Bulldogs look to end skid

December 5, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


The Hamilton Bulldogs (8-16-0-2) will look to end a four-game losing streak this week as they face two divisional opponents and renew a playoff rivalry. Hamilton will travel to Grand Rapids where they will face the Griffins (17-5-0-2) for the fifth time this season on Wednesday, December 7 (7:00 p.m.). The Bulldogs then return home to battle the Syracuse Crunch (12-8-1-0) on Friday, December 9 (7:30 p.m.) before tangling with the Houston Aeros (17-7-1-1) on Saturday, December 10 (7:00 p.m.) for the first time since the 2003 Calder Cup Finals.

WEEK IN REVIEW

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26 - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 2 @ MANITOBA MOOSE 7

BULLDOGS GOALS - Jean-Francois Jacques, Duncan Milroy

MOOSE GOALS - Tomas Mojzis, Mike Brown, Josh Green, Jimmy Roy, Alexandre Burrows (2), Sven Butenschon

GOALTENDING - Hamilton - Yann Danis (18sh, 13sv), Jeff DesLauriers (10sh, 8sv)

Manitoba - Wade Flaherty (18sh, 16sv)

POWER PLAY - Hamilton 1-6 / Manitoba 4-10

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 3 @ MANITOBA MOOSE 4 (SO)

BULLDOGS GOALS - Corey Locke, Francis Lemieux, Brad Winchester

MOOSE GOALS - Jimmy Roy, Sven Butenschon, Alexandre Burrows

GOALTENDING - Hamilton - Yann Danis (28sh, 25sv) / Manitoba - Sebastien Centomo (21sh, 18sv)

POWER PLAY - Hamilton 2-9 / Manitoba 2-7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 - TORONTO MARLIES 3 @ HAMILTON BULLDOGS 1

BULLDOGS GOALS - Marc-Antoine Pouliot

MARLIES GOALS - John Pohl (2), John Mitchell

GOALTENDING - Hamilton - Yann Danis (16sh, 13sv) / Toronto - J-S Aubin (11sh, 11sv), J-F Racine (18sh, 17sv)

POWER PLAY - Hamilton 1-7 / Toronto 2-3

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 1 @ TORONTO MARLIES 2

BULLDOGS GOALS - Francis Lemieux

MARLIES GOALS - John Pohl, Kris Newbury

GOALTENDING - Hamilton - Jeff DesLauriers (28sh, 26sv) / Toronto - J-F Racine (24sh, 23sv)

POWER PLAY - Hamilton 0-7 / Toronto 0-6

Team Notes

- The Bulldogs allowed a season-low 16 shots against the Marlies on Friday, December 2 (3-1 L).

- Hamilton totalled a season-high 76 penalty minutes on Tuesday, November 29 against Manitoba (7-2 L).

- On Saturday, December 3 against the Toronto Marlies (2-1 L), the Bulldogs suffered their first loss in regulation this season when leading after two periods. When going into the third period with the lead, Hamilton's record now stands at 5-1-0-1.

Player Notes

- D Jean-Philippe Cote and RW Andrei Kostitsyn each made their NHL debut last week. Cote played in his first game on Tuesday, November 29 against Ottawa (4-0 L) while Kostitsyn hit NHL ice for the first time on Thursday, December 1 in Montreal's 3-2 OTL against Buffalo.

- C Garth Murray recorded his first assist of the season on Tuesday, November 29 against Manitoba (7-2 L).

- D Danny Syvret earned an assist in his first game after being reassigned by the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, November 30 against Manitoba (4-3 SOL).

- C Corey Locke had his five-game point scoring streak snapped on Saturday, December 3 against the Marlies (2-1 L). Locke had seven points (1g, 6a) during the streak, which is tied for the longest point streak by a Bulldog this season.

- Kostitsyn has recorded at least one point in each of his last five games. Over that stretch, he has one goal and eight assists.

Upcoming Games

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7 - HAMILTON BULLDOGS @ GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS - 7:00 P.M. - VAN ANDEL ARENA

- This will be the fifth meeting this season between these two teams. The season series is tied, with each team winning two games.

- The Bulldogs have won the last two games against Grand Rapids (17-5-0-2), including a 6-5 shootout win in Grand Rapids on Saturday, November 26.

- The Griffins leads the North Division with 36 points.

- Hamilton LW Brad Winchester leads the team in scoring against Grand Rapids this season with seven points (4g, 3a) in 3 games. Winchester recorded a team season-high five points Nov. 26.

- LW Jiri Hudler, who leads the Griffins in scoring this season with 35 points (16g, 19a), was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, December 4.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 - SYRACUSE CRUNCH @ HAMILTON BULLDOGS - 7:30 P.M. - COPPS COLISEUM

- This game will mark the third game this season between Hamilton and Syracuse (12-8-1-0).

- Both teams have won a game in the season series, with the Bulldogs winning the last meeting (7-6 on Friday, October 28).

- The Crunch sit fourth in the North Division with 25 points.

- LW Jean-Francois Jacques leads Hamilton in scoring against Syracuse this season with four points (3g, 1a) in two games.

- C Geoff Platt has five points (2g, 3a) in two games against the Bulldogs and leads the Crunch in scoring this season (15g, 9a).

