Hamilton Bulldogs Weekly

February 6, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


This week, the Hamilton Bulldogs will host their second school day game of the season when they take on the San Antonio Rampage (AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers) at Copps Coliseum on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. The 'Dogs will also face the Albany Devils (AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils) at Copps Coliseum on Friday, February 10th, 2012 at 7:00 pm before traveling to Toronto to battle the Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday, February 11th, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. The Hamilton Bulldogs return home on Sunday, February 12th, 2012 for the Tim Hortons Timbits Jamboree game against the Texas Stars (AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars) at 3:00 p.m. at Copps Coliseum.

For the game against the Albany Devils and at all Friday night Hamilton Bulldogs home games, fans can purchase draft beer for only $3.00 between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Copps Coliseum . Fans must be of legal drinking age and are asked to drink responsibly.

For the game against the Texas Stars and at all Sunday afternoon home games, fans can purchase a "Pizza Pizza Family Pack", which includes four tickets to the game and a $20.00 food and beverage voucher for only $60.00! "Pizza Pizza Family Packs" are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, the Bulldogs Office at 101 York Boulevard in Hamilton or by calling 905-529-8500 or 1-888-DOGS-TIX (1-888-364-7849).

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW:

Friday, February 3rd - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 5 @ GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2

Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hamilton Goals: Olivier Fortier (7), Brian Willsie (9), Andreas Engqvist (14)*, Ian Schultz (3), Philippe Lefebvre (3)

Grand Rapids Goals: Chris Minard (5), Doug Janik (6)

Goaltending: Hamilton: Nathan Lawson (W - 29 shots, 27 saves) / Grand Rapids: Tom McCollum (L - 24 shots, 19 saves), Jordan Pearce (4 shots, 4 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 3-8 / Grand Rapids 0-7

Attendance: 8,251

* Game-winning goal

The Hamilton Bulldogs defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-2 at Van Andel Arena on Friday, February 3rd, 2012. Olivier Fortier scored a goal and picked up an assist while Frederic St-Denis recorded three assists. Nathan Lawson earned the win, making 27 saves on 29 shots. Doug Janik scored a short-handed goal for the Griffins.

Saturday, February 4th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 2 @ GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5

Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Hamilton Goals: Danny Masse (9), Andreas Engqvist (15)

Grand Rapids Goals: Francis Pare (8), Gustav Nyquist 2 (13, 14), Fabian Bruunstrom (5)*, Mitch Callahan (4)

Goaltending: Hamilton: Nathan Lawson (L- 33 shots, 28 saves), Robert Mayer (2 shots, 2 saves) / Grand Rapids: Jordan Pearce (W- 34 shots, 32 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 0-1 / Grand Rapids 2-3

Attendance: 7,789

* Game-winning goal

The Hamilton Bulldogs lost to the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-2 at Van Andel Arena on Saturday, February 4th, 2012. Dany Masse and Andreas Engqvist scored for the 'Dogs while Nathan Lawson made 28 saves. Gustav Nyquist scored two goals for the Griffins.

NORTH DIVISION STANDINGS:

(As of Monday, February 6th)

Rank Team GP W L OTL SOL PTS PCT GF GA

1. Toronto Marlies 47 25 17 3 2 55 0.585 136 117

2. Rochester Americans 47 21 17 6 3 51 0.543 130 139

3. Grand Rapids Griffins 45 19 18 4 4 46 0.511 143 145

4. Lake Erie Monsters 47 21 22 2 2 46 0.489 114 131

5. Hamilton Bulldogs 45 20 20 1 4 45 0.500 112 135

BULLDOGS NOTES:

D Frederic St-Denis has 5 points (5 assists) in his past six games and recorded a career high 3 points in one game on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 against the Grand Rapids Griffins. RW Aaron Palushaj recorded 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) in 11 games in the month of January. He is currently tied for third in the AHL for game-winning goals with five and tied for first in the AHL for insurance goals with four. RW Brian Willsie has recorded 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in his past five games and leads the 'Dogs with 162 shots, which currently ranks him at fifth in the AHL. C Andreas Engqvist is on a two-game goal-scoring streak. He has 4 game-winning goals for the 'Dogs this season. D Garrett Stafford is currently on a nine-game point streak with one goal and 10 assists during that span.

UPCOMING GAMES:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7th, 2012 10:00 AM EDT - COPPS COLISEUM, HAMILTON, ONTARIO

SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE (24-20-2-0, 4th West Division, 9th Western Conference, 17th AHL) at

HAMILTON BULLDOGS (20-20-1-4, 5th North Division, 13th Western Conference, 26th AHL)

This game marks the first of two meetings between the two clubs this season. The Bulldogs split last season's series against the Rampage with a 1-1-0-0 record. Hamilton has a 10-2-0-0-0 all-time record against San Antonio. C Jon Matsumoto currently leads the Rampage with 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists). Former Bulldogs: D Mike Vernace. There are currently five Ontario natives listed on the San Antonio roster: C Jon Matsumoto (Ottawa), LW Eric Selleck (Spencerville), C Scott Timmins (Hamilton), D Michael Caruso (Mississauga), and D Mike Vernace (Toronto).

