Hamilton Bulldogs Weekly
March 11, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release
THIS WEEK'S GAME SCHEDULE/BROADCASTS (All times EDT)
Friday, March 15th at St. John's IceCaps, Mile One Centre, 6 p.m. - Funny 820 AM
Saturday, March 16th at St. John's IceCaps, Mile One Centre, 6 p.m. - Funny 820 AM
BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE
Record : 24-29-1-5, 54 points ' Home: 16-12-1-2, 33 points, Road: 8-17-0-3, 19 points ' Standings: 5th North Division ' 15th Western Conference ' Last 10 games: 5-5-0-0 ' Longest winning streak: 4 (Feb. 9-16) ' Longest losing streak: 5 (Dec. 16-26, Jan. 11-21) ' Leading scorers: RW Mike Blunden (54 GP 10-12-22) ' C Michael Bournival (52 GP 7-15-22) ... RW Patrick Holland (57 GP 7-14-21) ' D Nathan Beaulieu (53 GP 6-14-20) Goaltenders: Robert Mayer (30 GP 13-12-3, 2.96 GAA, .906 save %, 0 SO), Dustin Tokarski (40 GP 22-11-4, 2.25 GAA, .912 Save %, 5 SO) ' Power play - Home: 17-for-127, 13.4 percent, 23rd AHL ' Road: 9-for-112, 8 percent 30th AHL ' Overall: 26-for-239, 10.9 percent, 30th AHL ' Penalty killing - Home: 14-for-133, 89.5 percent, 2nd AHL ' Road: 33-for-143, 76.9 percent, 28th AHL ' Overall: 47-for-276, 83 percent, 17th AHL ' Goals for per game: 2.14, 30th AHL ' Goals against per game: 2.92, 20th AHL
OPPONENTS AT A GLANCE
ST. JOHN'S ICECAPS (Affiliation: Winnipeg Jets) - Head Coach: Keith McCambridge ' Record: 23-32-1-4, 51 points ' Home: 9-17-1-3, 22 points ' Road: 14-15-0-1, 29 points ' Standings: 5th Atlantic Division ' 15th Eastern Conference ' Leading scorer: LW Jason Jaffray (49 GP 13-21-34) ' Leading goaltender: Eddie Pasquale (40 GP 14-21-4, 2.69 GAA, .909 Save %, 4 SO) ' Power play: 48-for-305, 15.7 percent, 18th AHL ' Penalty killing: 54-for-264, 79.5 percent, 29th AHL ' Goals for per game: 2.40, 26th AHL ' Goals against per game: 3.13, 28th AHL ' Last game: March 9 L 4-2 vs. Syracuse ' Last 10 games: 2-7-0-1 ' The IceCaps have lost six games in a row since a 5-1 road win over the Connecticut Whale on Feb. 20 ' The Bulldogs' visit wraps up a six-game homestand for the IceCaps who have lost eight consecutive home dates since beating the Binghamton Senators 1-0 on Feb. 2 ' The IceCaps are 11th in AHL attendance, averaging 6,287 fans through 30 home games ' The IceCaps are 17th in the AHL in penalty minutes averaging 16.20 per game ' The IceCaps' four overtime wins are one behind the league leading Charlotte Checkers ' St. John's is 3-6-0-0 against North Division opponents .,. The IceCaps' power play is 21st in the AHL at home having scored 24 goals in 154 opportunities (15.6 percent) ' The IceCaps are 27th in the league at killing penalties at home having allowed 28 goals in 128 shorthanded situations for an efficiency rating of 78.1 percent ' The IceCaps' four shorthanded goals are tied with seven other teams for fewest in the league ' The IceCaps have yet to lose in regulation when holding a lead through two periods. They are 13-0-0-3 in those games ... C Aaron Gagnon has recorded six goals and three assists for nine points over his last nine games ' C Eric O'Dell has produced 13 points, including six goals, in his last 12 games ' C Kael Mouillierat has two goals and nine assists in his last seven games ' G Eddie Pasquale has lost his last eight decisions ' RW Norm Ezekiel turns 22 on March 17 ' All-time series: 7-6-0-0 ' This season: Sixth and seventh of eight meetings. Teams split a two-game set at St. John's. IceCaps won the opener 3-1 on Nov. 20, the Bulldogs claimed a 2-1 win the following evening. IceCaps skated to a 2-1 win at Hamilton on Dec. 21 while the Bulldogs won 6-3 at home on Dec. 28. The Bulldogs skated to a 4-2 victory at Copps Coliseum on Feb. 26. The IceCaps return to Hamilton on April 16 ' First-round NHL picks: None ' Connections: IceCaps D Ben Chiarot is a native of Hamilton ' IceCaps C Ben Maxwell played 177 games over three seasons for the Bulldogs from 2008 to 2011
TRANSACTIONS
March 7 - D Greg Pateryn recalled by Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
INJURY REPORT
