ST. JOHN’S, NL. — In this exclusive IceCaps Report series, we will feature 30 players which may call Mile One Centre home at some point this season leading up to puck drop in the fall. You will also be interested in our St. John’s IceCaps Projected Lineup for 2015-16.
In alphabetical order our first feature is Sven Andrighetto. The Zurich, Switzerland native is no stranger to offense. After playing competitively through the junior and pro ranks in his home country, Andrighetto moved over the North America for a chance at one day playing in the NHL. Signing with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL.
Andrighetto had a breakout campaign in 2011-12 with 74 points (36G – 38A) in 62 games played. He followed that up with an even better sophomore year finishing sixth in scoring in the “Q” posting 98 points (31G-67A) in 53 games played. To put that in perspective his 1.85 pt/g clip was good for fourth in the league, a tick behind Jonathan Drouin (2.14), Nikita Kucherov (1.91) and a shade ahead of 2013-14 Calder Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon (1.70).
Andrighetto knows how to light the lamp but how he projected into the pro ranks remained to be seen as at 5-foot-9 and 183 pounds, he’s not necessarily terrorizing opposing defensemen on the boards. In his rookie season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Sven posted a respectable 17 goals and 27 assists in 64 games played.
Finally in 2014-15 Andrighetto found himself at the Bell Centre splitting the season between the Canadiens and the Bulldogs. On December 6th, 2014 in Dallas, Andrighetto managed to score on his first and only shot of the game, he would go on to add a goal and an assist in the next two games, however that would be all he would manage before being sent down to the Bulldogs nine games later. He finished the season with 14 goals and 29 assists in Hamilton.
Andrighetto doesn’t figure to be a shutdown guy, or a physical third liner. His potential with the Canadiens is strictly a top-6 role, and it is entirely up to him to determine how far he goes within the organization. At this point we have him slotted to play on the IceCaps top two lines filling the RW roles with rookie Nikita Scherbak. If he goes on to play the entire season in St. John’s fans can expect him to lead the way offensively. However if the Habs run into injury problems early-on, won’t be long before the brass give him another chance to shine in La Belle Province.
Brandon McNally (Photo by Valley News - Tris Wykes)
IceCaps Sign Forward Brandon McNally
Dartmouth College Product Completed 2014-15 Season in Hamilton
Brandon McNally (Photo by Valley News – Tris Wykes)
St. John’s IceCaps Media Release
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – Montreal Canadiens and St. John’s IceCaps General Manager Marc Bergevin announced today the IceCaps have signed forward Brandon McNally to a one-year American Hockey League contract for the 2015-16 season.
Originally signed in March to a professional try out contract with the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Hamilton, McNally recorded three points (two goals, one assist) and eight penalty minutes in 11 games.
In 105 career NCAA games with Dartmouth College from 2011 to 2015, the 6-2, 215-pound forward recorded 65 points (31 goals, 34 assists) and 196 penalty minutes. Before college, the Saugus, Mass. native played at Belmont Hill School in Belmont, Mass.
IceCaps season tickets are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Mile One Centre box office (noon-5 p.m.), by phone at 709-576-7657 (noon-5:30 p.m.), or online at www.mileonecentre.com
MONTREAL, QUE. – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs general manager Marc Bergevin announced today the following injury updates on forwards Sven Andrighetto and Gabriel Dumont as well as defenceman Jarred Tinordi.
Sven Andrighetto
Suffered upper body injury on April 18 – out 1-2 weeks
Gabriel Dumont
Broken foot – out 4-6 weeks
Jarred Tinordi
Underwent wrist surgery on April 20 – out 2-3 months
HAMILTON, ON — Well, after 19 years, AHL hockey in Hamilton is now over.
The Hamilton Bulldogs finished their regular season in a shootout at the FirstOntario Centre on Saturday night against the Lake Erie Monsters in front of 10,326 loud fans. It was an exciting game, but the Bulldogs came up short in their first shootout of the season.
The match marked the final game of AHL hockey in the City, as the team is relocating to St. John’s, Newfoundland for the 2015-16 season.
The Lake Erie Monsters opened the scoring with a goal from Cody Corbett who tucked the puck behind Bulldogs goaltender Brandon Whitney.
Shortly after the Corbett goal, the Bulldogs got one back to tie the game courtesy of Eric Tangradi.
The Bulldogs entered the first intermission tied, 1-1, with the Monsters. However, the second period would see much more action.
In the middle frame, TJ Hensick buried his 19th goal of the season giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. But then the Monsters responded on the power play after Stefan Fournier went off for too-many men and Stefan Elliott notched the tying goal.
Lake Erie’s goal scoring did not end there, as they regained the lead.
Freddie Hamilton scored his 11th goal of the 2014-15 campaign on the power-play just after the Monsters tied the game.
