Categories
Prospect news

Habs Audette Named to QMJHL Subway Series Roster

Daniel Audette (Photo by La Presse)
Daniel Audette (Photo by La Presse)

MONTREAL, QC. — Earlier today, the QMJHL announced their roster for the upcoming CHL vs Russia Subway Super Series. Making the roster is Montreal Canadiens prospect Daniel Audette who plays for the Sherbrooke Phoenix. In the current season, the Phoenix’s Audette has four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in nine games, he has eight penalty minutes meanwhile being a minus-3 so far.

The CHL has been facing off against Russia in a Super Series since 2003, the series was first called the RE/Max Canada-Russia Challenge. Then from 2004 to 2008 it was called the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge. Since then it has had its current name.

Overall since 2003 the CHL has dominated the series, beating Russia a combined 49 to 23 throughout the WHL, OHL and QMJHL. The CHL has scored 289 total goals meanwhile they have given up 188. This series gives organizations, fans and everyone a chance to see some of the top young junior players in the world play against each other.

Daniel Audette:

Montreal Canadiens prospect Daniel Audette has been named to the QMJHL roster for the tournament, Audette is a smaller stature forward who uses his deceptive speed and hands to beat his opponents.

“His bloodlines and elusiveness put the undersized Audette on scout’s radar because of his skill,speed and heart. His skating base, and lower body strength make him strong on the puck and a guy who plays big and is a scoring threat at a moment’s notice. Reads the ice and can handle the puck at his top gear, but also he can go laterally with sharp cuts and stop/starts to get loose. His vision allows him to slip away and act on the room he has made for himself, as he passes the puck extremely well and also works hard in his own end back checking. Looks like a good long term selection who may help a team down the road. “ – Draft year scouting report from Bill Placzek

Audette has only got better this season, he continues to use his very strong passing ability and vision to succeed, Audette has continue to work on his defensive game where he works hard to maintain good positioning to not allow his man to beat him.

QMJHL Roster (With NHL drafted team):

Forwards:

Anthony Richard – Nashville Predators

Joey Ratelle “A” – Undrafted

Clark Bishop “A” – Carolina Hurricanes

Julien Gauthier – 2016 Eligible

Julien Nantel – Colorado Avalanche

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – Philadelphia Flyers

Pierre-Luc Dubois – 2016 Eligible

Jean-Christophe Beaudin – Colorado Avalanche

Francis Perron – Ottawa Senators

Daniel Audette – Montreal Canadiens

Maxim Fortier 2016 Eligible

Nicolas Roy – Carolina Hurricanes

Anthony Beauvillier “A” – New York Islanders

Defenseman:

Olivier Leblanc – Columbus Blue Jackets

Thomas Chabot – Ottawa Senators

Alexandre Carrier “C” – Nashville Predators

Jeremy Lauzon – Boston Bruins

Nicolas Meloche – Colorado Avalanche

Gauillaume Brisbois – Vancouver Canucks

Samuel Girard – 2016 Eligible

Jeremy Roy – San Jose Sharks

Goalies:

Mason MacDonald – Calgary Flames

Samuel Montembeault – Florida Panthers

 

The games will be played on Tuesday, November 17th 2015 at Rouyn-Noranda and on Thursday, November 19th 2015 at Halfax.

Categories
Press release

Montreal Canadiens Purchase AHL Franchise, OHL Bulls to Hamilton

BULLDOGS ANNOUNCE SALE OF AHL FRANCHISE TO MONTREAL CANADIENS, ANDLAUER PURCHASES OHL’S BELLEVILLE BULLS

Photo by Hamilton Bulldogs)
Photo by Hamilton Bulldogs)

Hamilton Bulldogs Media Release

HAMILTON, ONT. – Hamilton Bulldogs Owner Michael Andlauer announced today the official sale of the American Hockey League (AHL) franchise to the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Montreal Canadiens which will take place at the conclusion of the 2014-15 AHL season. Andlauer also announced the purchase of the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Belleville Bulls who will be relocated to Hamilton and renamed the Bulldogs for the start of the 2015-16 season.

“I want to thank my partner Geoff Molson, Marc Bergevin and the rest of the Montreal Canadiens organization not only for the great crop of prospects that we have groomed here in Hamilton over the last 11 years, but also for facilitating the relocation of their AHL team to St. John’s to make this possible,” said Andlauer. “Memories like the Calder Cup championship in 2007 and the Outdoor Classic game in 2012 are permanently entrenched in our minds and won’t soon be forgotten.”