C Blake Geoffrion (depressed skull fracture, November 9th vs. Syracuse at Montreal) is out indefinitely ' C Joonas Nattinen (shoulder, Dec. 28 vs. St. John's) is out indefinitely
PRACTICE/MORNING SKATE SCHEDULE
Monday, March 11: Off Day
Tuesday, March 12: Community Practice - 5:30 pm (North Wentworth Community Centre, Waterdown)
Wednesday, March 13: Practice - 12:00 pm (Wave Twin Rinks - Blue)
Thursday, March 14: Travel Day
Friday, March 15: Morning Skate - 11:15 am NDT (Mile One Centre, St. John's)
Saturday, March 16: Morning Skate - 11:15 am NDT (Mile One Centre, St. John's)
Sunday, March 17: Travel Day
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
March 5: at Hamilton - Bulldogs 2, Heat 0
Dustin Tokarski made 27 saves to record his second consecutive shutout as the Bulldogs beat the Heat 2-0. Joey Tenute's fourth goal of the season opened the scoring at 18:48 of the second period and was all the offence the Bulldogs would need. Louis Leblanc added a power-play goal into an empty net at 19:26 of the third period. Leland Irving made 21 saves for the Heat which went 0-for-4 on the power play. The Bulldogs were 1-for-4 with the man advantage. Attendance was 2,037.
March 8: at Grand Rapids - Griffins 2, Bulldogs 1
Tomas Jurco scored two goals, including the winner at 9:12 of the third period to lift the Griffins to a 2-1 win. Jurco opened the scoring at 13:43 of the first period, but Joey Tenute tied the game at 3:45 of the second period. Jurco's first goal ended goaltender Dustin Tokarski's shutout streak at 159:50. Tokarski would face 33 shots in a third consecutive start. Petr Mrazek made 30 saves for the Griffins who were 0-for-5 on the power play. The Bulldogs failed to convert on their lone man advantage.
March 9: at Hamilton - Bulldogs 3, Rivermen 1
Patrick Holland 's second goal of the game, at 17:20 of the third period, proved the winner as the Bulldogs beat the Rivermen 3-1. Goaltender Robert Mayer made 42 saves to earn his fourth win in five starts before a crowd of 4,830. The visitors got on the board first as Derek Nesbitt scored at 2:49 of the first period but Holland countered on the power play for the Bulldogs at 18:10. Joey Tenute, who also had two assists, scored into an empty net at 19:34. The Bulldogs were 1-for-2 on the power play while Peoria, which got 25 saves from goaltender Mike McKenna, went 0-for-5.
March 10: at Hamilton - Griffins 4, Bulldogs 1
Gustav Nyquist scored a goal and added two assists while Riley Sheahan notched a goal, including the game-winner, and picked up an assist. Robert Mayer stopped 44 shots which marked the second-straight game that he stopped over 40 shots. Mike Blunden scored the lone goal for the Bulldogs while Joey Tenute extended his point streak to a Bulldogs season-high seven games. The Bulldogs' streak of 21-straight penalties killed was snapped 2:38 into the first frame on a tally by Chad Billins. Attendance was 4,351.
TEAM NOTES
The Bulldogs are 13th in the league in attendance, averaging 5,515 fans per game through 31 home dates ' Dustin Tokarski's two straight shutouts marked the first time this season a 'Dogs goaltender has accomplished that feat and only the seventh time in team history ' The Bulldogs are 13-15-1-4 against North Division opponents and 19-22-1-5 against Western Conference foes ' The Bulldogs are 13-6-1-5 in one-goal games ' The Bulldogs, Albany Devils and Springfield Falcons are the only AHL teams yet to win a game in overtime this season. The Bulldogs have only played one game this season that ended in the extra period. They have played eight games settled in shootouts, winning three ' The Bulldogs are 14-0-0-0 when leading through two periods and are the only team in the league yet to lose in regulation when holding a lead through 40 minutes. The Bulldogs are 7-0-0-0 when leading at home through two periods ' The Bulldogs are 13-3-0-1 when scoring first ' The Bulldogs allow an average of 31.15 shots per game, 22nd in the AHL, while taking an average of 28.14 shots per game, 27th in the league ' The Bulldogs are 13-8-1-1 in games in which they outshoot the opposition. The 'Dogs are 2nd in the AHL with an 89.5% penalty killing efficiency rate at home.
