in the show — three games in the Washington line up. He even scored his first NHL goal in one of those contests, tipping a puck past John Gibson in a 2021 game against Anaheim.

Missed Opportunities

He may once again skate under the bright lights they use in the big league. But for right now, the focus in his second season in Belleville and second wearing the captain’s C is to get off on the right foot. Having missed the playoffs by just two points last season will leave a bitter taste in any pro hockey player’s mouth. Pilz, as he’s known around the Belleville dressing room, is ready to remind his charges how close the club came to the 2025 Calder Cup chase.

“There’s so much turnover in the AHL so there’s always a new group of guys coming in. A big thing this organization wants to focus on from the front office to the team is building a winning culture and then building on the fundamentals of our system is also a huge part of it,” Mr. Pilon told the Gazette.

The Sens were 6-3-4 to kick off the 2024-25 campaign. A decent enough start through 13 contests but winning even a pair of those four shootout losses would have spring boarded them into a playoff spot on the AHL’s final night of the regular season.

“You really start to feel the stress of the playoff hunt come March when you are watching the standings every day and guys are starting to think about their jobs next season. For us, we are really going to stress the importance of those first 20 games, because that’s really what made the difference last season. As a leader, it’s pushing guys every day, to learn things, pay attention to details, pushing to get us closer as a group.”

A Familiar Face

Mr. Pilon knows what it takes to be a Calder Cup champion, having won an AHL title with the Hershey Bears in 2023. In Chocolate City, USA, he met and learned from a revered hockey figure who once called Prince Edward County home, Bryan Helmer. The former Wellington Duke has been Vice-President of Hockey Operations for the Bears since 2016.

Mr. Pilon cracks a wide smile at mention of Mr. Helmer. He recalls with a laugh the time he was a 2017 Calder Cup call up fresh from his junior squad in Kamloops.

“He came down the hallway and into the locker room with the all the post-game beverages,” Mr. Pilon laughs. “I think he forgot I was an 18-year-old call up when he was handing them out.”

Mr. Pilon spent five seasons in Hershey, winning a Calder Cup in 2023. He calls Mr. Helmer the “Great Communicator”.

“He is very easy to talk to and a great human being at the end of the day. He takes great pride in the Bears and never seems to be in a bad mood when he’s at the rink. As far as understanding the highs and the lows of the season and keeping things light, he’s been a great mentor.

“As a player, his AHL record for points by a defenceman, his games in the NHL, captaining the Bears to back-to-back Calder Cups…there’s a lot to be inspired by. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have learned from Bryan Helmer early in my career.”