AHL: Senators’ Hayden Hodgson Slapped with Five Game Suspension

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By JC Giff | Last updated Feb 3, 2026 5:46 PM ET

The American Hockey League’s Player Safety Committee announced today that Belleville Senators forward Hayden Hodgson has been suspended for five games. After an elbowing incident during a game against the Cleveland Monsters on January 31, 2026. The suspension will cause Hodgson to miss key upcoming matches as the team navigates a competitive stretch in the North Division.

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Incident Details

The incident occurred in an overtime contest at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, where the Senators fell 6-5 to the Monsters. Belleville mounted a comeback from a 5-2 deficit in the third period, forcing overtime before Dysin Mayo scored the game-winner. Hodgson, who is known for his physical style, was involved in the elbowing play that prompted the league’s review. This is his fourth suspension in the AHL in recent years. Including a two-game playoff suspension in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Hayden Hodgson

Hodgson, a 29-year-old right winger from Windsor, Ontario, stands at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds. In the 2025-26 season with Belleville, he has appeared in 27 games, recording four goals, three assists, and seven points, along with 94 penalty minutes. His penalty minutes lead the team. Hodgson has prior NHL experience, including stints with the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators. He has 18 NHL games played in his career with one goal, two assists, 27 penalty minutes, and a minus-four rating. The suspension will sideline Hodgson for the following games: February 4 at the Rochester Americans, February 6 at the Syracuse Crunch, February 7 versus the Syracuse Crunch, and February 14 and 16 versus the Hershey Bears.