PLAYER NEWS
RW Zack Stortini is sixth in the AHL in penalty minutes with 196 ' C Michael Bournival has recorded four goals and five assists for nine points over his last 13 games. Bournival and RW Mike Blunden now currently lead the team in scoring with 22 points ' RW Patrick Holland has contributed two goals and five assists for seven points in his last seven games ' C Joey Tenute is on a Bulldogs season-high seven-game point streak with four goals and six assists for 10 points during that span ' D Jarred Tinordi has registered five assists in his last 10 games ' G Robert Mayer is 5-2-0 in his last seven games and has a save percentage of .939 during that span. Mayer faced at least 30 shots in six of those seven games including over 40 shots three times ' G Dustin Tokarski has yet to allow more than two goals in seven games with the Bulldogs. Tokarski has a record of 4-3-0-0, a goals-against average of 1.30 and a save percentage of 9.56 with the Bulldogs along with two shutouts. Tokarski had his shutout streak of 161 minutes and 2 seconds snapped on Friday night in Grand Rapids. The streak was accumulated over four games. Tokarski has recorded 16 shutouts over four AHL seasons.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
C Stefan Chaput turned 25 on Monday
BULLDOGS SIGN LEASE EXTENSION, EXTEND AFFILIATION AGREEMENT
The Bulldogs announced March 1 that they have signed a three-year lease extension with Global Spectrum to remain at Copps Coliseum. The Bulldogs have also extended their affiliation agreement with the Montreal Canadiens for three more seasons.
The Bulldogs have played out of Copps Coliseum since 1996-97 making them the seventh longest-tenured club in the AHL behind the Hershey Bears, who began play in 1938-39, Rochester Americans, Providence Bruins, Portland Pirates, Springfield Falcons and Syracuse Crunch. The Bulldogs have been the Canadiens' AHL affiliate since 2002-03 and won the Calder Cup in 2007.
There are currently 40 former Bulldogs on NHL rosters including 12 with the Canadiens.
BULLDOGS 2013-2014 SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE
2013-2014 Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets are on sale now! For as little as $10 per game, you can enjoy the many benefits of being a 'Dogs season ticket holder including reserved seating for all home games at Copps Coliseum, the option to redeem unused tickets for any regular season game, discounts on team merchandise and access to exclusive season ticket holder-only events with the team. As a special bonus, if you become a new season ticket holder by March 30th you'll get tickets to all four of the team's home games in April for free! For more information on how you can join our team by becoming a 'Dogs season ticket holder call 905-529-8500, 1-866-DOGS-TIX or e-mail ticketing@hamiltonbulldogs.com .
BULLDOGS 2013-2014 SEASON TICKET RENEWALS
Season ticket renewals have begun for the 2013-2014 season. To thank fans for supporting the Bulldogs during their first 17 seasons in Hamilton, fans renewing their season tickets by April 30th will be rewarded with two great gifts - a limited edition Hamilton Bulldogs commemorative stick signed by the whole team and a framed and matted team photo autographed by all of the 'Dogs' coaches and players. For more information, contact your account executive. Call 905-529-8500, 1-866-DOGS-TIX or e-mail ticketing@hamiltonbulldogs.com .
BULLDOGS JOIN 'YOU CAN PLAY' PROJECT
The Bulldogs recently become the sixth AHL team to pledge their support to the You Can Play project which is "dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation".
The Bulldogs joined the Manchester Monarchs, Providence Bruins, Peoria Rivermen, Portland Pirates and Toronto Marlies as other AHL teams to have come out in support of You Can Play, a non-profit organization begun by former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke and his son Patrick to fight homophobia in sports in memory of Brendan Burke, Brian's son and Patrick's brother, who was killed in a car accident in 2010.
The Bulldogs' You Can Play project video can be seen on the club's official YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/bulldogstube
Bulldogs' personnel shown in the video in order of appearance are Kyle Hagel, Zack Stortini, president Stephen Ostaszewicz, play-by-play announcer Derek Wills, Frederic St-Denis, Robert Mayer, Joey Tenute, Gabriel Dumont, Louis Leblanc, Jason DeSantis, head coach Sylvain Lefebvre and Nathan Beaulieu.