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 - HOUSTON AEROS @ HAMILTON BULLDOGS - 7:00 P.M. - COPPS COLISEUM

- The Bulldogs will face the Aeros (17-7-1-1) for the first time since the 2003 Calder Cup Finals.

- The game also marks the first ever regular season game between these two teams.

- This game is ‘Stuffed Animal Night' and Bulldogs fans are encouraged to bring a new stuffed toy and toss it on the ice after the Bulldogs first goal! All toys that are collected will be distributed to local non-profit agencies in time for the holiday season.

- Houston leads the West Division with 36 points.

- The Aeros boast two of the four leading scorers in the AHL, including the league's top point getter, Erik Westrum (12g, 24a). Houston RW Kirby Law sits fourth in league scoring with 29 points (13g, 16a).

ALUMNI WATCH

There are many former Bulldogs currently playing for NHL teams. Here are a few highlights of the accomplishments of ex-Dogs this past week.

- Montreal LW Pierre Dagenais scored twice on Saturday, December 3 against Los Angeles (3-2 W). Mike Ribeiro picked up assists on both of Dagenais' goals.

- RW Michael Ryder scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season against Buffalo on Thursday, December 1 (3-2 OTL).

- D Ron Hainsey played in his first NHL game since the 2003-04 season when he suited up for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, November 30 (3-2 W). The following night, Hainsey recorded his first point as a Blue Jacket when he drew an assist on the team's only goal against St. Louis (4-1 L).

- Edmonton Oilers RW Fernando Pisani tallied twice on Saturday, December 3 against Boston (5-4 OTL), and added an assist.

- Oilers C Shawn Horcoff added two assists on Saturday and leads Edmonton in scoring with 27 points (4g, 23a).

Bulldogs Player Transactions - NOVEMBER 21 - november 28

Tuesday, November 29

- D Jean-Philippe Cote was recalled by the Montreal Canadiens.

- D Ron Hainsey was claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

- D Danny Syvret was reassigned to Hamilton by Edmonton Oilers.

Thursday, December 1

- D Dan Smith was recalled by the Edmonton Oilers.

- RW Andrei Kostitsyn was recalled by the Montreal Canadiens.

Saturday, December 3

- C Garth Murray was recalled by the Montreal Canadiens.

Sunday, December 4

- Cote, Murray and Kostitsyn were reassigned to Hamilton by Montreal Canadiens.

BULLDOGS INJURY REPORT

Player Injury Date Injury Occurred Status

RW Jonathan Ferland MCL October 26 6-8 Weeks

D Andrew Archer Hernia November 24 6-8 Weeks

LW Brad Winchester Foot November 26 Day-to-Day

BULLDOGS HOCKEY LIVE ON CABLE 14

Fans can watch the Hamilton Bulldogs face the Toronto Marlies on Friday, December 2 live on Hamilton's Cable 14. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Hear and See Every Game on the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network

Fans can listen to every Hamilton Bulldogs game this season on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, Hamilton's 820 CHAM "The Legend". Fans can also listen or watch every game on-line at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com. To listen online, click on the ‘Bulldogs Action 820 CHAM Listen Live' Icon on the homepage of the ‘Dogs website. The AHL and B2 have entered into a partnership that will allow fans to watch every Hamilton Bulldogs game this season. To watch a game, go to the Bulldogs website and click on the B2 ‘Watch the Game Live' icon on the homepage. Ellery Award winning broadcaster Derek Wills will provide the play-by-play call of all 80 regular season games with Al Craig providing the commentary for home games and select road games.

TICKETS

Hamilton Bulldogs tickets are on sale now! Individual game tickets are available at Copps Coliseum Box Office (in-person sales only), all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.ca or at Sports Obsession in Jackson Square. For group ticket information visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com, or call (905) 529-8500 or 1-866-DOGS-TIX.

HAMILTON BULLDOGS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Wednesday, December 7 - 7:00 p.m. - Hamilton Bulldogs at Grand Rapids Griffins - Van Andel Arena

Friday, December 9 - 7:30 p.m. - Syracuse Crunch at Hamilton Bulldogs - Copps Coliseum

Saturday, December 10 - 7:00 p.m. - Houston Aeros at Hamilton Bulldogs - Copps Coliseum

HAMILTON BULLDOGS MOLSON CUP - THREE STAR LEADERS

(1st place vote - 5pts, 2nd place - 3pts, 3rd place - 1pt)

Player: Points:

1. Jean-Francois Jacques 18

2. Corey Locke 14 3.

Brad Winchester 9

4. Ron Hainsey 8

5. Andre Benoit 6

6. Michael Lambert 5

6. Yann Danis 5

8. Marc-Antoine Pouliot 4

9. Peter Vandermeer 3

9. Maxim Lapierre 3

9. Francis Lemieux 3

12. Olivier Michaud 1

12. James Sanford 1

12. Cristobal Huet 1

12. Andrei Kostitsyn 1

12. Jeff Deslauriers 1

PARTSOURCE ‘SPARKPLUG' OF THE GAME LEADERS (Hardest Working Bulldogs Player)

Player: Points:

1. Jean-Francois Jacques 40

2. Danny Syvret 10

2. Garth Murray 10

2 Corey Locke 10

2. Peter Vandermeer 10

2. Maxim Lapierre 10

2. Francis Lemieux 10

2. Mathieu Roy 10

2. Andre Benoit 10

2. Johnathan Aitken 10



American Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2005


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