Hamilton Bulldogs

Pro hockey team | CAN_eng = 1|
text_color = #082567
bg_color = #DC141c
team = Hamilton Bulldogs

logosize = 200px
city = Hamilton, Ontario
league = American Hockey League
conference = Western Conference
division = North Division
founded = 1996
arena = Copps Coliseum
colors = Red, Blue, White
owner = Michael Andlauer
coach = Don Lever
GM = Julien Brisebois
media = Hamilton Spectator,820 CHAM (AM)
affiliates = Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
name1 = Nova Scotia Oilers
Cape Breton Oilers
dates1 = 1984 to 1988
1988 to 1996
name2 = "Hamilton Bulldogs"
Toronto Roadrunners
dates2 = "1996 to 2003"
2003 to 2004
name3 = Edmonton Road Runners
dates3 = 2004 to 2005
name4 = Montreal Voyageurs
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
dates4 = 1969 to 1971
1971 to 1984
name5 = Sherbrooke Canadiens
Fredericton Canadiens
dates5 = 1984–1990
1990–1999
name6 = Quebec Citadelles
Hamilton Bulldogs
dates6 = 1999 to 2002
2002 to present
reg_season_titles = 1 (2002–03)
division_titles = 2 (2002–03, 2003–04)
conf_titles = 3 (1996–97, 2002–03, 2006–07)
calder_cups = 1 (2006–07)The Hamilton Bulldogs are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the primary minor league affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens. The team was the 2007 Calder Cup champions.

History

The Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Club was established in 1996.

On the ice the club has reached the Calder Cup Finals both in 1997, the club's first year, and in 2003 only to lose in both cases. In the 2003 final, game 7, the attendance at Copps Coliseum on June 12, 2003 vs the Houston Aeros was 17,428 marking it the largest playoff crowd in the history of the AHL (the record was since broken in 2005 in Philadelphia). Houston won the game 3–0 and the series 4–3. The Bulldogs won the Calder Cup Final in 2007 against the Hershey Bears. This series was a rematch of the 1997 Calder Cup Final which Hershey won 4 games to 1. The Bulldogs did the exact opposite in 2007 - Hamilton 4 games, and Hershey 1.

Off the ice, the club faced turmoil in 2000 resulting, in a "Stay Dogs Stay" campaign spearheaded by Don Robertson, Ron Burnstein, Nick Javor and club President Cary Kaplan, aimed at keeping the franchise in Hamilton. The campaign was a financial success and resulted in the club remaining in the Steel City with a bolstered fan base and an improved lease with the City of Hamilton.

In spite of a franchise high in attendance in 2001, the Edmonton Oilers announced plans to move their AHL affiliation to Toronto. Local interests made a multi-million dollar investment to secure ownership of the Quebec Citadelles and relocate them to Hamilton thus keeping the Bulldogs in town. For the second time in as many years, the fate of the club was in jeopardy, but ultimately rescued by local interests. The achievement to preserve the franchise was a unique joint venture between the Montreal Canadiens, the Edmonton Oilers, the American Hockey League, and a local consortium of Hamilton owners, which allowed for a joint affiliation in 2002–2003 between Montreal and Edmonton as ownership changed hands. Fans voted to keep the Bulldogs name which won over the Hamilton Canadiens and Hamilton Habs.

In the summer of 2004, Burlington businessman Michael Andlauer became majority owner, governor and chairman of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Andlauer was part of the initial group of local business people, who purchased the club from the Edmonton Oilers in 2002.

In their 11th season The Bulldogs are currently the longest serving Canadian franchise in the American Hockey League. With having well surpassed the two million (2,000,000) mark in total attendance, the Bulldogs have for a number of years represented a model minor league hockey organization both on and off the ice.

In 2007, the Hamilton Bulldogs won their first Calder Cup by defeating the Hershey Bears in a 4–1 series. It is their first Calder Cup win in three attempts. In 2008, the Hamilton Bulldogs failed to reach the postseason.

Key Executives:
*Glen Sather, President 1996–2000
*Scott Howson, General Manager, 1996–2002
*Cary Kaplan, President 2000–2002 (with club from 1996)
*Steve Katzman, President, 2002–2003
*Brian Lewis, Exec. Director 2003–2006 (with club from 1997)
*Glenn Stanford, President, 2006-Current
*Michael Andlauer, 2002-Current - has been the principal owner of the club since assuming controlling interest in 2004. He has provided a stabalizing force for the franchise.

This market was previously served by:
*Hamilton Canucks (1992 to 1994)

Franchise timelines

List of timelines for the two separate franchises known as the Hamilton Bulldogs.

;Edmonton Oilers
*Nova Scotia Oilers (1984–1988)
*Cape Breton Oilers (1988–1996)
*Hamilton Bulldogs (1996–2003)
*Toronto Roadrunners (2003–2004)
*Edmonton Road Runners (2004–2005)

;Montreal Canadiens
*Montreal Voyageurs (1969–1971)
*Nova Scotia Voyageurs (1971–1984)
*Sherbrooke Canadiens (1984–1990)
*Fredericton Canadiens (1990–1999)
*Quebec Citadelles (1999–2002)
*Hamilton Bulldogs (2002-present)

Current roster

As of July 1, 2008 [http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/index.php?module=page&id=1000]

eason-by-season results

* 1996–2003 Edmonton Oilers affiliation
* 2002-Present Montreal Canadiens affiliation

Regular season

Playoffs

Team records

ingle season

:Goals: 39 Paul Healey (2000–01):Assists: 52 Daniel Cleary (1999–2000):Points: 77 Jason Chimera (2001–02):Penalty Minutes: 522 Dennis Bonvie (1996–97):GAA: 2.10 Jaroslav Halak (2007–08):SV%: .929 Steve Passmore (1998–99) & Jaroslav Halak (2007–08)

Playoffs

:Playoff Goaltending Wins (1 Season): 15 Carey Price (2006–2007)

Career

:Career Goals: 85 Corey Locke:Career Assists: 144 Corey Locke:Career Points: 229 Corey Locke:Career Penalty Minutes: 817 Dennis Bonvie:Career Goaltending Wins: 81 Yann Danis:Career Shutouts: 11 Jaroslav Halak:Career Games: 346 Duncan Milroy

Team captains

*flagicon|CAN Terran Sandwith 1996–98
*flagicon|CAN Jeff Daw 1998–99
*flagicon|CAN Rob Murray 1999–2000
*flagicon|CAN Scott Ferguson 2000–01
*flagicon|CAN Alain Nasreddine 2001–02
*flagicon|CAN Benoit Gratton 2002–04
*flagicon|CAN Jason Ward 2004–05
*flagicon|CAN Dan Smith 2005–06
*None 2006–07
*flagicon|CAN Ajay Baines 2007-present

Head coaches

*flagicon|CAN Lorne Molleken 1996–98
*flagicon|USA Walt Kyle 1998–2000
*flagicon|CAN Claude Julien 2000–03
*flagicon|CAN Geoff Ward 2003
*flagicon|CAN Doug Jarvis 2003–05
*flagicon|CAN Don Lever 2005-present

ee also

*List of ice hockey teams in Ontario

External links

* [http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com Hamilton Bulldogs Official Website]
* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=791 The Internet Hockey Database - Hamilton Bulldogs]