Bulldogs Announce 2007-2008 Individual Award Winners

Published on April 11, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


HAMILTON, ON - The Hamilton Bulldogs announced today the winners of the hockey club's 2007-2008 individual player awards. The following is a list of the worthy recipients:

The Hamilton Spectator Most Valuable Player Award:

*As voted by the Hamilton Bulldogs players

Winner: #30 Jaroslav Halak

Previous Winners: Steve Passmore (1998-99), Daniel Cleary (1999-00), Paul Healey & Brian Swanson (2000-01), Brian Swanson (2001-02), Jason Ward (2002-03), Benoit Gratton (2003-04), Chris Higgins (2004-05), Marc-Antoine Pouliot (2005-06), Jaroslav Halak (2006-07)

The Hamilton Bulldogs Leading Scorer Award:

*Awarded to the Bulldogs Leading Scorer during the regular season

Winner: #84 Corey Locke

Previous Winners: Tomas Plekanec (2004-05), Corey Locke (2005-06), Duncan Milroy (2006-07)

The Tim Horton's Top Defenceman Award:

*As voted on by the local media

Winner: #12 Jean-Philippe Cote

Previous Winners: Todd Reirden (1998-99), Alex Zhurik (1999-00), Rory Fitzpatrick (2001-02), Sven Butenschon (2001-02), Marc-Andre Bergeron (2002-03), Francois Beauchemin & Patrick Traverse (2003-04), Dan Jancevski (2004-05), Dan Smith (2005-06), Dan Jancevski (2006-07)

The Swiss Chalet Top Rookie Award:

*As voted on by the Hamilton Bulldogs Radio Broadcast Team

Winner: #25 Pavel Valentenko

Previous Winners: Yann Danis (2004-05), Marc-Antoine Pouliot (2005-06), Jaroslav Halak (2006-07)

The Hamilton Entertainment and Convention Facilities Inc. (H.E.C.F.I.) Community Leadership Award:

*As voted on by the staff of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Club

Winner: #32 Ajay Baines

Previous Winners: Jeff Daw (1998-99), Mike Minard (1999-00), Ryan Risidore (2000-01), Alain Nasreddine (2001-02), Jason Ward (2003-03), Duncan Milroy (2003-04), Duncan Milroy (2004-05), Corey Locke (2005-06), Corey Locke (2006-07)

The Bill Sturrup Trophy Presented by the Growl (Formerly the Hamilton Bulldogs Fans' Choice Award):

*As voted on by The Growl - the Hamilton Bulldogs' Booster Club

Winner: #32 Ajay Baines

Previous Winners: Chris Ferraro (1998-99), Mike Minard (1999-00), Jason Chimera (2000-01), Brian Swanson (2001-02), Marc-Andre Bergeron (2002-03), Duncan Milroy (2003-04), Corey Locke (2004-05), J.J. Hunter, Jean-Francois Jacques (2005-06), Duncan Milroy (2006-07)

The Molson Cup:

*As voted on by the media at each game throughout the season (Three Stars of the Game)

Winner: #84 Corey Locke

Previous Winners: Steve Passmore (1998-99), Daniel Cleary (1999-00), Paul Healey (2000-01), Brian Swanson (2001-02), Jason Ward (2002-03), Jozef Balej (2003-04), Yann Danis (2004-05), Jean-Francois Jacques (2005-06), Duncan Milroy (2006-07)

The Flamboro Downs Workhorse of the Year: (Hardest Working Bulldogs Player) *As voted on by the local media at each home game and by the Hamilton Bulldogs Radio Broadcast Team after each road game throughout the season. Winner: Not yet determined. (#21 Jonathan Ferland leads the race with 80 points while #84 Corey Locke has 70 points with only three games remaining in the season. Each time a player is named the Flamboro Downs Workhorse of the Game, they receive 10 points.) Previous Winners: Steve Potvin (1998-99), Brian Swanson (1999-00), Chad Hinz (2000-01), Jason Chimera (2001-02), Tony Salmelainen & Jarret Stoll (2002-03), Jozef Balej (2003-04), Steve Ott (2004-05), Maxim Lapierre (2005-06), Kyle Chipchura (2006-07)

