MONTREAL, QC - Montreal Canadiens General Manager Pierre Gauthier announced today a new minor-league player affiliation agreement for the 2010-2011 season with the East Coast Hockey League's (ECHL) Wheeling Nailers.
"On behalf of the Canadiens organization, I would like to thank the Nailers for accepting to affiliate with us. We are looking forward to a strong and long lasting relationship", said Canadiens General Manager Pierre Gauthier.
Under the agreement, Montreal has sole discretion on players assigned to Wheeling at all times. The agreement also stipulates that there is no minimum or maximum number of players that can be assigned to the Nailers. The affiliation agreement is shared with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, their affiliate team in the AHL.
Wheeling succeeds the Cincinnati Cyclones organization as an ECHL team to be part of an affiliation agreement with the Canadiens. Cincinnati won the Kelly Cup twice (2008 and 2010) under their four-year affiliation with Montreal.
The Hamilton Bulldogs remain the Canadiens' main affiliate club.
Tickets for all Hamilton Bulldogs home games (with the exception of the November 5th and February 25th games at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec) 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. For more information on 'Dogs season tickets, flex packs, mini packs and group tickets call 905-529-8500 or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.
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