Four \'Dogs Grads Still Fighting for Stanley Cup

Published on May 23, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


With the Western Conference Champion Detroit Red Wings and the Eastern Conference Champion Pittsburgh Penguins preparing to compete in the National Hockey League's 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, so too are four former Hamilton Bulldogs players and one ex-‘Dogs general manager.

Forward Dan Cleary, who posted 75 points (22 goals, 53 assists) in 67 games with the ‘Dogs from 1998-2000 and won The Hamilton Spectator Most Valuable Player Award and the Molson Cup Award following his second season in Steeltown, will represent Detroit when the Stanley Cup Finals commence at Joe Louis Arena tomorrow. Cleary, 29, has played in all 16 of the Red Wings' post-season games in 2008 posting two points (one goal, one assist), a -1 rating and no penalty minutes. The 6'0", 210-pound native of Carbonear, Newfoundland has averaged 17 minutes and eight seconds of ice-time in this season's Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is fourth-highest amongst ‘Wings forwards behind only Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen.

The Detroit Red Wings' opponent, the Pittsburgh Penguins, will have three ex-Hamilton Bulldogs on their roster when they take to the ice for game one of the best-of-seven series.

Goaltender Ty Conklin, who complied a record of 33 wins, 27 losses, 11 ties and no shootout losses during three seasons with the ‘Dogs from 2001-2003 and 2005-2006, has yet to appear in any of Pittsburgh's 14 post-season games after posting an 18-8-5 record with two shutouts in 33 regular season games with the Penguins in 2007-2008. The 6'4", 185-pound, 32-year-old native of Eagle River, Alaska finished the regular season with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, which was second best in the NHL. Nashville Predators goaltender Dan Ellis, who like Conklin, is a Hamilton Bulldogs graduate, led the league with a .924 save percentage during the regular season.

Forward Georges Laraque, chosen by fans as the enforcer on The Hamilton Spectator's Hamilton Bulldogs All-Decade Team in 2006, spent three seasons in Steeltown from 1996-1999. In 144 games with the ‘Dogs, Laraque registered 78 points (30 goals, 48 assists) and 426 penalty minutes. 31 years old, the 6'3", 243-pound native of Montreal, Quebec has totaled three points (one goal, two assists), an even plus / minus rating and four penalty minutes while appearing in all 14 of Pittsburgh's post-season games in 2008.

Defenceman Alain Nasreddine spent three seasons in Hamilton from 1999-2002 and produced 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) and 330 penalty minutes in 164 games with the Bulldogs. A 6'1", 204-pound native of Montreal, Quebec, Nasreddine served as ‘Dogs captain from 2000-2002 and won the Hamilton Entertainment and Convention Facilities Inc. (H.E.C.F.I.) Community Leadership Award in the 2001-2002 campaign. After going pointless with a -4 rating and four penalty minutes in six regular season contests with the Penguins in 2007-2008, the 32-year old has yet to appear in a Stanley Cup Playoff game this season.

Andre Savard, who was general manager of the Hamilton Bulldogs from 2003-2006, is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins. During his three seasons as ‘Dogs G.M., Savard's club compiled a regular season record of 114 wins, 95 losses, 10 ties, 11 overtime losses and 10 shootout losses. Savard, 54, is a native of Temiscamingue, Quebec.

Games one and two of the NHL's 2008 Stanley Cup Finals will take place at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, May 24th and Monday, May 26th. The scene of the best-of-seven series will then shift to Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for games three and four on Wednesday, May 28th and Saturday, May 31st. If necessary, the Red Wings will host game five on Monday, June 2nd and the Penguins game six on Wednesday, June 4th. If a seventh and deciding game is needed, Pittsburgh will play in Detroit on Saturday, June 7th. The scheduled start time for all seven games in the series is 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

In total, 38 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates appeared on the active roster of 11 of the 16 teams that qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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American Hockey League Stories from May 23, 2008


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