For more information on you can play, please visit www.youcanplayproject.org
BRUISER'S BUDDIES KID'S CLUB
Do you have a young Bulldogs fan in your life who is also a big fan of Bruiser, the best mascot in the AHL? Then Bruiser's Kid's Club is for you.
Membership is $15 per child (ages 13 and under) and includes the following:
- An exclusive Bruiser's Buddies Kid's Club t-shirt
- One blue ticket to each of the Bulldogs' Kid's Club games:
- Sat. March 9 at 7 p.m. vs. Peoria Rivermen
- Fri. April 19 at 7:30 p.m. vs. St. John's IceCaps
- (Extra tickets for these games are available for $12 each)
- Official 2012-13 game puck
- Set of 2011-12 Bulldogs hockey cards
For more information or to register contact Brianne Whitty at 905-777-2368 or via email at brianne.whitty@hamiltonbulldogs.com
2013 BULLDOGS SUMMER HOCKEY CAMP
The Bulldogs will be running a summer hockey camp at the Mohawk 4 Ice Centre in Hamilton from July 29 to August 2. The full-day camp is for kids between the ages of 7-13 and will feature guest appearances by current members of the Bulldogs' coaching staff and current and former Bulldogs players.
For more information contact Brianne Whitty at 905-777-2368 or via email at brianne.whitty@hamiltonbulldogs.com
BULLDOGS MERCHANDISE
Fans can purchase Bulldogs merchandise during all home games at the "Dawg House" store located behind section 114 on the concourse level at Copps Coliseum. In the store, fans can find hats, t-shirts, jackets, replica jerseys, foam fingers, foam 'Bone Heads', and other select novelty items for sale. 2012 AHL Outdoor Classic gear will also be available for a limited time.
THE BULLDOGS ON THE AIR
Fans can listen to and watch all 'Dogs games on www.hamiltonbulldogs.com . Live coverage with the team of play-by-play broadcaster Derek Wills (all home and away games) and colour commentator Al Craig (all home and select away games) will begin with the Pioneer Pre-Game Show 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS ON AHL LIVE
All Bulldogs games are broadcast on AHL Live where fans can take advantage of mid-season pricing. Every AHL game, including archived games, is available for $189.99. All remaining Bulldogs home and away games are available with a team pass, which also includes archived games, for $99.99 and Bulldogs road games only are available with an away pass, which also includes archived games, for $59.99.
For more information visit www.AHLLive.com .
STAY CONNECTED WITH THE BULLDOGS
Fans can follow the Bulldogs online and watch game highlights, behind-the-scenes video and get breaking news and feature stories at HamiltonBulldogs.com. Fans can get the latest Bulldogs news and information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bulldogsAHL and follow play-by-play broadcaster Derek Wills at www.twitter.com/dogsplaybyplay .
Fans can "Like" the Bulldogs' official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hamiltonbulldogs and see game highlights and other video features at the Bulldogs' official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/bulldogstube .
Fans can become 'Dogs Insiders by texting "Dogs" to 360-360 for text message alerts and offers. The Bullodgs also run contests every home game, both on social media and at Copps Coliseum, where fans can text a keyword and be eligible to win tickets to an upcoming Bulldogs game!
Do you have a favourite song you'd like to hear at a 'Dogs game? Tweet your request during the third period to www.twitter.com/bulldogsAHL using the hashtag #DogsTrax.
Fans can also converse with Bulldogs staff via Twitter during the game. The 'Dogs will also be looking to connect with their fans with contests, challenges or questions!
TICKET INFORMATION
2013-2014 Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets, Pioneer Flex Pack tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. For as little as $10 per game, you can enjoy the many benefits of being a 'Dogs season ticket holder including reserved seating for all home games at Copps Coliseum, the option to redeem unused tickets for any regular season game, discounts on team merchandise and access to exclusive season ticket holder-only events with the team. Convenient payment plans are available.
For more information on how to join our team by becoming a Hamilton Bulldogs season ticket holder, or for more information on Pioneer Flex Pack tickets or group tickets, call 905-529-8500 or 1-866-DOGS-TIX, e-mail ticketing@hamiltonbulldogs.com or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com . 'Dogs single-game tickets are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster Outlet, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or by calling 905-529-8500 or 1-866-DOGS-TIX.
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American Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2013
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