Hamilton Bulldogs Weekly

March 18, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


THIS WEEK'S GAME SCHEDULE/BROADCASTS (All times EDT)

Friday, March 22nd at Syracuse Crunch, Onondaga County War Memorial, 7:30 p.m. - Funny 820 AM

Saturday, March 23rd at Binghamton Senators, Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, 7:05 p.m. - Funny 820 AM

BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE

Record: 24-31-1-5, 54 points ... Home: 16-12-1-2, 33 points, Road: 8-19-0-3, 19 points ... Standings: 5th North Division ... 15th Western Conference ... Last 10 games: 4-6-0-0 ... Longest winning streak: 4 (Feb. 9-16) ... Longest losing streak: 5 (Dec. 16-26, Jan. 11-21) ... Leading scorers: C Michael Bournival (54 GP 7-16-23) ... RW Patrick Holland (59 GP 8-14-22) ... D Nathan Beaulieu (59 GP 6-16-22) ... Goaltenders: Robert Mayer (31 GP 13-13-3, 3.05 GAA, .904 Save %, 0 SO), Dustin Tokarski (42 GP 22-12-4, 2.29 GAA, .911 Save %, 5 SO) ... Power play - Home: 17-for-127, 13.4 percent, 26th AHL ... Road: 9-for-117, 7.7 percent 30th AHL ... Overall: 26-for-244, 10.7 percent, 30th AHL ... Penalty killing - Home: 14-for-133, 89.5 percent, 2nd AHL ... Road: 35-for-152, 77 percent, 28th AHL ... Overall: 49-for-285, 82.8 percent, 17th AHL ... Goals for per game: 2.11, 30th AHL ... Goals against per game: 2.97, 23rd AHL

OPPONENTS AT A GLANCE

SYRACUSE CRUNCH (Affiliation: Tampa Bay Lightning) - Head Coach: Joe Cooper ... Record: 37-17-3-5, 82 points ... Home: 14-9-3-3, 34 points ... Road: 23-8-0-2, 48 points ... Standings: 1st East Division ... 1st Eastern Conference ... Leading scorer: RW Brett Connolly (61 GP 26-30-56) ... Leading goaltender: Riku Helenius (26 GP 15-10-0, 2.75 GAA, .894 Save %, 4 SO) ... Power play: 56-for-296, 18.9 percent, 7th AHL ... Penalty killing: 50-for-303, 83.5 percent, 14th AHL ... Goals for per game: 3.45, 1st AHL ... Goals against per game: 2.71, 13th AHL ... Last game: March 16 W 6-2 vs. Albany ... Last 10 games: 5-3-1-1 ... The Crunch hosts the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday night before entertaining the Bulldogs who will be the penultimate opponent in the Crunch's five-game homestand ... The Crunch is 16th in the AHL attendance, averaging 5,387 fans per game ... The Crunch has three wins and a shootout loss in its last four games ... The Crunch's 214 goals are the most in the league ... The Crunch is third in the league in penalty minutes, averaging 22.24 per game ... The Crunch leads the AHL with 23 road wins ... The Crunch has 26 wins in 29 games when leading through two periods ... Syracuse is second in the AHL in shots on goal per game, averaging 33.73 and they surrender only 25.73 per game, fewest in the league ... The Crunch's home power play ranks fifth in the league having scored 28 goals in 136 opportunities (20.6 percent) ... Syracuse is 6-6-1-1 against North Division foes ... The Crunch is 18th in the AHL at killing penalties at home having given up 21 goals in 129 shorthanded situations for an efficiency rating of 83.7 percent ... The Crunch has allowed three shorthanded goals, tied with the Connecticut Whale for fewest in the AHL ... RW Brett Connolly is fourth in the league in scoring with 26 goals and 30 assists for 56 points. He is second in the AHL with seven game-winning goals. Connolly has three goals and three assists for six points over his last five games ... D Dmitry Korobov leads active AHLers in Plus/Minus at plus-23 ... D Mark Barberio, who turns 23 on March 23, leads active rearguards in scoring with eight goals and 32 assists for 40 points. He leads league defencemen with 182 shots on goal ... RW Richard Panik's 12-game points streak from Nov. 2 to Dec. 1 is the longest in the league this season. He has six points, including one goal, in his last six games ... All-time series: 50-43-11-1-2 ... This season: Fourth of four meetings. The Crunch won 3-0 at Copps Coliseum on Nov. 7 and skated to a 4-1 win at the Bell Centre in Montreal two nights later. The Crunch earned a 5-1 win at home on Dec. 7... First-round NHL picks: RW Brett Connolly (Tampa Bay, 2010), G Riku Helenius (Tampa Bay, 2006), C Vladimir Namestnikov (Tampa Bay, 2011) ... Connections: D Jean-Phillippe Cote played 334 games for the Bulldogs over five seasons ... G Cedrick Desjardins played 22 games for the Bulldogs this season before being swapped for G Dustin Tokarski on Feb. 14. Desjardins had played 92 games for the Bulldogs over four seasons from 2006 to 2010 ... LW Jean-Francois Jacques played 65 games for the Bulldogs in 2005-06 ... RW J.T. Wyman skated in 216 games for the Bulldogs from 2007 to 2011 ... C Stefan Chaput played 27 games for the Crunch in 2010-11 ... Tokarski made 33 appearances with the Crunch this season