Andlauer added, “I want to thank AHL President and CEO David Andrews for expediting this transaction and accommodating these moves in such a short time frame. I also owe OHL commissioner David Branch and the league’s board of governors a great deal of gratitude for entrusting Hamilton and our community as a new player in the league. This transition today allows us to move forward with a more permanent solution for our fans and an answer to the long-term health of hockey in Hamilton. We’re very excited about joining the OHL for the 2015-16 season.”

“Michael Andlauer is well known for his commitment to both the game and the community, and we welcome him to the OHL family,” said David Branch, Commissioner of the OHL. “Hamilton has a long and storied history in junior hockey and we look forward to building on this tradition starting next season.”

The City of Hamilton has a rich history of major junior hockey and will return to the OHL for the first time since the Dukes of Hamilton departed for Guelph in 1991. Former Hamilton major junior teams include the Whizzers (OHA) – 1942-43, Majors (OHA) – 1943-44, Lloyds (OHA) – 1945-46, Szabos (OHA) – 1946-47, Tiger Cubs (OHA) – 1953 to 1960, Red Wings (OHA) – 1960 to 1974, Fincups (OMJHL) – 1974 to 1976 & 1977-78, Steelhawks (OHL) – 1984 to 1988, and Dukes of Hamilton (OHL) – 1989 to 1991.

The Red Wings (1961-62) and Fincups (1975-76) each won the Robertson Cup as OHL Champions and went on to win the Memorial Cup in their respective seasons. Hamilton teams were also league finalists on four occasions (1958, 67, 75 and 78). Hamilton co-hosted the Memorial Cup in 1962 along with Guelph and Kitchener. The City also hosted the 1990 Memorial Cup at FirstOntario Centre (formerly known as Copps Coliseum). The highest attended game in Memorial Cup history to date remains the final game of that tournament between the Kitchener Rangers and Oshawa Generals (17,383) despite the lack of presence of a host team.

Notable players that played junior hockey in Hamilton include: Larry Hillman, Larry Jeffrey, Brian Kilrea, Murray Oliver, Pat Quinn, Paul Henderson, Pat Hickey, Rick Kehoe, Peter Mahovlich, Bob Manno, Pit Martin, Dale McCourt, Jim Rutherford, Jim Schoenfeld, Ric Seiling, Ron Wilson, Gaston Gingras, Willie Huber, Al Jensen, Al Secord, Rick Wamsley, Shayne Corson, Keith Primeau, and Bob Probert.

The trophy that the OHL awards to the team that finishes the regular season first overall has been named The Hamilton Spectator Trophy since the 1957-58 season. Hamilton also hosted the 1986 World Junior Championship at FirstOntario Centre (then known as Copps Coliseum).

The Belleville Bulls currently have one player drafted to the NHL on their roster in Jordan Subban (Vancouver – fourth round, 115th overall in 2013). The team also has five players listed on the NHL Central Scouting’s North American skaters mid-term ranking released January 20, 2015. Those players include Matt Luff (95), Justin Lemcke (119), Trent Fox (143), Adam Laishram (186) and Connor Hicks (10 – Goaltenders). Current Canadiens defenceman and former Hamilton Bulldog P.K. Subban, current Bulldog Eric Tangradi, Jason Spezza, Matt Belesky, Shawn Matthias and Matt Stajan are all recent NHL graduates of the Bulls.

The Bulls drafted Grimsby native Brandon Saigeon from the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs fourth overall in the OHL’s 2014 Priority Selection. As a 16-year-old in the OHL this season, Saigeon has registered 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) and 46 penalty minutes in 56 games. There are also three other local players on the Bulls current roster, including Stephen Harper (Burlington), Matt Luff (Oakville) and Niki Petti (Welland).

The AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Club will be remembered as the city’s first and only team to date to win a professional hockey championship. The team was first established in 1996 after the Edmonton Oilers relocated their farm team from Cape Breton. The Quebec Citadelles merged with the Bulldogs in 2002-03 and after a season of duel affiliation with the Montreal Canadiens, the team officially changed affiliations from Edmonton to Montreal at the start of the 2003-04 campaign. In the summer of 2004, Andlauer bought out most of the minority shareholders of the team to become majority owner and governor, and eventually sole owner of the team.

The Bulldogs, who will finish their 19th AHL season in 2014-15, have reached the Calder Cup Final three times to date, including the club’s first season, again in 2003 and in 2007 when they were crowned Calder Cup Champions for the first time. On all three occasions, the Calder Cup deciding game was played at FirstOntario Centre (then known as Copps Coliseum).

