WILKES-BARRE — Jordy Bellerive didn’t hold back.

Despite being listed at a somewhat-dubious 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward didn’t hesitate to give the business to Providence Bruins forward Trent Frederic, who has a more ample 6-foot-2 and 200-pound frame.

Frederic didn’t appreciate the interaction and ripped Bellerive’s stick out his hands and stared him down.

A linesman stepped in and negotiated a truce between the two and coerced Frederic to return Bellerive’s stick.

Frederic was assessed a roughing minor for the sequence midway through the second period during a game between Penguins and Bruins at Mohegan Sun Arena on Wednesday.

“Every team needs someone that tries to get underneath the other team’s skin,” Bellerive said with a grin. “Being a smaller guy, I find it pretty fun to get under the bigger guys’ skin and try to rope them into taking penalties. That’s all I’m looking to do is to get under their skin and make the game more interesting.”

Ultimately, that dustup had little impact on the contest that resulted in the Bruins squashing the Penguins, 6-0. But it illustrated quite a bit about the intrepidity Bellerive possesses.

After all, there’s little Frederic, or a man of any size, could do to Bellerive that would be as damaging to what he has already survived.

In mid-June of 2018, Bellerive suffered burns to his hands and several other body parts when a fired flashed on him and several friends at a friend’s home in Cochrane, Alberta. According to a statement from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, an unidentified substance was placed in the fire and caused an “explosion.”

Bellerive spent a handful of weeks in the hospital and thrust himself into offseason training later in the summer. Remarkably, he came through with a highly productive season in 2018-19 with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League. In 68 games, he scored 83 points (33 goals, 50 assists).

Despite that healthy output, Bellerive still was struggling with the aftereffects of his burns.

“Just physically, what it does to your body when you go through something like that, all your body’s energy is going towards healing your wounds,” Bellerive said. “It was pretty exhausting. Mostly last year, I grinded away and got through it. I think I’m strong now for it.”

The 20-year-old native of North Vancouver, British Columbia is in his first full season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins — he joined them for three games at the end of last season on an amateur tryout contract — and is trying to get used to a new and less-productive role as a bottom-six forward. Before Friday, he had played in 24 AHL games this season and had only six points (two goals, four assists).

That drop in production is somewhat by design.

“I played bottom six my first two years in junior,” he said. “I’m the kind of a guy I think can go up and down the lineup. I’m fine with playing bottom six. I think I can bring something in the bottom six. I bring physicality, I bring energy. When I get the opportunity, I like to chip in offensively. It’s been a different year that way. Obviously, I’m not producing as much as I did in junior. But I’m trying to play a complete game and not worry about (producing points) so much.

“I think I’m doing the right things. I’m more focused on playing a 200-foot game, trying to be good in every zone on the ice and help out in every way I can.”

Part of that process is learning to be a professional at a tender age.

“You’re obviously living on your own,” Bellerive said. “You’ve got to take care of your body. The biggest adjustments for sure are physically what I’m doing in the gym, what I’m doing after practice, what I’m doing before practice. Making sure I’m getting proper rest. Not that I didn’t do that in junior. It’s just really focusing on it a lot more. Every day, is an opportunity to get better. That’s why I’m here.

“It was definitely harder when I was younger playing junior. Now, you play pro hockey. It’s your job. That’s the mindset you have to have and stay focused.”

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