Bulldogs look to clinch playoff berth this week
March 22, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release
The Bulldogs will honour the "Heroes of Hometown Hockey" on Friday, March 26th at 7:00 p.m., when they host the St. John's Maple Leafs at Copps Coliseum. Currently 17 former Hamilton area NHL players, coaches and officials have confirmed to be in attendance at the "Heroes of Hometown Hockey" game. Those confirmed attendees include: Harry Howell, Ric Nattress, Frank Caprice, Don Edwards, Ed Gilbert, Ron Murphy, Murray Oliver, Leo Reise, John Miszuk, Jack Birch, Bill Mahoney, Ron Sedlebauer, Stan Jonathan, Pat Hickey, Jack Stoddard, Bill Friday and Bob Myers.
The lower bowl of seating for the "Heroes of Hometown Hockey" game is completely sold-out. However, Bulldogs fans can purchase $10 upper bowl seats at all eleven Hamilton/Burlington Fortinos locations, at the Hamilton Bulldogs office, by calling Ticketmaster at (905) 527-7666 or going on-line at www.ticketmaster.ca. Proceeds from the upper bowl tickets will go towards Travis' Battle, a charitable fund set up to support Travis Carter, a six-year-old Ancaster boy who suffers from Battens Disease. Travis has been one of ten children chosen to receive experimental surgery.
Hamilton will conclude the weekend with a pair of games in Toronto against the Roadrunners. The Bulldogs will visit Toronto's Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday, March 27th and Sunday, March 28th with each game beginning at 5:00 p.m., respectively.
The Hamilton Bulldogs will look to clinch a playoff birth for the seventh time in the franchise's eight-year history this week. The Bulldogs magic point total to clinch a playoff spot is just a single point. Hamilton can gain a playoff position on Wednesday, if the St. John's Maple Leafs tie or lose to the Syracuse Crunch.
The Bulldogs currently lead the AHL's North Division with 86 points on a record of 36 wins, 22 losses, 10 ties and 4 overtime losses.
Bulldogs fans can listen to Derek Wills call all the action live on 820 CHAM-AM or on-line at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com. For all the most up-to-date information on the Hamilton Bulldogs please visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com
BULLDOGS TEAM NOTES:
The Bulldogs have earned 22 home wins this season, which ties the club with Grand Rapids, Manchester and Milwaukee for the most home ice victories in the AHL this season ... Hamilton has played 51 games against North Division opponents this season and have posted a record of 28 wins, 16 losses, 6 ties and 1 overtime loss (.618 winning percentage) ... the Bulldogs have out-shot the opposition in 53 of 72 games this season, while earning a record of 31 wins, 13 losses, 7 ties and 2 overtime losses ... Hamilton's power play is currently ninth in the AHL (56 for 347, 16.1%) ... on the penalty kill the Bulldogs are rated tenth in the AHL (290 for 335, 86.6%) ... Hamilton is the third least penalized team in the AHL, averaging just 15.71 penalty minutes per game.
BULLDOGS INDIVDUAL PLAYER NOTES
Tomas Plekanec - is just one point shy of 100 points for AHL career
- has posted 99 points (36-63-99) in 143 career AHL games
Alexander Perezhogin - currently fifth in AHL rookie scoring with 43 points (18-25-43)
Chris Higgins - currently sixth in AHL rookie scoring with 42 points (21-21-42)
Jean-Philippe Cote - continues to be the Bulldogs plus/minus leader (+23)
Marc-Andre Thinel - scored his first Bulldogs goal in 5-1 win at St. John's (Mar. 20)
Ron Hainsey - has earned 11 assists in 11 games played in March
UPCOMING GAMES:
St. John's Maple Leafs at Hamilton Bulldogs - Friday, March 26 - 7:00 p.m.
This game will mark the final meeting between the Maple Leafs and Bulldogs this season ... the Bulldogs earned nine wins and two losses in the first eleven meetings versus the Maple Leafs this season ... St. John's currently sits in seventh place in the AHL's North Division with a record of 27 wins, 32 losses, 7 ties and 3 overtime losses ... Bulldogs forward Tomas Plekanec has earned 10 points (3-7-10) against the Maple Leafs this season ... Aaron Gavey has been St. John's top scorer against the Hamilton with 12 points (5-7-12)
Hamilton Bulldogs at Toronto Roadrunners - Saturday, March 27 - 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday, March 28 - 5:00 p.m.
This two-game weekend series will mark the final time the Bulldogs and Roadrunners will face each this season ... Hamilton has posted a record of 2 wins, 7 losses and 1 tie ... Toronto is currently tied for fourth place in the AHL's North Division with 75 points ... Bulldogs forward Chris Higgins has tallied 8 points (5-3-8) against Toronto this season ... the Roadrunners are led offensively by Jamie Wright, who has posted 52 points (24-28-52) in 68 games during 2003-04.
JOE CAHILL HOSTS 'DOGBITES WEELY RADIO SHOW on 820 CHAM - MONDAYS
Legendary radio personality Joe Cahill hosts 'DOGBITES - a weekly half-hour Hamilton Bulldogs radio show every Monday at 7:30 p.m. on Hamilton's 820 CHAM. Bulldogs play-by-play announcer Derek Wills will join Joe Cahill. The weekly show will feature Bulldogs interviews, highlights from the past week and much more.
BULLDOGS ON 820 CHAM!
Hamilton Bulldogs fans can listen to all Bulldogs home and road action on Hamilton's 820 CHAM-AM. Derek Wills provides all the play-by-play, while Hamilton radio personality Al Craig is the colour commentator for all home games and select road games.
BULLDOGS SEASON TICKETS:
Bulldogs Season Tickets are on sale now! To purchase season tickets or for more information contact the Bulldogs at (905) 529-8500 or by e-mail at tickets@hamiltonbulldogs.com
American Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2004
- Bulldogs look to clinch playoff berth this week - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Royal Review - Manchester Monarchs
- Admirals Weekly - Milwaukee Admirals
- Wolves Playoff Tickets on Sale Tuesday - Chicago Wolves
- Wolves Go "Outside the Lines" on ESPN on March 23 at 11 p.m. - Chicago Wolves
- Moose wrap up road trip this week - Manitoba Moose
- Wolves Weekly - Chicago Wolves
- Phantoms Weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
- LW Josh Olson reassigned to San Antonio - San Antonio Rampage
- Griffins in dogfight with Admirals - Grand Rapids Griffins
- River Rats in a Penn state of mind - Albany River Rats
- Sound Tigers Split First Four Games Of Seven Straight On Road - Bridgeport Islanders
- Thomas named AHL Player of the Week - Providence Bruins
- AHL scoring leaders have plenty in common - AHL
- Bruins' Thomas named Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Power Play Breaks Out - Syracuse Crunch
- Roadrunners Weekly - Edmonton Road Runners
- Barons Weekly Report - Cleveland Barons
- Gillies and Wilson at Friendly's this evening for Family Fun Night - Springfield Falcons
- Bears pound Penguins, Manchester at GIANT Center Saturday - Hershey Bears
- Admirals split two with Aeros - Norfolk Admirals
- B-Sens weekly - Binghamton Senators
- Phantoms to help out former "Slap Shot" star - Adirondack Phantoms
- Admirals Playoff Tickets on Sale - Milwaukee Admirals
- Aeros go 1-2-0 on Northeast swing; play six of final eight at Toyota Center - Houston Aeros
- Pens' slide continues with 5-0 loss to Hershey - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
