Six years after selling the OHL franchise they founded in 1981 and led for 24 seasons, the Vaughan family will be well represented at the 30^th Anniversary Celebration Kick-off and Alumni homecoming game on Saturday September 4^th at 4:30pm.

The Belleville Bulls organization has named Bulls founder Dr. Bob Vaughan and his son Brad, a former GM of the team, as the honorary general managers for Saturday’s alumni celebration teams.

Dr. Vaughan founded the team in 1981 and served as the team’s President and Governor until he sold the franchise in the spring of 2004. He also served for several years as the Chairman of the Board of the Ontario Hockey League. Doc is a past recipient of the Bill Long Award, a rare honour that recognizes the recipient as a key builder of the OHL.

Brad Vaughan grew up around the Bulls franchise and helped it develop into a successful business and perennial contender. Brad eventually worked his way into the position of General Manager, leading the hockey operations until the family sold the team to new ownership at the end of the 2003-2004 season.

Doc Vaughan will be the Honourary GM of Team Gold led by captain Scott Thornton and they will be pitted against Team Black led by captain Bryan Marchment with Brad Vaughan as that team’s Honourary GM..

“As Bulls’ fans we owe a real debt of gratitude to the Vaughan’s vision and determination for bringing OHL hockey to Belleville in the first place. This was a tremendous achievement and has brought great recognition to the City of Belleville and the entire region. Both Doc and Brad, and indeed their entire family were keenly involved and exhibited the passion and drive to make it all work” commented Bulls president Gord Simmonds. “It is important that as the builders of this great franchise, they be honoured and recognized as honourary GM’s. We look forward to gathering with Doc and Brad and the returning alumni at the homecoming game this Saturday.”

Saturday’s event kicks off at 1:00pm as the current Bulls wrap up training camp in a black/white scrimmage game. The alumni skills demonstration begins at 3:00pm followed by the game, expected to start at approximately 4:30 pm.

Admission for the alumni celebration is free but fans are asked to support local families with a non-perishable food item or a toonie being collected by the Gleaner’s Food Bank at the door.

With puckdrop just around the corner, the Belleville Bulls Organization has named Ben Kelly honorary captain for Saturday afternoon’s 30^th Anniversary Alumni Celebration.

Kelly was the first captain in Bulls franchise history back in 1981, a season he recorded 32 points in 61 games.

The Toronto native looks fondly on his days in a Bulls uniform, remembering how he embraced his leadership role under head coach Larry Mavety. “When you’re an expansion team, you often find opponents taking you lightly and I really enjoyed encouraging the guys of what we were capable of. My goal was to always make the Yardmen a tough place for opponents to play,” says Kelly, now 48. “It’s a real honour to be given the captaincy of such a big event for the Bulls organization and I’m really looking forward to my time on Saturday.”

Following his time in Belleville, Kelly moved on to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay where he suited up for the then Lakehead Norwesters. He soon found his way into a career with the Ministry of Natural Resources and now lives in Camden East working as an investigator affiliated with the ministry.

Kelly will wear the “C” for Team Black as he and fellow blueliner Bryan Marchment try and tackle Team Gold. The game features players from the past 30 years of Bulls history including current NHLers Matt Stajan, P.K. Subban and Matt Beleskey.

Aware of the young legs he’ll be competing with this weekend, Kelly isn’t too concerned. “I’m still hitting the ice twice a week and I love the game as much as I did as a teenager, so we’ll see what I’ve got on Saturday.”

Admission for Saturday’s event is $2 or a non-perishable food item to be donated to Gleaner’s Food Bank. Doors open at 1:00pm as the Bulls wrap up training camp with a Black and White scrimmage, followed by an alumni skills competition and game.

With positions limited headed into the 2010-11 season, Bulls prospects are leaving it all on the ice in training camp this year. Thursday’s itinerary didn’t waste any time getting the players on the ice with a 10:00am scrimmage between Team Black and Team White.

Intense battles and a high tempo dominated the first half of play with the two teams knotted at three entering the game’s latter stages. A stellar performance from some of the Bulls’ young blood including Scott Simmonds, Dylan Corson and 2010 second round import draftee Vojtech Butor carried Team White to an 8-3 morning victory.  

After an afternoon meeting and lunch at the Yardmen, the teams were back at it in the evening. Brett Mackie wasted little time putting Team Black on the board just five minutes into the second game. Veteran Adam Payerl collected his first of two goals on the evening, answering for the whiteshirts just four minutes later.

The offensive barrage continued throughout the 60 minute scrimmage with Team White prevailing once again on a winning goal by Austen Brassard.

