Three More 'Dogs Grads Go to World Championships

Published on May 7, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


Former Hamilton Bulldogs forwards Mikhail Grabovski, Andrei Kostitsyn and Sergei Kostitsyn have been added to Belarus' roster for the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in Quebec City, Quebec and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Grabovski and the Kostitsyn brothers elected to join Belarus at the I.I.H.F. World Championships after the Montreal Canadiens were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday, May 3.

With the addition of the three players, there are now 11 ex-Hamilton Bulldogs representing their respective countries at the I.I.H.F World Championships. With forwards Mikhail Grabovski, Andrei Kostitsyn, Sergei Kostitsyn and defenceman Alexander Zhurik, Belarus leads the way with four ‘Dogs grads on their roster. Canada has the second-most former Hamilton Bulldogs with two - forward Jason Chimera and goaltender Mathieu Garon. The Czech Republic (Jan Hejda), France (Christobal Huet), Latvia (Raitis Ivanans), Slovakia (Marcel Hossa) and the United States of America (Tim Thomas) each have one ex-‘Dog on their roster. Latvian forward Raitis Ivanans, who skated for the ‘Dogs from 2004-2006, leads the tournament with 27 penalty minutes in two games while Belarusian forward Andrei Kostitsyn, who competed for the Hamilton Bulldogs from 2004-2007, is third in penalty minutes with 12 in one game. United States of America goaltender Tim Thomas, who played for the ‘Dogs in 1998-1999, is tied for the tournament lead in wins (2) and shutouts (1), is fourth in goals against average (1.50) and sixth in save percentage (.925).

Below is a complete list of Hamilton Bulldogs graduates on the roster of a team at the 2008 I.I.H.F.'s World Championships.

HAMILTON BULLDOGS GRADUATES' STATISTICS - I.I.H.F. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Through games on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008)

BELARUS (4 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates) Mikhail Grabovski - F (1 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM) Andrei Kostitsyn - F (1 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 12 PIM) Sergei Kostitsyn - F (1 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, E, 0 PIM) Alexander Zhurik - D (2 GP - 1 G, 0 A, 1 P, -3, 2 PIM)

CANADA (2 Hamilton Bulldogs graduates) Jason Chimera - F (3 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, +1, 4 PIM) Mathieu Garon - G (0 GP - 0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, .000 SV%, 0 SO)

CZECH REPUBLIC (1 Hamilton Bulldogs graduate) Jan Hejda - D (3 GP - 1 G, 0 A, 1 P, +2, 0 PIM)

FRANCE (1 Hamilton Bulldogs graduate) Christobal Huet - G (2 GP - 0-2-0, 5.10 GAA, .887 SV%, 0 SO)

LATVIA (1 Hamilton Bulldogs graduate) Raitis Ivanans - F (3 GP - 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, -4, 29 PIM)

SLOVAKIA (1 Hamilton Bulldogs graduate) Marcel Hossa - F (2 GP - 1 G, 1 A, 2 P, +2, 2 PIM)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (1 Hamilton Bulldogs graduate) Tim Thomas - G (3 GP - 2-0-0, 1.50 GAA, .925 SV%, 1 SO)

Currently in its 72nd season of play, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 83 percent of today's NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 6 million fans have attended AHL games across North America in each of the past six seasons.

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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American Hockey League Stories from May 7, 2008


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