At this point, the Bulldogs were really pressing hard for a tying goal, but they finished the period down by one after forty minutes of play.
The Bulldogs were able to tie the game about five minutes into the frame with Christian Thomas blasting one by Calvin Pickard after a nice pass from Sven Andrighetto.
The Bulldogs and Monsters did not find the score sheet in the final exciting 15 minutes of the period, which saw several chances at both ends of the ice, so 60 minutes was not enough and the game needed an overtime period.
The overtime period did not have a goal scorer, but let me tell you this: That overtime period was the entertaining seven minutes of hockey I have watched this season. The Bulldogs had over five chances to end the game in overtime but Pickard stopped everything, including a sprawling glove save. It’s unfortunate, the game needed to be decided in the shootout, where the Monsters came out on top.
2014-15 AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE ALL-ROOKIE TEAM NAMED
(Photo by Hamilton Bulldogs)
American Hockey League Media Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League has announced the 2014-15 AHL All-Rookie Team, as voted by coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 member cities.
2014-15 AHL All-Rookie Team (stats through Apr. 7) Goaltender – Matt Murray, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (37gp, 23-9-3, 1.54gaa, .941sv%, 11so) Defenseman – Ville Pokka, Rockford IceHogs (64gp, 8+22=30pts., +2, 5 PPG) Defenseman – Ryan Pulock, Bridgeport Sound Tigers (48gp, 17+9=26pts., -5, 13 PPG, 3 GWG) Forward – Viktor Arvidsson, Milwaukee Admirals (66gp, 19+32=51pts., +4, 250 SOG, 7 PPG) Forward – Connor Brown, Toronto Marlies (70gp, 18+39=57pts., +20, 6 GWG) Forward – Charles Hudon, Hamilton Bulldogs (71gp, 17+38=55pts., +9, 3 GWG)
Each player will receive a custom-designed crystal award in recognition of his selection to the 2014-15 AHL All-Rookie Team.
The 2014-15 First and Second AHL All-Star Teams will be announced on Thursday.
2014-15 AHL All-Rookie Team
Matt Murray, Goaltender (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins):
A third-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 2012, Matt Murray has rewritten the American Hockey League’s record book this season. Entering Wednesday’s action, Murray is 23-9-3 in 37 appearances for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while leading the league with a 1.54 goals-against average, a .941 save percentage and 11 shutouts, more than any other rookie goaltender in AHL history. From Feb. 8 to Mar. 8, Murray held Penguins opponents off the scoreboard for 304 minutes and 11 seconds, the longest shutout streak by a goaltender in the AHL’s 79-year history. The 20-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ont., has been named CCM/AHL Player of the Week twice and was CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month in both February and March.
Ville Pokka, Defense (Rockford IceHogs):
Acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 4, 2014, as part of the trade that sent Nick Leddy to the New York Islanders, Ville Pokka has excelled in his first season of North American hockey, helping Rockford secure a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time in five years. Pokka has tallied eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points in 64 games for the IceHogs and solidified a blue-line corps that lost all-stars Adam Clendening and T.J. Brennan to mid-season trades. The 20-year-old Pokka was a second-round draft choice by the Islanders in 2012 and was a gold medalist representing his native Finland at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships.
Ryan Pulock, Defense (Bridgeport Sound Tigers):
Selected 15th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Ryan Pulock has been limited by injury to 48 games for Bridgeport this season but still ranks second among all AHL defensemen with 17 goals – most ever in a season by a Sound Tigers blueliner – and second among all AHL skaters with 13 power-play markers. Pulock has added nine assists for 26 points while also amassing just six penalty minutes. A 20-year-old native of Dauphin, Man., Pulock was an East First Team All-Star in the Western Hockey League in 2011-12 and 2013-14 playing for Brandon.
Viktor Arvidsson, Forward (Milwaukee Admirals):
Milwaukee’s leading scorer with 51 points (19 goals, 32 assists) in 66 games played this season,Viktor Arvidsson was selected by Nashville in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft after winning back-to-back championships with his hometown Skelleftea AIK in the Swedish Hockey League. The AHL leader in shots on goal with 250, Arvidsson recorded a hat trick in just his fourth career AHL game (Oct. 18 at Iowa) and was later named CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month in January after notching 13 points in 12 games. Arvidsson, who turns 22 today, made his NHL debut with the Predators on Mar. 21 in a game against Buffalo.
Connor Brown, Forward (Toronto Marlies):
Toronto native Connor Brown is the AHL’s rookie leader in assists (39) and points (57) and also owns a plus-20 rating, tied for first among all rookie forwards in the league. A sixth-round draft pick by the Maple Leafs in 2012, Brown has scored six game-winning goals and has been assessed just four minor penalties while skating in all 70 games for the Marlies to date. The 21-year-old Brown was the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month for December, and participated in the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic in January. Prior to turning pro, Brown captured the Ontario Hockey League’s most outstanding player award and won a scoring title with Erie last season.
