Andrew Campbell's Coaching Journey: From Player to Mentor for Belleville Senators
At age 37, Andrew Campbell has come full circle in his hockey career. The interim head coach of the Belleville Senators now finds himself developing numerous budding defence prospects while leaning on two of his old teammates to help mentor the next generation of players.
A Mentor's Influence on a Young Defenceman
Seven years ago, during his final professional hockey season, Andrew Campbell made a profound impact on a young defenceman fresh out of college. Dennis Gilbert had just completed three "unbelievable" seasons of NCAA Division I hockey for Notre Dame, fulfilling a childhood dream for the former high school quarterback who grew up in a football-crazy Irish-American family.
Gilbert, a stay-at-home blue-liner selected 91st overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015, knew he would need to spend "two or three" seasons in the American Hockey League before getting a real shot at cracking the NHL roster. He opted out of his fourth year of college and began chasing his next dream.
At age 21, Gilbert traded private plane rides to Penn State for overnight Greyhound bus trips to Iowa, joining the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. Right out of training camp, he found a defence partner in Campbell.
The Foundation of a Lasting Relationship
"I'd say the first half of my rookie year we were together, and then we killed penalties together the rest of the season," Gilbert told the Ottawa Citizen in a phone interview. "He was great; he really helped me so much. He helped me figure out a niche and how to get in the lineup, and the importance of offering the same thing on a consistent, night-to-night basis. It's how you can stay in the lineup."
Gilbert emphasized Campbell's comprehensive mentorship: "He definitely played a big role, especially in my first year, moulding me, and helping me on and off the ice. The importance of stretching and sleep and diet. He was a big part of all of those things for me. He was a great mentor to me."
Parallel Paths and Shared Values
Their scouting reports looked remarkably similar. Campbell was in the twilight of a long professional career built on blocked shots, solid bodychecks, keeping it simple with the puck, and dropping the gloves when necessary. Just one year prior, Gilbert had won the NCAA (Hockey East) Best Defensive Defenseman Award.
"It helped me seeing somebody who's putting his body on the line all the time," Gilbert reflected. "It really instilled a passion and dedication to do the same things, and he was an easy guy to follow then. He was a leader and your D partner."
Gilbert credits much of his success to Campbell's early guidance: "I credit a lot of my success and where I've gotten today to him because, who knows, if I don't have him there and he doesn't help me, maybe I never make it out of the American league, or maybe I'm in the East Coast League. You never know, right?"
The Full Circle Moment
In 2026, years after Campbell hung up his skates and during Gilbert's eighth professional season, the pair have reconnected in Belleville under dramatically different circumstances. Campbell took over as interim head coach of the Ottawa Senators' farm team back in December, transitioning from mentor to coach for his former defence partner.
Campbell's unique perspective comes from his extensive playing experience: "I played in this league a long time and went through the cycle of young prospect to middling prospect to veteran to mentor. I know all the different stages of this league and can help these guys and relate to where they're at."
This coaching appointment represents more than just a career progression for Campbell; it symbolizes the complete cycle of professional hockey development. From player to mentor to coach, Campbell now oversees the development of young prospects while maintaining relationships with former teammates who once looked to him for guidance.
The Belleville Senators organization benefits from Campbell's unique blend of recent playing experience and natural mentorship abilities. His understanding of the AHL's developmental pathway, combined with his personal relationships with current players, creates an environment where young defence prospects can thrive under the guidance of someone who has walked their exact path.