Brett Catto provided the highlight of the evening with a nifty behind the back pass to give Braeden Corbeth a one-time snap shot that beat Malcolm Subban on the blocker side.

The games garnered a healthy turnout from the surrounding community. Scrimmages continue on Friday with two match ups one at 10:00 a.m. and another at 6:00 p.m.  The final scrimmage will Saturday at 1:00 p.m. to kickoff the 30th Anniversary Homecoming and Junior Hockey Celebration.

Despite the humid temperatures outside Yardmen Arena on Wednesday afternoon, 46 beaming teenagers got their blood flowing again in preparation for the 2010-11 hockey season. Head coach George Burnett and his staff ushered in the new season as the players entered fitness testing throughout the afternoon followed by an evening practice.

Among the 46 players are 25 rookies and 21 returnees from last year’s roster. This season’s crop of fresh faces in camp includes second overall pick Brendan Gaunce from the Markham Waxers, blueliner Darryl Snelling from the Mississauga Reps program and fellow third round selection Daniel Altshuller, a goaltender from the Ottawa Jr. 67’s. The 16 year-old netminder will battle Malcolm Subban and Steve Gleeson for a position on the club accompanying recent Canadian under-18 gold medal winner Tyson Teichmann.

Camp resumes Thursday morning when Alex Aleardi and Team Black challenge Luke Judson’s Team White in the first scrimmage of the week at 10:00am. All scrimmages are open to the public throughout training camp.

Wednesday’s session kicks off an exciting week at the Yardmen which includes Saturday’s alumni festivities and a Sunday afternoon date with the Oshawa Generals at 2:00pm.

The Belleville Bulls Hockey Club have outlined several organizations that will benefit from their 30^th Anniversary Homecoming and Junior Hockey Celebration taking place in Belleville on Saturday, September 4^th  and Sunday, September 5^th.

On Saturday, during the team’s Black and White prospects game, Bulls alumni Pro Skills demonstration, and the 30^th anniversary alumni homecoming game, all money raised in 50/50 draws and sweater raffles and auctions will be split between the Belleville Minor Hockey Association Help Fund and the Belleville Bulls Education Fund. Admission to Saturday’s events comes with the donation of a non-perishable item or a toonie to the Gleaners Food Bank.

On Sunday, admission to the triple header hockey day is $10 for a day pass which will provide admission for up to three junior hockey games when five local junior teams will play in one place on one day.  The Junior C Napanee Raiders and the Picton Pirates start at 10:45am, the Belleville Bulls host the Oshawa Generals at 2:00pm and the Bulls’ affiliate junior team, the Wellington Dukes will host the neighbouring Trenton Golden Hawks at 5:30pm.  A portion of the gate proceeds will be donated by the Belleville Bulls to the Quinte Children’s Foundation.  In addition, Bulls’ players will play with special Purple sticks donated by Easton to help raise awareness against child abuse. Several of these special sticks will be auctioned off following the game with proceeds also to the Quinte Childrens’ Foundation.

In addition, the Belleville Bulls will be donating up to 1200 free tickets for the Sunday events to the registered players within the Belleville Junior Bulls Minor Hockey Associations and to the girls playing within the Belleville Bearcats organization, a newly developing partner of the Belleville Bulls.

The Belleville Bulls organization is also thrilled to be partnering throughout the weekend with Medigas who have generously sponsored the attendance of the Easter Seals Kids in one of the special suites in the Yardmen Arena throughout the weekend festivities.

The Belleville Bulls Hockey Club announced the names of the two captains that will lead their respective teams in a charity alumni game being played during the 30th Anniversary Homecoming and Junior Hockey Celebration at the Yardmen Arena in Belleville on Saturday, September 4th.

Scott Thornton, a forward, played 171 games and counted 144 points for the Belleville Bulls from 1987-1991 before going on to an 18 year professional career that included 941 NHL games. Scott was taken in the 1st round and 3rd overall by the Toronto Maple Leaf’s in the 1989 NHL entry draft.  During his outstanding career Scott played for Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, Dallas and San Jose before retiring from the Los Angeles Kings in 2008. Today Scott Thornton and his family reside in the Collingwood area where Scott is involved in hockey and healthy lifestyle training.