For the second consecutive season, goaltender Jaroslav Halak won ‘The Hamilton Spectator Most Valuable Player Award' as voted by his teammates despite playing in only 28 games. At the time of his recall to the Montreal Canadiens on February 26th, the 5-foot-11, 181-pound netminder was second overall in the American Hockey League in goals against average (2.10) and save percentage (.929), with a 15-10-2 record and two shutouts. Halak was named the Rbk/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending January 6th after posting a 3-1-0 record with one shutout, a 1.01 goals against average and a .966 save percentage in that span. The 21-year-old native of Bratislava, Slovakia, is the Bulldogs' franchise leader with 11-career shutouts in only 69 games.

Fourth-year Bulldog Corey Locke took home two awards, earning ‘The Hamilton Bulldogs Leading Scorer Award' for the second time in his career, ‘The Molson Cup Three Stars Award', and is in the running for the ‘Flamboro Downs Workhorse of the Year'. In 75 games so far this season, the 5-foot-9, 171-pound forward leads the Bulldogs in goals (28), game-winning goals (6), assists (40) and points (68) and is currently 13th overall in AHL scoring. Locke became Hamilton's all-time leading scorer with a goal on December 29th against Toronto and is the franchise leader in goals (83), assists (142) and points (225). The native of Newmarket, Ontario, also tied a franchise record with six points (3-3-6) in a single game on April 9th versus Rochester.

Jean-Philippe Cote is the winner of the ‘The Tim Horton's Top Defenceman Award' as voted by local media. The 25-year-old native of Quebec City, Quebec, has posted a goal, 11 assists, 12 points, 110 penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating in 76 games this season. Cote, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound blueliner, is Hamilton's all-time leader in games played by a defenceman (331) and is also the franchise's all-time plus/minus leader with a plus-52 rating.

Defenceman Pavel Valentenko took home ‘The Swiss Chalet Top Rookie Award' as selected by the Hamilton Bulldogs Broadcast Team. A 20-year-old native of Nizhnekamsk, Russia, Valentenko has registered 15 assists and 58 penalty minutes with a plus-6 rating in 54 games this season. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound rookie recorded the Bulldogs' hardest shot at this year's skills competition with a 102 mph blast.

Captain Ajay Baines won two awards including the ‘The H.E.C.F.I. Community Leadership Award' for his work within the Hamilton Community as voted by the Hamilton Bulldogs front office staff and ‘The Bill Sturrup Trophy Presented by the Growl'. Baines was this year's player representative for the Bulldogs' annual ‘TD Canada Trust Smiles on Ice' game, won the 2007 Canadian Diabetes Association's Regional Inspiration Award, and was the Bulldogs' Head Table guest at the 57th Annual B'Nai Brith Sports Celebrity Dinner. Baines also visited several elementary schools in the Hamilton community, reading to children and speaking to them about the importance of school, health, and self-esteem. In addition he attended all of the team events including the annual player visit to McMaster Children Hospital.

The winners will be honoured in a pre-game ceremony tonight (Friday, April 11th) at 7:30 p.m. when the ‘Dogs host the Toronto Marlies at Copps Coliseum in their final home game of the 2007-2008 AHL season. Tickets for all ‘Dogs home games are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster outlet, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or through charge-by-phone at 905-527-7666. For more information or to purchase season tickets call 905-529-8500, e-mail tickets@hamiltonbulldogs.com or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.

Fans can listen to every Bulldogs game on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the ‘B2 Networks' or ‘820 CHAM' icon on the ‘Dogs website. All regular-season radio and online broadcasts will begin with a pre-game show 20 minutes prior to each scheduled game-time.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2008


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