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10th, 2012 7:00 PM EDT - COPPS COLISEUM, HAMILTON, ONTARIO

ALBANY DEVILS (19-18-5-3, 4th North East Division, 12th Eastern Conference, 24th AHL) at

HAMILTON BULLDOGS (20-20-1-4, 5th North Division, 13th Western Conference, 26th AHL)

This game marks the last of two meetings between the two clubs this season. The Bulldogs' record against the Devils this season is 0-1-0-0. Hamilton has a 28-19-4-2-0 all-time record against Albany. RW Joe Whitney currently leads the Devils with 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists). Former Bulldogs: None. There are currently six Ontario natives listed on the Albany roster: LW Chad Wiseman (Burlington), LW Kory Nagy (London), D Brandon Burlon (Nobleton), D Matthew Corrente (Mississauga), D Eric Gelinas (Vanier), and D Mike Banwell (Scarborough).

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11th, 2012 3:00 PM EDT - RICOH COLISEUM, TORONTO, ONTARIO

HAMILTON BULLDOGS (20-20-1-4, 5th North Division, 13th Western Conference, 26th AHL) at

TORONTO MARLIES (25-17-3-2, 1st North Division, 3rd Western Conference, 10th AHL)

This game marks the seventh of 12 meetings between the two clubs this season. The 'Dogs have a record of 4-2-0-0 against the Marlies this season. Hamilton has a 38-26-0-5-7 all-time record against Toronto. C Mike Zigomanis currently leads the Marlies in points with 43 (13 goals, 30 assists). Former Bulldogs: None. There are currently eight Ontario natives listed on the Toronto roster: LW Kelsey Wilson (Sault Ste. Marie), LW Ryan Hamilton (Oshawa), LW Nazem Kadri (London), LW Will Acton (Stouffville), RW Kyle Neuber (London), C Mike Zigomanis (Toronto), D Simon Gysbers (Richmond Hill), and D Jesse Blacker (Toronto).

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12th, 2012 3:00 PM EDT - COPPS COLISEUM, HAMILTON, ONTARIO

TEXAS STARS (20-22-1-2, 5th West Division, 15th Western Conference, 29th AHL) at

HAMILTON BULLDOGS (20-20-1-4, 5th North Division, 13th Western Conference, 26th AHL)

This game marks the first of two meetings between the two clubs this season. The Bulldogs' record against the Stars last season was 1-0-1-0. Hamilton has a 46-39-11-2-2 all-time record against Texas. RW Travis Morin currently leads the Stars with 39 points (6 goals, 33 assists). Former Bulldogs: None. There are currently five Ontario natives listed on the Texas roster: LW Mike Hedden (Dunnville), LW Luke Gadzic (Toronto), LW Francis Wathier (St. Isidore), G Andrew Raycroft (Belleville), and G Tyler Beskorowany (Sudbury).

ALUMNI WATCH:

There are over 40 former Hamilton Bulldogs currently on NHL rosters. Over 60 percent of all former 'Dogs have played in at least one NHL game. Here are a few highlights and accomplishments of ex-Hamilton Bulldogs from this past week:

- Montreal LW Max Pacioretty scored a goal against the Buffalo Sabres (Jan. 31), picked up a helper vs. the New Jersey Devils (Feb. 2), and found the back of the net again against the Winnipeg Jets (Feb. 5).

- Montreal C Tomas Plekanec recorded an assist against the New Jersey Devils (Jan. 25) and scored a goal and earned an assist vs. the Winnipeg Jets (Feb. 5).

- Montreal G Carey Price recorded his third shutout of the year against the Winnipeg Jets (Feb. 5).

- Toronto C Mikhail Grabovski scored twice and helped set up a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins (Jan. 31), he picked up a helper vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins (Feb. 1) and recorded an assist against the Ottawa Senators (Feb. 4).

- Detroit LW Danny Cleary recorded an assist vs. the Calgary Flames, scored a goal and picked up a helper against the Vancouver Canucks (Feb. 2) and had an assist vs. the Edmonton Oilers (Feb. 4).

TUNE IN TO Every Game on the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network:

Fans can listen to every 'Dogs game this season on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM. Fans can also listen to or watch all Hamilton Bulldogs at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the "AHL Live" or "820 CHAM" icon on the 'Dogs website. All regular-season radio and online broadcasts will begin with the Pioneer Pre-Game Show 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Ellery Award-winning broadcaster Derek Wills calls the play-by-play for all 76 regular season games, while Al Craig provides colour commentary for all home games and select road games.

GET YOUR TICKETS!

Hamilton Bulldogs tickets are now on sale! Single game tickets for the 2011-2012 season are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster Outlet, online at www.ticketmaster.ca or through charge-by-phone at 1-855-872-5000. Hamilton Bulldogs 2011-2012 season tickets and flex ticket packages are on sale! For more information, call 905-529-8500 or e-mail seasontix@hamiltonbulldogs.com .

GET YOUR BULLDOGS MERCHANDISE AT THE "DAWG HOUSE":

Fans can purchase Bulldogs merchandise during all home games at the "Dawg House" store located behind section 114 on the concourse level at Copps Coliseum. In the store, fans can find hats, t-shirts, jackets, replica jerseys, foam fingers, foam 'Bone Heads', and other select novelty items for sale. 2012 AHL Outdoor Classic gear will also be available for a limited time.



American Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2012


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