BINGHAMTON SENATORS (Affiliation: Ottawa Senators) - Head Coach: Luke Richardson ... Record: 37-19-1-5, 80 points ... Home: 20-8-1-2, 43 points ... Road: 17-11-0-3, 37 points ... Standings: 2nd East Division ... 4th Eastern Conference ... Leading scorer: C Stephane Da Costa (43 GP 11-21-32) ... Leading goaltender: Nathan Lawson (14 GP 7-4-1, 2.26 GAA, .939 Save %, 1 SO) ... Power play: 42-for-298, 14.1 percent, 26th AHL ... Penalty killing: 44-for-308, 85.7 percent, 5th AHL ... Goals for per game: 3.00, 10th AHL .... Goals against per game: 2.48, 3rd AHL ... Last game: March 16 W 5-1 vs. Norfolk ... Last 10 games: 6-3-0-1 ... The Senators host the Albany Devils on Friday night before facing the Bulldogs ... The Senators are 29th in the AHL in attendance, averaging 3,558 fans per game ... C Derek Grant leads the AHL with five shorthanded goals. He has two goals and two assists for four points in his last four games ... The Senators are 10th in the league in penalty minutes, averaging 19.23 per game ... The Senators are one of five teams to have won at least 20 home games this season. The Toronto Marlies lead the AHL with 23 home-ice wins ... Binghamton is 10-1-0-2 against North Division opponents ... The Senators' home-ice power play ranks 25th in the league with 23 goals in 164 opportunities (14 percent) ... The Senators are 16th in the AHL in killing penalties at home having allowed 24 goals in 150 shorthanded situations for an effectiveness rating of 84 percent ... The Senators lead the league with 16 shorthanded goals ... The Senators allow an average of 35.19 shots per game, most in the league. They take an average of 30.92 shots per game, seventh in the AHL ... Binghamton has 27 wins when leading through 40 minutes, tied with the Rochester Americans for most in the league. Fifteen of those victories have come at home ... C Jean-Gabriel Pageau has recorded nine points, including four goals, over his last 12 games ... D Brett Lebda has registered eight assists in his last 12 games ... G Nathan Lawson has started seven of the Senators' last nine games ... All-time series: 15-7-1-1-1 ... This season: Second of two meetings. The Senators skated to a 3-2 win at Hamilton on March 1 ... First-round NHL picks: D Jared Cowen (Ottawa, 2009), RW Hugh Jessiman (New York Rangers, 2003) ... Connections: Senators G Nathan Lawson played 44 games for the Bulldogs in 2011-12

TRANSACTIONS

March 13 - D Jarred Tinordi recalled by Montreal Canadiens (NHL)

March 13 - D Greg Pateryn returned by Montreal Canadiens (NHL)

March 15 - RW Petteri Nokelainen reassigned by Montreal Canadiens (NHL)

March 15 - D Peter Merth signed to Professional Tryout contract

March 15 - RW Mike Blunden recalled by Montreal Canadiens (NHL)