Bryan Marchment, a defenceman, played 208 games and counted 172 points and 861 PIMS for the Belleville Bulls from 1985-1989 before going on to a 16 year professional career that included 926 NHL games. Bryan was taken in the 1st round and 16th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1987 NHL entry draft. Bryan retired from the NHL in 2006 from the Calgary Flames after being part of

NHL clubs in Winnipeg, Chicago, Hartford, Edmonton, Tampa Bay, San Jose, Colorado and Toronto. Today, Bryan Marchment is involved as a scout and player development specialist with the San Jose Sharks NHL Hockey Club, and in community coaching in the Uxbridge Minor Hockey Association.

As Captains of their respective Bulls’ alumni teams “Thornty” and “Mush” will lead a strong contingent of nearly 50 former Bulls’ players back to Belleville to reconnect with a community thatplayed such a vital role in their personal and career development. The returning Bulls enjoy a wide variety of careers in, or outside of hockey. Fans will appreciate that the returning alumni come

from the entire range of the 30 years of Bulls’ history.

Other confirmed Bulls’ alumni playing in the game on September 4th include Ben Kelly, Matt Stajan, PK Subban, Jake Grimes, Matt Belesky, Steve Bancroft, Randy Rowe, Shawn Matthias,Geoff Killing, Mike Renzi, Greg Bignell and many others. All together, the confirmed players represent 5,376 games, 1,115 goals, 1,936 assists and 7,501 PIMs in Bulls’ uniforms.

Full rosters will be released on Thursday, September 2nd. The alumni game is scheduled at 4:00pm and will follow the Black/White game (starting at 1:00pm) that closes training camp as well as a skill demonstration by various Bulls’ alumni currently playing pro hockey. Admission to the September 4th activities are free, however everyone attending is asked to bring a non-perishable food article or a toonie for the Gleaners Food Bank.

Belleville & District Girls Minor Hockey association is pleased to accept an invitation to attend The Belleville Bulls 30th Anniversary Homecoming and Junior Hockey Celebration this Labour Day Weekend.

Bearcat members will have the opportunity to attend “the event that launches a year of special activities in which the Bulls’, their fans, and alumni can celebrate many classic memories from Bulls’ history and be reminded of the excitement and thrills that come from having an OHL team in this community”.

Together with the Bulls organization, BDGMHA is committed to the development of minor hockey in our community. The Bearcats would like to thank the Belleville Bulls for providing complimentary passes to our members for this exciting event.

The Belleville Bulls will start their training camp this Wednesday, September 1^st.  Fourty six returning players, draft picks and walk-ons will battle for a spot on this year’s roster.  They hit the ice for the first time on Wednesday night as Team Black will practice at 7:00 p.m. followed by Team White at 8:00 p.m.

On both Thursday and Friday, the two teams will scrimmage at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.  at the Yardmen Arena.  Fans are welcome to attend these four games and admission is free.

To kickoff our 30^th Anniversary Homecoming and Junior Hockey Celebration the two teams will play their final scrimmage at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.  This will be followed by an Alumni Skills Competition at 3:00 p.m. and then an Alumni game at 4:30 p.m.  Fans are asked to bring a non-perishable food item or a $2 donation to Gleaners to attend any of the events on Saturday.

Wednesday, September 1^st: (Free Admission)

7:00 p.m.             Team Black Practice

8:00 p.m.             Team White Practice

Thursday, September 2^nd: (Free Admission)

10:00 a.m.           Team Black vs. Team White

6:00 p.m.             Team Black vs. Team White

Friday, September 3^rd: (Free Admission)

10:00 a.m.           Team Black vs. Team White

6:00 p.m.             Team Black vs. Team White

Saturday, September 4^th:

(Non-perishable food item or $2 donation to Gleaners at the door)

1:00 p.m.             Team Black vs. Team White

3:00 p.m.             Alumni Skills Competition

4:30 p.m.             Alumni Game

The Belleville Bulls Hockey Club are pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting the OHL Championship Trophy, the J. Ross Robertson Cup as part of their junior hockey celebration weekend being held at the Yardmen Arena on Saturday September 4th and Sunday September 5^th.

The Belleville Bulls won their only OHL Championship and received this coveted trophy in 1998-99 after a stellar 7 game series against the London Knights that ended with a 9-2 Bulls victory in front of an overflow crowd in Belleville. Future NHL star Jonathon Cheechoo scored a remarkable 5 goals in that game.

This prestigious trophy will be on display in the upper south concourse during the celebration weekend.  Several players from this special OHL Championship team will be participating in the homecoming and alumni game including 2000-2001 OHL Overage Player of the Year, Randy Rowe, who also shares the Bulls’ record for most goals scored in a single season and who is 6^th on the Bulls’ all time scoring list with 120 career goals as a Bull.

Over 40 past Bulls stars have already confirmed their attendance during the weekend festivities.