When the season started, the Belleville Senators likely didn’t expect this much movement on their goaltending depth chart. But injuries in Ottawa and the Friendly City have created opportunities for rookie netminder Michael Simpson.
With Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg both having missed time, Leevi Merilainen and Mads Sogaard splitting time between the NHL and AHL when healthy, and Malcolm Subban spending time on the injured list, Belleville has needed stability in the crease.
Signed to an AHL contract over the summer, Simpson was brought in for organizational depth after back-to-back OHL championships with the Peterborough Petes and London Knights.
Though he’s made five appearances in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears, he has spent most of his time in Belleville, posting a 4-3-0 record with a 3.45 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage in 10 games.
Simpson earned his first AHL win in his first start on January 12th against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
"I guess I’ve been thrown right into the fire, but it’s been good," Simpson said. "A lot of people have helped me out throughout the year to get me ready for this situation. I can’t thank them enough."
Simpson felt that Belleville and the Senators were the right fit when he signed with the club. The 22-year-old had spent time at NHL development and training camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins the year before.
"I was just trying to find the right spot," he said. "It seemed like a really good fit. If an injury or call-up happened, I'd have a good shot at playing in the AHL. I knew I'd probably spend most of the year in the ECHL. You hate to see guys get hurt and miss time, but it's definitely worked in my favour."
Adjusting to the AHL has been a learning experience, particularly when it comes to the speed and skill of professional players.
"The biggest difference is obviously the speed and size. If you give anyone a bit of space, it's probably going into the back of the net," Simpson said. "I think just adjusting to that, playing bigger, and trusting my instincts. It's been a lot of fun. I'm really looking forward to what the future holds."
Simpson began his OHL career with the Petes and developed a strong connection with Peterborough, a city that reminds him a lot of Belleville.
"I really enjoyed my time in Peterborough," he said. "Being from a bigger city like London, it’s nice when there’s no traffic and it’s pretty relaxed. But the hockey fans really love it, and that was one thing I really took away from that run we went on: how much the community really came behind us."
After three seasons in the Lift Lock City and winning OHL Playoff MVP honours, he was traded to London, where he spent his overage season with his hometown Knights.
"Stepping on that ice for that first home game, just the atmosphere and the fans," he said. "Being that young kid who was at the games and then feeling that energy from them was so special. It’s one of the best places to play in junior hockey. They’re definitely the reason why."
His experience in high-pressure games, along with winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup with two different teams, has helped prepare him for the jump to the AHL.
Now in Belleville, Simpson knows just how much closer he is to reaching his dream of playing in the NHL.
"It’s pretty crazy talking to friends back home who don’t really understand the pro hockey landscape and explaining it to them. You have the NHL and then the AHL," he said. "Even when I think about it. I’m really one step away. It’s pretty crazy. Hopefully, I can get there one day."
Despite being a late-round pick in the OHL Priority Selection, Simpson has found success through his strong work ethic. As he continues to develop in the Senators' system, he remains focused on reaching his full potential.
"I’d probably think I was dreaming if you told me this a few years ago," he said. "I was never really a highly touted guy. I’ve had to work hard for everything. Looking back, it's been great, but I still have to keep proving myself every single day."
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