March 17 - F Tyler Murovich released from Professional Tryout contract

INJURY REPORT

C Blake Geoffrion (depressed skull fracture, November 9th vs. Syracuse at Montreal) is out indefinitely ... C Joonas Nattinen (shoulder, Dec. 28 vs. St. John's) is out indefinitely

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

RW Alexander Avtsin turns 22 on March 19

C Stefan Chaput turned 25 on Monday

PRACTICE/MORNING SKATE SCHEDULE

Monday, March 18: Off Day

Tuesday, March 19: Practice - 11 am (Copps Coliseum)

Wednesday, March 20: Practice - 11 am (Copps Coliseum)

Thursday, March 21: Practice - 12:00 pm (Wave Twin Rinks - Red) Friday, March 22: Morning Skate - 11:15 am (Onondaga County War Memorial) Saturday, March 23: Morning Skate - 11:15 am (Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena) Sunday, March 24: Off Day

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

March 15: at St. John's - IceCaps 5, Bulldogs 0

Mark Dekanich made 23 saves to record his second shutout of the season in a 5-0 win. The IceCaps chased starter Robert Mayer, who was making a third straight start, 8:22 into the game after scoring three goals on their first six shots. Aaron Gagnon opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal at 1:36, Kael Mouillierat followed with a power-play strike at 6:16 and Eric O'Dell made it 3-0 at 8:22. Josh Lunden and Jason Jaffray added second-period goals for the IceCaps who went 2-for-6 on the power play. The Bulldogs, who got 24 saves in relief from Dustin Tokarski, were 0-for-3.

March 16: at St. John's - IceCaps 4, Bulldogs 3

Eric O'Dell scored two goals and added an assist in the third period as the IceCaps rallied to win 4-3. Patrick Holland's eighth goal opened the scoring at 5:52 of the first period and Phillippe Lefebvre followed with his second of the season at 7:58. Raymond Sawada made it 2-1 at 15:47, but Tyler Murovich restored the Bulldogs' two-goal lead with his third goal at 16:51. O'Dell cut the home side's deficit to one at 3:38 of the third, tied the game at 17:53 and Josh Lunden provided the winning goal at 19:32. Mark Dekanich made 16 saves for the IceCaps, who were 0-for-3 on the power play. Nathan Beaulieu earned two assists and Dustin Tokarski faced 36 shots in goal for the Bulldogs were 0-for-2 with the man advantage.

TEAM NOTES The Bulldogs are 13th in the league in attendance, averaging 5,515 fans per game through 31 home dates. The Bulldogs' visits to Syracuse and Binghamton are the last of four straight road games. The Bulldogs return to Copps Coliseum on March 27 for the first of two consecutive dates against the Abbotsford Heat ... The Bulldogs' 4-3 loss at St. John's marked the first time this season that the team had surrendered a lead after two periods. The Bulldogs were the last team in the league to be perfect through 40 minutes ... The Bulldogs are ninth in the AHL in penalty minutes, averaging 19.82 per game ... The Bulldogs are 13-15-1-4 against North Division opponents and 19-22-1-5 against Western Conference foes ... The Bulldogs are 13-7-1-5 in one-goal games ... The Bulldogs, Albany Devils and Springfield Falcons are the only AHL teams yet to win a game in overtime this season. The Bulldogs have only played one game this season that ended in the extra period. They have played eight games settled in shootouts, winning three ... The Bulldogs are 13-4-0-1 when scoring first ... The Bulldogs allow an average of 31.25 shots per game, 23rd in the AHL, while taking an average of 27.90 shots per game, 27th in the league ... The Bulldogs are 13-8-1-1 in games in which they outshoot the opposition ... The Bulldogs are second in the league at killing penalties at home having allowed 14 goals in 133 shorthanded situations for an efficiency rating of 89.5 percent.

