Zachary Bell has resurrected his career with the Pelham Panthers.

The 20-year-old forward was released by the Stratford Warriors in November and was contemplating his next move when he hooked on with the Panthers.

“I was looking around and I heard nothing but great things about Pelham so I came, skated with them and fell in love right away,” Bell said. “It’s a great group, great coaches.

“It’s been an awesome place to play.”

Bell admits he was beginning to wonder if his junior career might be over.

“It was hard being a 20-year-old. You can only carry so many and I only have half a season left,” he said. “I’m aging out. Do I hang them up? It’s a hard decision so I really I wanted to find something that was a really good fit.” 

Bell has brought both offence — he has six goals and 10 points in 30 games — as well as some much needed leadership and experience to a youthful Pelham roster.

Pelham coach/assistant general manager Zac Rinaldo says Bell has added some much needed maturity to the room.

“He’s brought a calmness to our dressing room and a calmness to our bench,” Rinaldo said. “His demeanour as well, it was a new look that he brought into our team. Maturity wise, his calmness, but I think it gave a totally different outlook for our other older guys, a different way to conduct themselves. 

“He came in as a breath of fresh air to leading the way for our older guys and for our younger guys.”

Bell, who named an assistant captain only a couple of weeks after arriving, has no issue with being put in a position of leadership. 

“I’ve been a leader on many teams before, with a letter, without a letter,” Bell said. “I just kind of want to lead by example and just be a guy that the other guys feel comfortable going to. So yeah, I think it’s just a role I kind of embrace.”

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