Charles Hudon, Forward (Hamilton Bulldogs):
Hamilton forward Charles Hudon has tallied 17 goals and 38 assists for 55 points in 71 games this season, good for second on the Bulldogs and second among all AHL rookies in scoring. Montreal’s fifth-round selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Hudon was named the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month after tallying 14 points in 12 games during November, and was co-winner of the 2015 AHL All-Star Game MVP award after notching a hat trick and four points in the Western Conference’s victory. The 20-year-old native of Alma, Que., played four junior seasons in the QMJHL and was named that league’s offensive rookie of the year in 2010-11.
CANADIENS RE-ASSIGN TIM BOZON TO BULLDOGS
Habs’ third-round pick in 2012 had 63 points in 57 games with WHL Kootenay this season
(Photo by Hamilton Bulldogs)
Hamilton Bulldogs Press Release
MONTREAL, QUE. – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs general manager Marc Bergevin announced today the Canadiens have re-assigned forward Tim Bozon to the Bulldogs from the Western Hockey League’s Kootenay Ice.
In 57 regular season games with Kootenay this season, Bozon recorded 63 points (35 goals, 28 assists) and 19 penalty minutes. The 6-1, 196-pound forward added nine points (three goals, six assists) and six penalty minutes in seven post-season games before Kootenay was eliminated from the WHL playoffs this week.
In 260 career WHL regular season games with the Ice and Kamloops Blazers, the St. Louis, Mo.-born forward recorded 294 points (140 goals, 154 assists) and 164 penalty minutes.
Bozon was selected by the Canadiens in the third round (64th overall) in the 2012 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The 21-year-old was signed by the Canadiens to an entry-level contract on May 30, 2013.
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Friday, April 10 when they’ll visit the Texas Stars at Cedar Park Center in Cedar Park, Texas at 8:30 p.m. ET. The ‘Dogs will return home for their final AHL regular season game on Fan Appreciation Night, Saturday, April 18, when they’ll host the Lake Erie Monsters at FirstOntario Centre at 7 p.m.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs flex tickets, group tickets, single-game tickets and 2015-16 season tickets, call 1-866-DOGS-TIX or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.
Listen to all Bulldogs regular season and post-season games live on Hamilton’s AM 900 CHML, on www.900chml.com or watch live on www.ahllive.com. Catch every Friday night home game live in high definition on Cable 14.
CANADIENS RE-ASSIGN BRETT LERNOUT TO BULLDOGS
Habs’ third-round pick in 2014 had 42 points in 72 games with WHL Swift Current this season
(Photo by Hamilton Bulldogs)
MONTREAL, QUE. – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs general manager Marc Bergevin announced today the Canadiens have re-assigned defenceman Brett Lernout to the Bulldogs from the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos.
In 72 regular season games with Swift Current this season, Lernout recorded 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists) and 68 penalty minutes. The 6-4, 206-pound defenceman added one goal and four penalty minutes in four post-season games before Swift Current was eliminated from the WHL playoffs this week.
In 205 career WHL regular season games with the Broncos and Saskatoon Blades, the Winnipeg, Man. native has recorded 66 points (23 goals, 43 assists) and 214 penalty minutes.
Lernout was selected by the Canadiens in the third round (73rd overall) in the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The 19-year-old was signed by the Canadiens to an entry-level contract on Dec. 19, 2014.
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Saturday, April 4 when they’ll host the Utica Comets at FirstOntario Centre at 7 p.m.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs flex tickets, group tickets, single-game tickets and 2015-16 season tickets, call 1-866-DOGS-TIX or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.
Listen to all Bulldogs regular season and post-season games live on Hamilton’s AM 900 CHML, on www.900chml.com or watch live on www.ahllive.com. Catch every Friday night home game live in high definition on Cable 14.
BULLDOGS ASSIGN MAKOWSKI, PALAZZESE TO NAILERS
Makowski has appeared in seven games with ‘Dogs this season
(Photo by Hamilton Bulldogs)
MONTREAL, QUE. – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs general manager Marc Bergevin announced today the Bulldogs have assigned defenceman David Makowski and goaltender Frank Palazzese to the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers.
In his first year as a pro, Makowski has split this season between the Bulldogs and Nailers. In seven games with Hamilton, the 6-1, 205-pound defenceman has recorded no points and two penalty minutes. In 38 games with Wheeling, the St. Louis, Mo. native has recorded 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) and 53 penalty minutes. Before turning pro, Makowski spent four seasons (2010 to 2014) with the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s University of Denver Pioneers. In 142 career games with the University of Denver, the 25-year-old recorded 93 points (27 goals, 66 assists) and 169 penalty minutes. Hamilton signed Makowski to a one-year contract on June 18, 2014.