PLAYER NEWS C Michael Bournival has four goals and five assists for nine points over his last 13 games ... RW Mike Blunden has been summoned to the Canadiens for the third time this season. He has recorded 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 54 games with the Bulldogs this season ... RW Patrick Holland has contributed eight points, including three goals, over his last nine games ... D Peter Merth had recorded 17 points, including one goal, in 48 games this season with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. Merth, 25, played 119 games with the Nailers over the previous two seasons and also skated in 11 games last season with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins ... RW Petteri Nokelainen has played 245 National Hockey League games over five seasons with the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens. A first-round pick of the Islanders in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Nokelainen scored three goals and added three assists for six points in 51 games last season with the Canadiens and earned one assist in five games with the Coyotes ... F Tyler Murovich contributed three goals and one assist for four points in 18 games ... D Greg Pateryn skated in three games with the Canadiens ... RW Zack Stortini is fifth in the AHL with 203 penalty minutes. Stortini and Zack Fitzgerald, who recorded 256 penalty minutes last season, are the only Bulldogs to register 200 or more penalty minutes since Maxim Lapierre and Peter Vandermeer in 2005-06 ... At the time of his promotion to the Canadiens, D Jarred Tinordi had played 55 games with the Bulldogs, scoring two goals and adding nine assists for 11 points ... C Joey Tenute had a team-high eight-game points run halted in there Bulldogs' opener at St. John's. Tenute had recorded 10 points, including four goals, during the streak ... In nine games with the Bulldogs G Dustin Tokarski has posted four wins, two shutouts, a goals-against average of 1.71 and a .900 save percentage.

BULLDOGS SIGN LEASE EXTENSION, EXTEND AFFILIATION AGREEMENT

The Bulldogs announced March 1 that they have signed a three-year lease extension with Global Spectrum to remain at Copps Coliseum. The Bulldogs have also extended their affiliation agreement with the Montreal Canadiens for three more seasons.

The Bulldogs have played out of Copps Coliseum since 1996-97 making them the seventh longest-tenured club in the AHL behind the Hershey Bears, who began play in 1938-39, Rochester Americans, Providence Bruins, Portland Pirates, Springfield Falcons and Syracuse Crunch. The Bulldogs have been the Canadiens' AHL affiliate since 2002-03 and won the Calder Cup in 2007.

There are currently 40 former Bulldogs on NHL rosters including 12 with the Canadiens.

BULLDOGS 2013-2014 SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE

2013-2014 Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets are on sale now! For as little as $10 per game, you can enjoy the many benefits of being a 'Dogs season ticket holder including reserved seating for all home games at Copps Coliseum, the option to redeem unused tickets for any regular season game, discounts on team merchandise and access to exclusive season ticket holder-only events with the team. As a special bonus, if you become a new season ticket holder by March 30th you'll get tickets to all four of the team's home games in April for free! For more information on how you can join our team by becoming a 'Dogs season ticket holder call 905-529-8500, 1-866-DOGS-TIX or e-mail ticketing@hamiltonbulldogs.com.

BULLDOGS 2013-2014 SEASON TICKET RENEWALS

Season ticket renewals have begun for the 2013-2014 season. To thank fans for supporting the Bulldogs during their first 17 seasons in Hamilton, fans renewing their season tickets by April 30th will be rewarded with two great gifts - a limited edition Hamilton Bulldogs commemorative stick signed by the whole team and a framed and matted team photo autographed by all of the 'Dogs' coaches and players. For more information, contact your account executive. Call 905-529-8500, 1-866-DOGS-TIX or e-mail ticketing@hamiltonbulldogs.com.

BULLDOGS JOIN 'YOU CAN PLAY' PROJECT

The Bulldogs recently become the sixth AHL team to pledge their support to the You Can Play project which is "dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation".

The Bulldogs joined the Manchester Monarchs, Providence Bruins, Peoria Rivermen, Portland Pirates and Toronto Marlies as other AHL teams to have come out in support of You Can Play, a non-profit organization begun by former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke and his son Patrick to fight homophobia in sports in memory of Brendan Burke, Brian's son and Patrick's brother, who was killed in a car accident in 2010.

The Bulldogs' You Can Play project video can be seen on the club's official YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/bulldogstube

Bulldogs' personnel shown in the video in order of appearance are Kyle Hagel, Zack Stortini, president Stephen Ostaszewicz, play-by-play announcer Derek Wills, Frederic St-Denis, Robert Mayer, Joey Tenute, Gabriel Dumont, Louis Leblanc, Jason DeSantis, head coach Sylvain Lefebvre and Nathan Beaulieu.