About the Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is comprised of 20 member teams, 17 in Ontario, and three in the United States, and is the number one development league in the world for players to the National Hockey League and Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

– See more at: http://hamiltonbulldogs.com/pressbox/news/?article_id=1124#sthash.4p29qTx2.dpuf

Categories
Press release

Hamilton Bulldogs Release Jared Gomes from PTO

BULLDOGS RELEASE JARED GOMES FROM PTO
25-year-old played in two pre-season games with ‘Dogs

Jared Gomes
Jared Gomes

MONTREAL, QUE. – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs general manager Marc Bergevin announced today the Bulldogs have released forward Jared Gomes from his professional try out contract.

Gomes played in two pre-season games with the Bulldogs and didn’t dress in the regular season. He spent the 2013-14 season with the American Hockey League’s San Antonio Rampage. In 56 regular season games with San Antonio, the 25-year-old recorded 11 points (four goals, seven assists) and 32 penalty minutes. In 129 career AHL regular season games with the Rampage from 2012 to 2014, the 6-1, 190-pound forward has recorded 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists) and 58 penalty minutes.

The puck drops for Hamilton’s home-opening weekend on Friday, Oct. 17, when the ‘Dogs host the Toronto Marlies at FirstOntario Centre at 7:30 p.m.

Hamilton Bulldogs 2014-15 season tickets, flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information, 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.

http://bulldogs.allhabs.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/10/Hamilton-Bulldogs-Roster-Oct-15-2014.pdf

Categories
Press release

Hamilton Bulldogs Sign Forward Jared Gomes to PTO

BULLDOGS SIGN JARED GOMES TO PTO
25-year-old has recorded 44 points in 129 career AHL games

Hamilton Bulldogs Media Release

Jared Gomes
Jared Gomes

MONTREAL, QUE. – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs general manager Marc Bergevin announced today the Bulldogs have signed forward Jared Gomes to a professional try out contract.

Gomes spent the 2013-14 season with the American Hockey League’s San Antonio Rampage. In 56 regular season games with San Antonio, the 25-year-old recorded 11 points (four goals, seven assists) and 32 penalty minutes. In 129 career AHL regular season games with the Rampage from 2012 to 2014, the 6-1, 190-pound forward has recorded 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists) and 58 penalty minutes.

Before turning pro, the Brampton, Ont. native played three seasons (2009 to 2012) with Canadian Interuniversity Sport’s University of Prince Edward Island Panthers. In 84 career CIS regular season games, he recorded 85 points (48 goals, 37 assists) and 78 penalty minutes. During his collegiate career, he was named to the CIS first all-star team (2011-12), CIS all-rookie team (2009-10) and CIS rookie of the year (2009-10).

Gomes also played four season of junior in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sarnia Sting (2005 to 2008) and Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (2008-09). In 256 career OHL regular season games, he recorded 152 points (75 goals, 77 assists) and 165 penalty minutes.

The Bulldogs open the 2014-15 regular season tonight when they will visit the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial at 7:05 p.m. The puck drops for Hamilton’s home-opening weekend on Friday, Oct. 17, when the ‘Dogs host the Toronto Marlies at FirstOntario Centre at 7:30 p.m.

Hamilton Bulldogs 2014-15 season tickets, flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information, 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.

Categories
Press release

Bulldogs Assign Goaltender Palazzese to Wheeling Nailers

BULLDOGS ASSIGN PALAZZESE TO NAILERS
21-year-old goaltender signed one-year contract on Tuesday

Hamilton Bulldogs Press Release

Franky Palazzese
Franky Palazzese

MONTREAL, QUE. – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs general manager Marc Bergevin announced today the Bulldogs have assigned goaltender Franky Palazzese to the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers.

Palazzese spent the 2013-14 season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves. In 60 regular season games with Sudbury, the 21-year-old posted a record of 27-23-9 with a 2.97 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and five shutouts. In 175 career OHL regular season games with the Wolves, Kitchener Rangers and Kingston Frontenacs from 2009 to 2014, the 6-1, 160-pound goaltender had a record of 71-69-26 with a 3.13 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and seven shutouts.

Palazzese signed a one-year, two-way American Hockey League / ECHL contract with the Bulldogs on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

The Bulldogs open the 2014-15 regular season on Saturday, Oct. 11 when they will visit the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial at 7:05 p.m. The puck drops for Hamilton’s home-opening weekend on Friday, Oct. 17, when the ‘Dogs host the Toronto Marlies at FirstOntario Centre at 7:30 p.m.

Hamilton Bulldogs 2014-15 season tickets, flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information, 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.