In 37 games with Wheeling this season, Palazzese has a record of 17-18-1 with a 2.95 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and one shutout. He was last recalled by the Bulldogs on March 23 and served as backup for three games. Before turning pro this season, the 21-year-old played five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League. In 175 career OHL regular season games with the Sudbury Wolves, Kitchener Rangers and Kingston Frontenacs from 2009 to 2014, the 6-1, 175-pound goaltender had a record of 71-69-26 with a 3.13 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and seven shutouts. The Toronto, Ont. native signed a one-year, two-way American Hockey League / ECHL contract with the Bulldogs on Oct. 7, 2014.
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Saturday, April 4 when they’ll host the Utica Comets at FirstOntario Centre at 7 p.m.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs flex tickets, group tickets, single-game tickets and 2015-16 season tickets, call 1-866-DOGS-TIX or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.
Listen to all Bulldogs regular season and post-season games live on Hamilton’s AM 900 CHML, on www.900chml.com or watch live on www.ahllive.com. Catch every Friday night home game live in high definition on Cable 14.
By Dale Lamontagne, Hamilton Bulldogs Correspondent, Bulldogs Hockey Report
HAMILTON, ON – The Hamilton Bulldogs playoff race took a little detour on Thursday night, as the Chicago Wolves defeated the ‘Dogs 4-2 at the FirstOntario Centre.
Midway through the first period, the Wolves scored after a shot from the blueline deflected off the backboard and Magnus Paajarvi tapped in the loose puck behind Mike Condon. The ‘Dogs were not able to get on the board in the first period, and trailed the Wolves 1-0.
In the middle frame, the Wolves made it 2-0.
Forward Paajarvi deked around a Bulldog defenceman shooting the puck on net, where he was able score his second goal of the night.
The Bulldogs night continued to go downhill five-minutes into the third period, as Chicago went up 3-0.
Shane Harper extended the Wolve’s lead to 3-0 after he sniped the puck over Condon’s shoulder.
The Bulldogs, however, showed a little bit of life.
Just about half way into the third, T.J. Hensick put the Bulldogs on the board with a backhand shot that beat Matt Climie glove side.
However, Chicago got a goal back quick.
The Wolves made it 4-1 on the power-play during a two-on-one, with Pat Cannone tapping the puck in.
With 3:00 minutes to go, Charles Hudon shot Darren Dietz’s rebound out of mid air and over Climie’s glove side to cut the Wolves lead in half. It was a very pretty goal, but it would not be enough for the ‘Dogs as they fell to the Wolves.
DAVIS DREWISKE NAMED BULLDOGS’ 2014-15 IOA/AMERICAN SPECIALTY AHL MAN OF THE YEAR
30-year-old defenceman acknowledged for exemplary community involvement
Hamilton Bulldogs Media Release
HAMILTON, ONT. – The Hamilton Bulldogs are proud to announce that Davis Drewiske has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Hamilton community during the 2014-15 season.
Over the course of this hockey season, Drewiske has been a leader among his teammates off the ice with his proactive approach to community involvement. Most notably, the Bulldogs defenceman took it upon himself to initiate a reading program in Hamilton-area schools in October. He visited schools throughout the year to discuss the virtues of reading, education and hard work. The University of Wisconsin alumnus encouraged students to ask questions and provided a positive influence to the children by promoting the value of staying in school.
Beyond Drewiske’s season-long reading program, he also took on a leading role in several other team community functions. He played road hockey with a group of fans as part of a team-initiated contest, engaged with fans during community practices and public skates, sang carols to sick children during a hospital visit during the holiday season, visited a class of underprivileged kids to answer questions, chat about hockey and give out gifts and snacks (aside from the reading program), started off the annual ‘Bowling with the Dawgs’ charity event with a heart-felt, impromptu thank-you speech to attendees, and acted as de facto MC in addition to greeting patrons and serving food at an ‘At Your Service’ charity fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings.
Drewiske is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL’s 2014-15 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honouring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League later this month.
The Bulldogs will be back in action tonight when they’ll host the Chicago Wolves at FirstOntario Centre at 7:30 p.m.
For more information on Hamilton Bulldogs flex tickets, group tickets, single-game tickets and 2015-16 season tickets, call 1-866-DOGS-TIX or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.
Listen to all Bulldogs regular season and post-season games live on Hamilton’s AM 900 CHML, on www.900chml.com or watch live on www.ahllive.com. Catch every Friday night home game live in high definition on Cable 14.
