Ottawa moving baby Sens closer to home

BELLEVILLE, Ont. — The Ottawa Senators are bring their prospects closer to home.

Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk confirmed Monday morning at the Yardmen Arena has purchased the ownership of the club’s AHL affiliate in Binghamton and the club will begin play here in 2017-18. The Senators have signed an eight-year agreement to make their home in Belleville.

While the deal still needs the approval of the AHL’s board of governors, that’s expected to be a rubber stamp.

Melnyk was on hand with Belleville Mayor Taso Christopher Monday only hours after city council officially approved more than $20 million in upgrades to the arena in this city of 50,000.

“This is a great day,” said Melnyk. “This is Day 1. We’re going to work very hard to make this franchise a success in Belleville ... If we can replicate what we’ve done in the city of Ottawa here then we’re going to be successful.”

The decision for the Senators was an easy one. The city is about a 2.5-hour drive from Ottawa and the club’s prospects won’t have to cross the border. Belleville was a strong junior hockey market when the owners of the Bulls opted to relocate their franchise to Hamilton at the end of 2014-15.

“Our city has a long a storied history with junior hockey but today we welcome professional hockey to Belleville and our soon to be renovated Yardmen Arena,” said Belleville mayor Taso Christopher.

Senators assistant GM Randy Lee has been working on this deal for more than nine months. Yes, the club has been happy with its affiliation with Binghamton and would have been happy to stay there, but the Senators couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to bring the franchise closer to home.

The Senators are going into their 15th — and final season — in Binghamton.

“Sometimes you’re presented with a unique opportunity,” said Lee. “When I met with Mayor Taso Christopher, I knew Belleville was a good home.

“Proximity is a reason why teams are moving closer to their parent club.”

The ticket campaign was launched immediately along with the club’s website, www.bellevillesens.com.