Montreal Mathieu Biron from San Jose for Patrick Traverse

December 15, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


MONTREAL, QC - The Montreal Canadiens announced today the acquisition of defenceman Mathieu Biron from the San Jose Sharks, in return for blueliner Patrick Traverse. Biron will join the Hamilton Bulldogs in Rochester tonight while Traverse will report to the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League.

Biron, 26, is currently the AHL's fourth leading scorer among defenceman, posting 18 points (3-15-18) and 42 penalty minutes in 24 games with the Worcester Sharks after signing with San Jose as a free agent on August 9th, 2006. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound defenceman played 52 games with the Washington Capitals last season, recording 13 points (4-9-13) and 50 penalty minutes.

A native of Lac St-Charles, Quebec, Biron has played six full seasons in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders (1999 to 2001), the Tampa Bay Lightning (2001-02), the Florida Panthers (2002-04) and the Washington Capitals (2005-06). In 253 career NHL regular season games, the first-round pick (21st overall) of the Los Angeles Kings in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft has registered 44 points (12-32-44) and 177 penalty minutes.

Traverse, 32, was acquired through waivers by Montreal from San Jose on September 28th, 2006 and has appeared in 26 games with Hamilton this season, recording five points (1-4-5) and 10 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-4, 203-pound defenceman has 65 points (14-51-65) and 113 penalty minutes in 279 career NHL regular season games with the Ottawa Senators (1995 to 2000), the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (2000-01), the Boston Bruins (2000-01), the Montreal Canadiens (2000 to 2003) and the Dallas Stars (2005-06).

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Traverse was in his second stint with the Hamilton Bulldogs after playing 80 games and collecting 26 points (5-21-26) and 31 penalty minutes in the 2003-04 AHL season. In 106 career games as a Bulldog, Traverse accumulated 31 points (6-25-31) and 41 penalty minutes.

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League is the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. Over 80 percent of NHL players are AHL graduates, and more than 350 AHL players were recalled to the NHL during the 2005-2006 season alone.

The Bulldogs return to action at 7:35 p.m. tonight (Friday, December 15th) when they travel to Rochester to take on the Americans at Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial. Fans can listen to every 'Dogs game this season on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM "The Legend," beginning with the Park's Furniture Pre-Game Show 20 minutes prior to each scheduled game time. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the 'B2 Networks' or '820 CHAM' icon on the 'Dogs website.

The 'Dogs next home game is on Friday, December 22nd at Copps Coliseum against the Albany River Rats at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for all 'Dogs home games (except home game #32) are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster outlet, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or through charge-by-phone at 905-527-7666.



American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2006


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