38 'Dogs Grads Competing For The Stanley Cup

Published on April 17, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


MONTREAL, QC - Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced today that the Club has recalled six players from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. Forwards Kyle Chipchura, Matt D'Agostini and Brock Trotter, defencemen Mathieu Carle and Pavel Valentenko and goaltender Yann Danis will join the Habs for the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Playoffs. In addition, ‘Dogs coaches Don Lever and Ron Wilson have been summoned to Montreal to assist the Canadiens coaching staff as the franchise continues it's quest for a 25th Stanley Cup Championship. All players and coaches are scheduled to join the team later today.

Carle, 20, played 64 games with Hamilton during the 2007-2008 season, his first as a professional. The 6'0", 201-pound defenceman, a native of Gatineau, Quebec, finished second amongst Bulldogs blue-liners in goals (7), assists (17) and points (24) and completed the campaign with a -1 rating and 43 penalty minutes.

Chipchura, 22, competed in 39 games with Hamilton in 2007-2008. The 6'2", 205-pound native of Westlock, Alberta finished his second season in the AHL with 10 goals, 11 assists, 21 points, a -1 rating and 27 penalty minutes. The centreman also led the Bulldogs with 3 short-handed goals.

D'Agostini, 21, skated in 76 games with Hamilton during the 2007-2008 campaign. The 6'0", 195-pound native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario wrapped up his sophomore season with the Bulldogs second on the club in goals (23), assists (30) and points (53), with a -22 rating and 38 penalty minutes. The right-winger also led the ‘Dogs with 235 shots on goal.

Danis, 26, appeared in 38 games with Hamilton in 2007-2008. The 6'0", 187-pound native of Lafontaine, Quebec posted an 11-19-4 record with a 3.28 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage in his fifth season with the Bulldogs. Danis is the ‘Dogs all-time leader in wins (81) and games played by a goaltender (132).

Trotter, 20, joined Hamilton in February following three seasons with the University of Denver Pioneers. A native of Brandon, Manitoba, the 5'10", 180-pound centre compiled 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points, a +2 rating and 4 penalty minutes in 21 games with the Bulldogs during the 2007-2008 season.

Valentenko, 20, took part in 57 games with Hamilton during his inaugural season in the AHL in 2007-2008. The 6'2", 220-pound native of Nizhnekamsk, Russia, registered 1 goal, 15 assists, 16 points and 58 penalty minutes. The defenceman also led all Bulldogs rookies with a +3 rating.

Lever, 55, just completed his third season as Hamilton's head coach. In 240 regular season games behind the Bulldogs bench, the South Porcupine, Ontario native has a record of 114 wins, 103 losses, 6 overtime losses and 17 shootout losses. In 2007, Lever led the ‘Dogs to their first AHL Championship with a 16-6 record in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Wilson, 51, just finished his fifth season behind the bench in Hamilton and his third as an assistant coach for Don Lever (Doug Jarvis 2003-2005). A native of Toronto, Ontario, Wilson has a record of 193 wins, 157 losses, 10 ties, 17 overtime losses 23 shootout losses in 400 regular season games with the Bulldogs from 2003-2008.

With the addition of Carle, Chipchura, D'Agostini, Danis, Trotter, Valentenko to the Montreal Canadiens roster, there are now 38 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates on the roster of the 11 teams competing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Below is a list of those players.

ANAHEIM DUCKS (2 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Trail Dallas Stars 2-1 in Western Conference Quarter Final

Francois Beauchemin - D (3 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 4 PIM)

Marc-Andre Bergeron - D (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

BOSTON BRUINS (2 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Trail Montreal Canadiens 3-1 in Eastern Conference Quarter Final

Bobby Allen - D (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

Tim Thomas - G (4 GP - 1-3-0, 2.16 GAA, .924 SV%, 0 SO)

DALLAS STARS (6 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Lead Anaheim Ducks 2-1 in Western Conference Quarter Final

Trevor Daley - D (3 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, +1, 4 PIM)

Dan Jancevski - D (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

Antti Miettinen - RW (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

Steve Ott - C (3 GP - 1 G, 0 A, 1 P, -2, 4 PIM)

Mike Ribeiro - C (3 GP - 1 G, 6 A, 7 P, E, 2 PIM)

Brad Winchester - LW (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

DETROIT RED WINGS (1 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Tied with Nashville Predators 2-2 in Western Conference Quarter Final

Dan Cleary - RW (4 GP - 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, E, 0 PIM)

MINNESOTA WILD (1 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Tied with Colorado Avalanche 2-2 in Western Conference Quarter Final

Steve Kelly - C (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

MONTREAL CANADIENS (16 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Lead Boston Bruins 3-1 in Eastern Conference Quarter Final

Steve Begin - LW (4 GP - 0 G, 2 A, 2 P, +2 , 2 PIM)

Francis Bouillon - D (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

Kyle Chipchura - C (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

Matt D'Agostini - RW (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

Mikhail Grabovski - C (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

Jaroslav Halak - G (0 GP - 0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 SV%, 0 SO)

Christopher Higgins - LW (4 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, +1, 2 PIM)

Mike Komisarek - D (4 GP - 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, E, 6 PIM)

Andrei Kostitsyn - LW (4 GP - 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, -1, 0 PIM)

Sergei Kostitsyn - LW (4 GP - 2 G, 0 A, 2 P, +2, 4 PIM)

Maxim Lapierre - C (4 GP - 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, E, 2 PIM)

Ryan O'Byrne - D (1 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

Tomas Plekanec - C (4 GP - 0 G, 2 A, 2 P, -1, 6 PIM)

Carey Price - G (4 GP, 3-1-0, 1.20 GAA, .957 SV%, 1 SO)

Michael Ryder - RW (3 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, +1, 2 PIM)

Gregory Stewart - RW (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

NASHVILLE PREDATORS (2 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Tied with Detroit Red Wings 2-2 in Western Conference Quarter Final

Greg De Vries - D (4 GP - 1 G, 0 A, 1 P, -1, 0 PIM)

Dan Ellis - G (2 GP - 2-2-0, 2.78 GAA, .924 SV%, 0 SO)

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (1 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Lead Washington Capitals 2-1 in Eastern Conference Quarter Final

Jim Dowd - C (3 GP - 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, -1, 0 PIM)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (3 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Defeated Ottawa Senators 4-0 in Eastern Conference Quarter Final

Ty Conklin - G (0 GP - 0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 SV%, 0 SO)

Georges Laraque - RW (4 GP - 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, -1, 0 PIM)

Alain Nasreddine - D (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

SAN JOSE SHARKS (2 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Tied with Calgary Flames 2-2 in Western Conference Quarter Final

Brad Norton - D (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

Alexei Semenov - D (1 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM )

WASHINGTON CAPITALS (2 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates)

Trail Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in Eastern Conference Quarter Final

Christobal Huet - G (3 GP - 1-2-0, 3.69 GAA, .884 SV%, 0 SO)

Jason Morgan - C (0 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM)

Currently in its 72nd season of play, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 83 percent of today's NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 6 million fans have attended AHL games across North America in each of the past six seasons.

2008-2009 Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets are now available! For more information, call 905-529-8500 or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2008


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