After a slow start to his first pro season, the former Ohio State star now leads the Belleville Senators in scoring.
When Ottawa Senators prospect Stephen Halliday left school last year to turn pro, he immediately had a big impact on the Belleville Senators. Halliday was solid in their final ten games of the regular season but really took off in the playoffs, posting 9 points in 7 games.
That set up big expectations for this season – his first full year as a pro – but his production was sluggish in the early going. Back in the fall, he came out of the gate with just 5 points in 14 games.
Since then, the former Ohio State MVP has put up 26 points in 23 AHL games, including 11 in his last 7. He's currently tied for third in AHL rookie scoring.
Halliday was a guest on TSN 1200 radio in Ottawa on Friday. He was asked about why things have started to click for him in Belleville and gave a lot of credit to the coaches.
"(Sens skating coach) Shelley Kettles comes down every week almost to work with a couple of us, and she's had a lot of private time with me this year. I feel like I'm just getting really confident in my skating and trying to work on it as much as possible.
"And our head coach, David Bell, does a really good job of getting us to develop, and he's really good with the young guys. Like, he harps on me to make plays. He wants me to play my game, and he's really, really helped me this year to find my way."
Halliday is a 2022 fourth-round draft pick and has only played 47 games as a pro, so it's a great sign that people are already asking him, as they did on the radio today, about what he needs to do to take the next step.
"Yeah, I think with (Belleville GM Ryan Bowness), he's just harping on me about developing down here and trusting the process. Like, everyone has been through it.
"Coach Bell has coached everyone (in Ottawa) who's been here in Belleville. I've asked him about how Josh Norris played down here, how Drake Batherson played down here. I've watched a lot of clips of those guys playing down here. I'm just trying to learn and be ready when I do get my name called."
There's something to be said for a 22-year-old, 6-foot-4, 212-pound prospect who quickly finds a way to produce at every level. The Senators are hoping that trend continues when he's ready for the next level.
With the NHL club on it's 4 Nations break, Ottawa fans can get a first hand look at Halliday and the Belleville Senators on Wednesday night (Feb 12) at Canadian Tire Centre when they host the Laval Rocket.
This article is from The Hockey News-Ottawa. For more great Ottawa Senators coverage, check out THN.com/Ottawa or leave a comment below at Senators Roundtable.