B-Sens sign former Petes defenceman
The Belleville Senators bolstered their depleted blueline in advance of Friday’s home game versus the Syracuse Crunch by signing former Peterborough Petes defenceman Jamie Doornbosch to a professional tryout agreement (PTO).
Hit hard by injuries and recent call-ups to the parent Ottawa Senators, the revamped Belleville blueline also includes newcomer T.J. Melancon, who made his B-Sens debut in Rochester on Wednesday. Melancon, who led all QMJHL defencemen with 19 goals for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada last season, is also on a PTO.
Doornbosch, 27, played in the OHL for the Peterborough Petes and Kitchener Rangers from 200711. His single-season career highs included 19 goals with Kitchener in 2010-11 and 50 points with the Petes in the preceding campaign.
The six-foot-two, 200-pound native of Richmond Hill played five seasons of Canadian university hockey at St. Mary’s. He appeared in 44 games for the ECHL Wichita Thunder last season, scoring 10 goals and totalling 30 points.
Doornbosch had played two games for the AHL Western Conference Bakersfield Condors prior to signing his PTO on Friday with Belleville. He has dressed for one career NHL game with the New York Islanders.
With highly regarded prospect Thomas Chabot still up with Ottawa, the Belleville blueline took another hit this week when Andreas Englund was promoted to the NHL Sens. Still out of the lineup are Patrick Sieloff and Christian Jaros.
Up front, forwards Kyle Flanagan, Ben Sexton and Ethan Werek remain on the shelf; Chris DiDomenico was recalled by Ottawa on Friday.
NOTE: Belleville’s remaining games for December are: Tuesday at Toronto, 3 p.m.; Thursday vs. Laval, 7 p.m. at Yardmen Arena; Dec. 30 vs. Providence, 7 p.m. at Yardmen Arena; Dec. 31 at Toronto, 3 p.m.