February 08, 2008
MONTREAL, QC – The Montreal Canadiens announced today the acquisition of right-winger Brett Engelhardt from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for forward Francis Lemieux. Engelhardt will join the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League, while Lemieux will also report to the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Engelhardt, 27, has appeared in 42 games with the Griffins this season, collecting eight goals, eight assists, 16 points and 33 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward has 121 points (52-69-121) and 283 penalty minutes in 238-career AHL games with the Philadelphia Phantoms (2003-2004), St. John’s Maple Leafs (2004-05), Toronto Marlies (2005-2007) and Grand Rapids Griffins (2007-08). Engelhardt scored his first AHL goal as a member of the St. John’s Maple Leafs against the Hamilton Bulldogs on February 4th, 2005.
Prior to his professional career, the Sheboygan, Wisconsin native spent four seasons with the NCAA’s Michigan Tech Huskies (2000-2004), posting 51 goals, 54 assists, 105 points and 248 penalty minutes in 149 games. Engelhardt has never played a game in the NHL.
Lemieux, 23, registered six assists and 27 penalty minutes in 33 games with Hamilton this season. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound native of Sherbrooke, Quebec, has amassed 63 points (24-39-63) in 142-career AHL games, all with the Bulldogs.
Lemieux, who signed with the Canadiens as a free agent on December 8th, 2005, has also never played a game in the NHL.
The defending Calder Cup Champion Hamilton Bulldogs return to action on Friday, February 8th at 7:30 p.m. when they host the San Antonio Rampage at Copps Coliseum. Tickets for all ‘Dogs home games 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 or to purchase season tickets call 905-529-8500, e-mail tickets@hamiltonbulldogs.com or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com.
Fans can listen to every Bulldogs game on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the ‘B2 Networks’ or ‘820 CHAM’ icon on the ‘Dogs website. All regular-season radio and online broadcasts will begin with a pre-game show 20 minutes prior to each scheduled game-time.