For more information on you can play, please visit www.youcanplayproject.org

BRUISER'S BUDDIES KID'S CLUB

Do you have a young Bulldogs fan in your life who is also a big fan of Bruiser, the best mascot in the AHL? Then Bruiser's Kid's Club is for you.

Membership is $15 per child (ages 13 and under) and includes the following:

- An exclusive Bruiser's Buddies Kid's Club t-shirt

- One blue ticket to each of the Bulldogs' Kid's Club games:

- Sat. March 9 at 7 p.m. vs. Peoria Rivermen

- Fri. April 19 at 7:30 p.m. vs. St. John's IceCaps

- (Extra tickets for these games are available for $12 each)

- Official 2012-13 game puck

- Set of 2011-12 Bulldogs hockey cards

For more information or to register contact Brianne Whitty at 905-777-2368 or via email at brianne.whitty@hamiltonbulldogs.com

2013 BULLDOGS SUMMER HOCKEY CAMP

The Bulldogs will be running a summer hockey camp at the Mohawk 4 Ice Centre in Hamilton from July 29 to August 2. The full-day camp is for kids between the ages of 7-13 and will feature guest appearances by current members of the Bulldogs' coaching staff and current and former Bulldogs players.

For more information contact Brianne Whitty at 905-777-2368 or via email at brianne.whitty@hamiltonbulldogs.com

BULLDOGS MERCHANDISE

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.

THE BULLDOGS ON THE AIR

Fans can listen to and watch all 'Dogs games on www.hamiltonbulldogs.com. Live coverage with the team of play-by-play broadcaster Derek Wills (all home and away games) and colour commentator Al Craig (all home and select away games) will begin with the Pioneer Pre-Game Show 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS ON AHL LIVE

All Bulldogs games are broadcast on AHL Live where fans can take advantage of mid-season pricing. Every AHL game, including archived games, is available for $189.99. All remaining Bulldogs home and away games are available with a team pass, which also includes archived games, for $99.99 and Bulldogs road games only are available with an away pass, which also includes archived games, for $59.99.

For more information visit www.AHLLive.com.

STAY CONNECTED WITH THE BULLDOGS

Fans can follow the Bulldogs online and watch game highlights, behind-the-scenes video and get breaking news and feature stories at HamiltonBulldogs.com. Fans can get the latest Bulldogs news and information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bulldogsAHL and follow play-by-play broadcaster Derek Wills at www.twitter.com/dogsplaybyplay.

Fans can "Like" the Bulldogs' official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hamiltonbulldogs and see game highlights and other video features at the Bulldogs' official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/bulldogstube.

Fans can become 'Dogs Insiders by texting "Dogs" to 360-360 for text message alerts and offers. The Bullodgs also run contests every home game, both on social media and at Copps Coliseum, where fans can text a keyword and be eligible to win tickets to an upcoming Bulldogs game!

Do you have a favourite song you'd like to hear at a 'Dogs game? Tweet your request during the third period to www.twitter.com/bulldogsAHL using the hashtag #DogsTrax.

Fans can also converse with Bulldogs staff via Twitter during the game. The 'Dogs will also be looking to connect with their fans with contests, challenges or questions!

TICKET INFORMATION

2013-2014 Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets are on sale now. For as little as $10 per game, you can enjoy the many benefits of being a 'Dogs season ticket holder including reserved seating for all home games at Copps Coliseum, the option to redeem unused tickets for any regular season game, discounts on team merchandise and access to exclusive season ticket holder-only events with the team. Convenient payment plans are available.

For more information on how to join our team by becoming a Hamilton Bulldogs season ticket holder, or for more information on Pioneer Flex Pack tickets or group tickets, call 905-529-8500 or 1-866-DOGS-TIX, e-mail ticketing@hamiltonbulldogs.com or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com. 'Dogs single-game tickets are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster Outlet, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or by calling 905-529-8500 or 1-866-DOGS-TIX.



American Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2013


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