Categories
Press release

Bulldogs Sign Goaltender Franky Palazzese, Forward Sahir Gill

BULLDOGS SIGN SAHIR GILL, FRANKY PALAZZESE
Gill signs professional try out contract; Palazzese inks AHL / ECHL two-way deal

Forward Sahir Gill and goaltender  Franky Palazzese
Forward Sahir Gill and goaltender Franky Palazzese

MONTREAL, QUE. – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs general manager Marc Bergevin announced today the Bulldogs have signed forward Sahir Gill to a professional try out contract and goaltender Franky Palazzese to a one-year, two-way American Hockey League / ECHL contract.

Gill spent the 2013-14 season – his first as a professional – with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers. In 67 regular season games with Wheeling, the 22-year-old recorded 54 points (13 goals, 41 assists) and 26 penalty minutes. Before turning pro, the 5-10, 178-pound forward spent three seasons (2010 to 2013) with the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Boston University Terriers. In 117 career games with Boston University, the Terrace, B.C. native recorded 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) and 55 penalty minutes.

Palazzese spent the 2013-14 season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves. In 60 regular season games with Sudbury, the 21-year-old posted a record of 27-23-9 with a 2.97 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and five shutouts. In 175 career OHL regular season games with the Wolves, Kitchener Rangers and Kingston Frontenacs from 2009 to 2014, the 6-1, 160-pound goaltender had a record of 71-69-26 with a 3.13 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and seven shutouts.

The Bulldogs open the 2014-15 regular season on Saturday, Oct. 11 when they will visit the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial at 7:05 p.m. The puck drops for Hamilton’s home-opening weekend on Friday, Oct. 17, when the ‘Dogs host the Toronto Marlies at FirstOntario Centre at 7:30 p.m.

Hamilton Bulldogs 2014-15 season tickets, flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information, 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.

Categories
Press release

Bulldogs, Future Habs Convene for Canadiens Development Camp

Fifty players invited to the Canadiens’ annual Development Camp

Montreal Canadiens PRESS RELEASE

IMG_03152Development Camp

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens announced Thursday that the team will hold its annual development camp, from July 7-11, at the Bell Sports Complex, in Brossard.

A total of 50 players will participate in the development camp, including 28 forwards, 17 defensemen and five goaltenders. Five of the six players selected by the Canadiens at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft held last weekend in Philadelphia will be among the participants, including first round selection Nikita Scherbak.

The list of players invited to the development camp includes 20 prospects drafted by the Canadiens organization, a few players acquired through trades or free agency, and more than 20 players invited on a try-out basis (list of players here).

All players will be divided into two groups (A-B). The first on-ice practice sessions will be on Monday, July 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on both ice surfaces at the Bell Sports Complex. On-ice practice sessions will take place in the morning for the remainder of the week, with scrimmages at the end of the day. A three-period intra-squad game will be played on Friday, July 11, at 9:30 a.m. All practices are open to the public.

Players participating in the development camp will be available to the media every day around noon (12:30 p.m.), starting Monday July 7.

 

