Ex-Bulldog gets NHL contract
July 3, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release
MONTREAL, Quebec - Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced today the signing of free agent forward Georges Laraque to a three-year contract (2008-2009 to 2010-2011). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"A 10-year veteran, Georges is the kind of player who made his mark in the NHL. With his physical play and determination, we are convinced that he will add valuable energy to our group of players.'' said Gainey.
Laraque, 31, played 71 games with the Pittsburgh last season, recording 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) and leading the team with 141 penalty minutes. The 6'3", 243-pound forward took part in 15 of the Penguins' 20 playoff games, helping the club to reach the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Finals. The Montreal, Quebec native has reached the Stanley Cup Finals in two of the past three seasons, having played 15 post-season games with the Edmonton Oilers in 2006.
In 634 career regular season NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers (490), Phoenix Coyotes (56) and Pittsburgh Penguins (88), Laraque has recorded 148 career points (52 goals, 96 assists) and 1,037 penalty minutes. In 53 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, the right-winger has produced 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) and 68 penalty minutes.
Selected in the second-round, 31st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Laraque began his professional career with the Hamilton Bulldogs in the team's inaugural season of 1996-1997. Laraque spent parts of three seasons in Hamilton from 1996-1997 to 1998-1999 and helped the Bulldogs advance to the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Finals in 1997. In 144 career regular season AHL games, all with the âDogs, Laraque totalled 78 points (30 goals, 48 assists) and 426 penalty minutes. In 18 career Calder Cup Playoff games, Laraque notched four points (one goal, three assists) and 23 penalty minutes. In the Hamilton Bulldogs' 10th anniversary season of 2005-2006, Laraque was selected as the enforcer on the Club's âAll-Decade Team'.
As a testimony of his devotion to the community, Laraque won the Oilers' Community Service Award on four occasions from 2001 to 2006.
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 6 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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