Canadiens Ink Bulldogs Graduate Ryan O'Byrne, Shawn Belle

Published on July 16, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


MONTREAL, Quebec - Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced today the signing of defenceman Ryan O'Byrne to a three-year National Hockey League contract for the 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons. The Club also announced the signing of defenceman Shawn Belle to a one-year, two-way American Hockey League / National Hockey League contract for the 2008-2009 season. As per club policy, financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

"Ryan acquired a great deal of NHL experience last season. He is part of our young core of defencemen and certainly has the potential of becoming a very good NHL player. He is big, intense and his physical play are important assets for our team,'' said Gainey.

O'Byrne, who will turn 24 on Saturday (July 19), is scheduled to begin his third season as a professional this fall. In 2007-2008, the 6'5", 228-pound defenceman made his NHL debut and posted seven points (1 goal, 6 assists), 45 penalty minutes and averaged 13:23 minutes of ice time in 33 regular season games with Montreal. In four 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff contests with the Canadiens, the right-handed-shooting defenceman went pointless with no penalty minutes. O'Byrne also skated with the Hamilton Bulldogs last season and was selected to participate in the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic after producing eight points (two goals, six assists) and 49 penalty minutes in 20 games.

In 100 career regular season AHL contests, all with Hamilton from 2006-2008, O'Byrne has accumulated 20 points (two goals, 18 assists) and 178 penalty minutes. The Victoria, British Columbia native helped the Bulldogs capture the 2007 Calder Cup Championship by producing seven points (two goals, five assists) and 32 penalty minutes in 22 post-season games.

O'Byrne was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round, 79th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and played three seasons with the Cornell University Big Red from 2003 to 2006.

Belle, 23, was acquired from the Minnesota Wild on Friday, July 11 in return for forward Corey Locke. Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 30th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, the 6'2", 232-pound defenceman registered three points (one goal, two assists) and 74 penalty minutes in 63 games with the Houston Aeros in 2007-2008, his third season as a professional.

In nine career regular season NHL games, all with the Minnesota Wild in 2006-2007, the Edmonton, Alberta native has registered one point (one assist) and no penalty minutes. In 181 career regular season AHL games with the Iowa Stars (45 games in 2005-2006) and Houston Aeros (136 games from 2005-2008), Belle has produced 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) and 228 penalty minutes.

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 84 percent of today's NHL players are AHL graduates, and for the seventh year in a row, more than six million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2007-2008.

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 July 16, 2008


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