The Belleville Senators are proud to announce its inaugural hockey operations staff ahead of its American Hockey League season.

The Senators front office will once again be led by General Manager Randy Lee and Head Coach Kurt Kleinendorst, who are both coming over from Binghamton in their same roles.

Rounding out the inaugural season staff will be Paul Boutilier as Assistant Coach, Jeremy Benoit as the team’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, Dylan Crawford as Video Coach, Kory Cooper as Goaltending Development Consultant, Craig Belfer as Athletic Therapist, Matthew Mitchell as Equipment Manager and Michael Boyes as Assistant Equipment Manager.

Furthermore, Shean Donovan, the Ottawa Senators’ Player Development Coach, will hold the same role with the Belleville Senators.

“We’re excited about the staff we’ve assembled for our inaugural AHL season in Belleville,” Lee said. “We have a well-rounded group with plenty of experience and success in the American Hockey League and we know that they are eager to begin the next chapter of development in our organization.”

The Senators’ hockey operations staff comes with a wealth of previous AHL and professional hockey experience.

Lee has been with the Ottawa Senators organization for the past 23 years, and was named the Binghamton Senators’ General Manager in January 2014. Kleinendorst has previously coached the Albany Devils, Iowa Wild and the Binghamton Senators, where he led the team to the Calder Cup title in 2011.

Boutilier, who won a Stanley Cup in 1983 as a player with the New York Islanders, played 208 games in the AHL and joins the Senators for his first professional coaching position from the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Donovan, a veteran of 951 NHL games who retired after the 2009-10 season, will work alongside Lee in overseeing the progress of prospects in Belleville.

Benoit worked the past two seasons as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for both the Ottawa Senators and the Binghamton Senators while also being responsible for player development for the Wichita Thunder and Evansville Iceman of the East Coast Hockey League.

Crawford will begin his second year with the Senators franchise after spending last year in Binghamton.

Cooper is also in his second year with the Senators and has previously worked in the Ontario Hockey League as goaltending coach for the Kingston Frontenacs and Mississauga Steelheads.

Belfer was previously the head therapist for the Belleville Bulls and has also worked with the Frontenacs.

Mitchell has spent 12 seasons in the AHL working for the Binghamton Rangers, Lowell Devils, Oklahoma City Barons and Binghamton Senators. He also spent time in the NHL with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils as an assistant equipment manager.

Boyes will enter his second year with the Senators but previously spent time as the head equipment manager for the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

The Belleville Senators will open its season on Oct. 6 against the Laval Rocket at Place Bell before playing their home opener at the recently renovated Yardmen Arena on Nov. 1 against the Syracuse Crunch.

Season Tickets are the best way to enjoy the American Hockey League’s debut in Belleville at the best possible price with great seats still available for the inaugural 2017-18 AHL season. For more information head to www.bellevillesens.com

Roger Lajoie / Vice President, Communications

LajoieR@BellevilleSens.com / 613-967-8067

Matt Tidcombe / Manager, Digital Media

tidcombem@bellevillesens.com / 613-403-1328

About the Belleville Senators

The Belleville Senators are an American Hockey League franchise set for their inaugural season in 2017-2018. The team serves as the primary professional development affiliate of the Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League. Upon their relocation to the Bay of Quinte area, the team will play its home games in the newly renovated Yardmen Arena. You can follow the Belleville Senators on our official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages via @BellevilleSens, or visit us at www.bellevillesens.com for more information.

Belleville Senators 2017-18 Hockey Operations Staff:

Randy Lee — General Manager

Kurt Kleinendorst —Head Coach

Paul Boutilier — Assistant Coach

Shean Donovan — Player Development Coach

Dylan Crawford —Video Coach

Jeremy Benoit — Strength & Conditioning Coach

Kory Cooper — Goaltending Development Consultant

Craig Belfer — Athletic Therapist

Matthew Mitchell — Equipment Manager

Michael Boyes — Assistant Equipment Manager