The hockey season is not over for Belleville Bulls overage defenceman Bud Kelly. Kelly signed an amateur tryout contract with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. Kelly could see action for the Moose as early as this weekend when Manitoba embarks on a three game road trip in Rochester, Toronto and Hamilton. The Moose currently sit third in the AHL's North Division with a 41-22-7-5 record and have clinched a playoff spot. Kelly will be looking to build off an All-Star season in Belleville and outstanding playoffs that saw him pick up four points in six games against the Brampton Battalion.

The signing provides a fitting end to an outstanding career with the Bulls where Kelly played four seasons. Although undrafted by the Bulls, Kelly worked his way from Jr. C hockey to Belleville during the 02-03 season. Kelly played two seasons at forward with Belleville before Bulls General Manager and Head Coach George Burnett asked Kelly to try playing defence prior to the 04-05 season. The position switch was an outstanding move for both sides as the smooth skating Kelly worked extremely hard to make a quick transition to defence and eventually became one of the best defenders on the team. Kelly's offensive instincts and skating ability made him a natural fit on the Bulls blueline as he returned to Belleville for his overage season in 05-06.

Kelly enjoyed his best season in 05-06 where he set a career high in goals, assists, and points leading all Bulls defencemen with 12 goals and 25 assists for 37 points. The Tottenham, Ontario native was also one of the leaders on a young Bulls squad and was named an assistant captain. His point totals in 05-06 were the highest by a Bulls defenceman since the 00-01 season as he was named an OHL All-Star. Kelly participated in the Bell OHL All-Star Classic in Belleville this February and scored a memorable goal during the breakaway relay portion of the skills competition. Kelly finished his OHL career with 201 regular season games played as a member of the Bulls, which makes him one of just twenty-five players to play more than 200 regular season games as a member of the Bulls.