MONTREAL, QC - Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced today that defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron has been recalled to the Canadiens from the Hamilton Bulldogs. Montreal also announced that defenceman Shawn Belle has been assigned to Hamilton.    

Bergeron, 29, was signed as a free agent by the Canadiens on October 6^th. The 5-foot-9, 198-pound defenceman currently leads the Bulldogs in points with six assists in three games. The native of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec played in 72 regular season games with the Minnesota Wild in 2008-2009 recording 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) and serving 30 penalty minutes. Seven of his goals were on the power play and he also tallied three game-winning goals.

Bergeron played two seasons with Hamilton from 2001-2003 where he recorded a total of 54 points (10 goals, 44 assists) in 116 games. He earned seven assists and 25 penalty minutes in 20 games as a member of the 'Dogs team that reached the Calder Cup finals in 2003. He was also voted to the 2002-2003 AHL Second All-Star Team.

Belle, 24, played in two games with Montreal after being recalled on October 13^th. He has played in two games with the Bulldogs this season recording no points and two penalty minutes. In 2008-2009, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound defender skated in 60 games for the 'Dogs earning 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) along with 93 penalty minutes. Belle also played in six post-season games with Hamilton earning a goal and 16 penalty minutes. The native of Edmonton, Alberta was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 1^st round, 30^th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and acquired by Montreal from the Minnesota Wild on July 11^th, 2008.

The Bulldogs return home for back-to-back meetings with the Manitoba Moose on Monday, October 19^th and Tuesday, October 20^th at Copps Coliseum. Both games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Fans can listen to every 'Dogs game on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, TALK 820. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the 'AHL Live' or 'TALK 820' icons on the Bulldogs website.

Tickets for all Hamilton Bulldogs home games (with the exception of the November 6^th and February 21^st 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.