Bourgault's Pair of Goals Backs Senators to First Win of the Season
AHL Belleville Senators

Bourgault's Pair of Goals Backs Senators to First Win of the Season

Published on October 22, 2025 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Belleville Senators News Release


Belleville Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen smothers a shot
Belleville Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen smothers a shot
(Belleville Senators, Credit: Freestyle Photography)

BELLEVILLE, ON - The Belleville Senators hosted the Laval Rocket in the last of their three-game homestand on Wednesday and picked up their first win of the season, beating the Rocket 6-2.

Right from puck drop, the Senators dominated play with the first line being especially noticeable. Late in the period on the penalty kill, Xavier Bourgault got Belleville started off a pass from Philippe Daoust to score short-handed and make it 1-0.

Laval was quick to respond early in the second period on the power play, as Laurent Dauphin finished off a hard shot pass from Sean Farrell at the side of the net to tie the game 1-1. Later in the period, Belleville restored their one-goal lead when Xavier Bourgault continued his strong play, scoring his second of the game with help from linemates Stephen Halliday and Arthur Kaliyev. Less than a minute later, the Senators extended their lead in a big way. Hayden Hodgson buried his first of the season quickly, assisted by Keean Washkurak and Carter Yakemchuk, to make it 3-1. The Rocket cut the Senators' lead late in the period when Adam Engstrom's hard shot from the point beat Leevi Merilainen, narrowing the score to 3-2. The period closed with another Belleville goal, reinstating their two-goal cushion, as Wyatt Bongiovanni's short-side shot beat Jacob Fowler on the power play to make it 4-2.

The Senators' momentum continued to serve them well as their captain made his mark. An unassisted breakaway effort by Garrett Pilon extended Belleville's lead to 5-2 early in the final period. Midway through the third, Cameron Crotty added to the Senators' advantage with a wrist shot from the point, set up by Jorian Donovan and Garrett Pilon, to make it 6-2 and secure the Senators' first win of the year.

Belleville travels to Toronto this weekend for two games against the Marlies on Saturday and Sunday, with both games starting at 4:00 p.m.

Fast Facts:

#4 Cameron Crotty scored his second goal of the season and second in as many games

#13 Xavier Bourgault scored a pair of goals, including his second shorthanded marker of the season, on his 23rd birthday. He was named the game's first star.

#22 Garrett Pilon scored his first goal of the season

#34 Stephen Halliday had two assists and has registered a point in four of five games this season

#35 Leevi Merilainen stopped 26 of 28 shots he faced to earn his first win of the season

The full 2025-26 Belleville Senators schedule can be found here.

Single-game tickets for the first half of the 2025-26 season are now on sale via Ticketmaster or at the Belleville Sens Box Office located inside the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre. Details on season seat memberships, flex packs, premium seating, the Business Edge program, and more can be found by visiting the Belleville Sens Website.

Check out the Belleville Senators Statistics

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Images from this story

Belleville Senators right wing Xavier Bourgault
Belleville Senators right wing Xavier Bourgault
(Freestyle Photography)		 Belleville Senators salute their fans
Belleville Senators salute their fans
(Freestyle Photography)		 Belleville Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen smothers a shot
Belleville Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen smothers a shot
(Freestyle Photography)



American Hockey League Stories from October 22, 2025


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