Bulldogs add Ajay Baines
Published on August 4, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release
HAMILTON, ON (Friday, August 4th, 2006)...The Hamilton Bulldogs announced today the signing of centre Ajay Baines to a two-year American Hockey League contract. As per club policy, financial terms of the deal are not disclosed.
Baines, 28, is a veteran of seven seasons of professional hockey. Following four years in the Western Hockey League, where he played for the Blazers in his hometown of Kamloops, British Columbia, the left-handed centre began his pro career with the ECHL's Greenville Grrrowl in 1999-2000. After accumulating 24 goals, 31 assists, 55 points, and 102 penalty minutes in 67 games during his rookie campaign, Baines jumped to the American Hockey League, where he played for the Norfolk Admirals for nearly six seasons.
From 2000-2001 to 2005-2006, Baines skated in 409 regular season games with Norfolk, and scored 68 goals, while adding 107 assists, and 454 penalty minutes. On January 13th, 2006, Baines reached a career milestone by playing in his 400th career AHL game. On the same night, Baines recorded a goal and an assist, surpassing Marty Wilford (173 points) to become the Admirals all-time leading scorer, with his 174th and 175th points.
On October 18th, 2002, Baines was named Norfolk Admirals Captain, a position that he held with the team until he was loaned to the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, in exchange for defenseman Brandon Rogers on February 15th, 2006. In 24 games with the Knights, the 5'10", 180-pound forward registered eight goals, four assists, 12 points, and 26 penalty minutes.
During his hockey career, Baines has proven to be a great leader not only on the ice, but off the ice as well. In 2001, the Kamloops native, who resides in Vancouver during the off-season, was named Norfolk's AON / AHL Man of the Year, and in 2005, he was selected as the Admirals' American Specialty / AHL Man of the Year. During his time in Norfolk, Virginia, Baines headed the "Going for Goals" program, a successful community initiative that the Admirals continue to use to promote literacy to middle school students.
In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League is the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. Over 80 percent of NHL players are AHL graduates, and more than 350 AHL players were recalled to the NHL during the 2005-2006 season alone.
You can see tomorrow's NHL stars develop their skills in the AHL by purchasing 2006-2007 Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets today! Prices start at just $11 per game. For more information, please call 905-529-8500, or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.
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- Bulldogs add Ajay Baines - Hamilton Bulldogs
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