#  Player 2013-14 Team Acquired Pos. Shoots Height Weight
6 AGOSTA, Justin (College player) New Hampshire (HE) Invite D R 6.03 210
26 ANAS, Samuel (College player) Quinnipiac (ECAC) Invite C R 5.08 148
58 ANDRIGHETTO, Sven Hamilton (AHL) Draft 13 RW L 5.09 183
48 AUDETTE, Daniel Sherbrooke (QMJHL) Draft 14 C L 5.08 175
40 BEAULIEU, Nathan Hamilton (AHL) / Montréal (NHL) Draft 11 D L 6.02 194
46 BENNETT, Mac University of Michigan (CCHA) Draft 09 D L 6.00 195
98 BOBYK, Colton Spokane (WHL) Invite D L 6.01 190
CARR, Daniel Union (ECAC) Free agent LW L 6.00 182
41 CONDON, Michael Wheeling (ECHL) / Hamilton (AHL) Free agent G L 6.02 209
97 CORSON, Dylan S.S Marie (OHL) / Barrie (OHL) Invite C L 5.11 190
92 CREVIER-MORIN, Marc-Olivier Gatineau (QMJHL) Invite D L 6.01 197
CRISP, Connor Sudbury (OHL) / Hamilton (AHL) Draft 13 C L 6.03 226
91 CURCURUTO, Gianluca Plymouth (OHL) Invite D L 6.01 195
34 DE LA ROSE, Jacob Leksands IF (SweAl) / Sweden Jr. Draft 13 C/LW L 6.03 187
72 DIDIER, Josiah (College player) University of Denver (WCHA) Draft 11 D R 6.03 218
84 DIETZ, Darren Hamilton (AHL) Draft 11 D R 6.01 204
85 ELLIS, Morgan Hamilton (AHL) Draft 10 D R 6.01 204
73 FEDERICO, Danny (College player) Quinnipiac (ECAC) Invite D L 6.01 205
86 FOURNIER, Stefan Hamilton (AHL) Free agent RW R 6.03 220
70 FUCALE, Zachary Halifax (QMHJL) / Canada Jr. Draft 13 G L 6.01 178
90 GADOURY, Philippe Halifax (QMHJL) / Nepean (CCHL) Invite C L 5.10 180
83 GOULET, Alexandre Charlottetown (QMJHL) Invite C L 5.11 190
47 GRÉGOIRE, Jeremy Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) Draft 13 C R 6.00 187
65 HAWKEY, Hayden Omaha (USHL) Draft 14 G L 6.01 180
71 HIGHMORE, Matthew Saint-John’s (QMJHL) Invite C L 5.11 174
82 HOLLAND, Patrick Hamilton (AHL) / Montreal (NHL) Trade RW R 6.00 185
75 HUDON, Charles Chicoutimi/Baie Comeau (QMJHL) / Canada Jr. Draft 12 LW L 5.10 178
55 IMAMA, Bokondji Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) Invite LW L 6.01 214
61 KOBERSTEIN, Nikolas Olds (AJHL) Draft 14 D R 6.01 180
38 LEHKONEN, Artturi Kuopio (FinE) / Filnland Jr. Draft 13 LW L 5.11 161
43 LERNOUT, Brett Swift Current  (WHL) Draft 14 D R 6.04 206
62 MacMILLAN, Mark (College player) University of North Dakota (WCHA) Draft 10 C L 6.00 171
11 MAKOWSKI, David (College player) University of Denver (WCHA) AHL D R 6.01 205
25 McCARRON, Michael London (OHL) Draft 13 RW R 6.05 237
68 McNALLY, Brandon (College player) Dartmouth (ECAC) Invite LW L 6.01 186
80 MOTTE, CJ (College player) Ferris State (WCHA) Invite G L 6.00 191
20 MUTO, Vincent (College player) Niagara University (AHA) Invite D R 6.00 204
15 NEVINS, Jack Hamilton (AHL) / Charlottetown (QMJHL) /  Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) Free agent LW L 6.01 204
63 PADAKIN, Pavel Calgary (WHL) Invite RW R 6.00 179
95 PAPIRNY, Jordan Brandon (WHL) Invite G L 6.00 170
53 RANGER, Alexandre Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) Invite RW R 5.10 181
42 SCHMALZ, Matt Sudbury (OHL) Invite RW R 6.05 206
28 SCHERBAK, Nikita Saskatoon (WHL) Draft 14 RW L 6.01 175
57 SEKAC, Jiri Praha HC Lev (KHL) Free agent LW L 6.02 195
64 SORKIN, Nick Hamilton (AHL) / New Hampshire (HE) AHL RW L 6.03 175
78 SZMATULA, Michael (College player) Northeastern (HE) Invite LW L 5.08 178
60 THOMAS, Christian Hamilton (AHL) Trade RW R 5.09 176
59 THROWER, Dalton Vancouver (WHL) Draft 12 D R 6.00 203
96 TRACCITTO, Reggie (College player) University of PEI (CIS) Invite D R 6.00 204
45 WARDLEY, Evan Seattle (WHL) Invite D R 6.04 208
Categories
Press release

Official Release: Bulldogs Sign Hamilton Native Drew Schiestel

07/29/2013 1:02 PM
Hamilton Bulldogs Press Release

MONTREAL, QUEBEC – Montreal Canadiens and Hamilton Bulldogs General Manager Marc Bergevin announced today the signing of free agent defenceman Drew Schiestel to a one-year, two-way American Hockey League / ECHL contract for the 2013-2014 season.

Schiestel, 24, split the 2012-2013 season between the AHL’s Rochester Americanhamiltonbulldogsbackgrounds and the ECHL’s Greenville Road Warriors. In 35 regular season games with Rochester, he recorded three points (one goal, two assists) and 16 penalty minutes. He also played in three Calder Cup Playoff games, recording two penalty minutes. In three games with Greenville, he recorded no points and no penalty minutes.

In 191 career regular season AHL games with the Americans, Portland Pirates and Texas Stars, the Hamilton, Ontario native has registered 55 points (nine goals, 46 assists) and 87 penalty minutes. Schiestel was selected to participate in the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic, but was unable to attend due to injury.

The 6’1”, 197-pound defenceman was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, 59th overall, in the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft. He played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League for the Mississauga IceDogs (2005-2007) and Niagara IceDogs (2007-2009), recording 111 points (25 goals, 86 assists) and 197 penalty minutes in 237 regular season games.