The Belleville Senators didn’t need to scour the earth in search of their next head coach. He was right there in front of them, and already in place at the end of the 2025-26 season.

 Mr. Campbell and the American Hockey League affiliate of the Ottawa Senators came to terms on a three-year contract heading into the 2026-27 season.

For the Caledonia native—a veteran of over 700 professional games including 42 NHL contests with Los Angeles, Arizona, and Toronto—the permanent posting is a thumbs up from the Ottawa brain trust. Owner Michael Andlauer and General Manager Steve Staios are trying to build a unique, familial culture for the Senators in the Friendly City that extends well beyond the parent club.

Mr. Campbell cut his coaching teeth as an assistant with Brantford of the Ontario Hockey League when Mr. Andlauer owned the Bulldogs and Mr. Staios was the GM. All three moved on from the junior ranks into the rigours of professional hockey, only to find themselves united once again. 

This is Mr. Campbell’s first head coaching gig.

“They are both fantastic, caring, thoughtful and really great hockey people, so to have earned their trust in taking on this important role and stewarding this team forward is really quite an honour,” Mr. Campbell told the Gazette.

Like any new bench boss, the coach’s mind is already alight with power play and penalty kill ideas, potential line combinations, and ways to beat those AHL clubs that gave the Sens fits last season.

The coach admits the young Senators dug themselves a hole they just couldn’t escape last season. While the team seemed to turn a corner under his instruction when he replaced David Bell in December, the AHL schedule toyed with the team’s morale. Time and again, the locals would get into the Calder Cup playoff mix only to see the team’s equal in the East Division point standings win a couple of their games in hand.

Belleville finally bowed out of the playoff chase in the second-to-last weekend of the AHL regular season. Surrendering an Eastern Conference worst 262 goals against was a big reason for the club’s 28-35-9 record.

But not reflected in that record is the fact that the Belleville Senators were sending plenty of reinforcements to 613 Country headquarters. A total of nine skaters and four different goalies were shipped off to Ottawa to support parent club the Ottawa Senators as they held the line in back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Last season, Mr. Campbell learned very quickly about the best laid plans of mice and AHL hockey coaches.

“It’s an ever-changing league. You prepare a lineup and a strategy and by noon on game day, it’s out the window because there are injuries and call ups. You become aware of it as a player but it’s an entirely different experience when you are in charge of the lineup sheet,” he said. “On the other hand, it’s a lot of fun and it keeps you sharp. You lose a couple of players to Ottawa for a game, it’s time for some of the younger guys to step into some new roles and take charge.”

A standout defenceman during his playing years in the AHL, Mr. Campbell would tell you that most goals against start with bad decisions made outside of the defensive zone. Cutting down on the number of goals allowed by the Belleville Senators is priority number one heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

“A lot of it comes from having every player buying in in all three zones and having pride in not getting scored against. It’s going to be a focus all year long,” he added.

When asked about the finality of the AHL postseason, the skipper said it was bittersweet to see their Battle of Ontario rivals skate off with the Calder Cup. Head-to-head, the B-Sens topped the Marlies 5-3-1 this season and played the Maple Leafs’ affiliate exceptionally tough.

“For a fourth place team to go on and win the Calder Cup really speaks volumes to the East Division as a whole and the really great teams we are battling with night in and night out,” Mr. Campbell said. “The Marlies obviously benefited from getting some players back from the Leafs and went on a remarkable run and that’s what we are going to strive for in Belleville this season.”