Hamilton Bulldogs

Hamilton, ON – The Hamilton Bulldogs announced today that eight former Bulldogs players and coaches will be competing in the Stanley Cup Finals set to begin tonight between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks. Boston forward Michael Ryder, goaltender Tim Thomas, Head Coach Claude Julien and Assistant Coaches Doug Jarvis and Geoff Ward will be battling Vancouver forwards Chris Higgins, Maxim Lapierre and Raffi Torres for the chance to win the Stanley Cup. 

Ryder was a member of the 2002-2003 Bulldogs team that lost in Game 7 of the 2003 Calder Cup Finals to the Houston Aeros and were crowned the AHL’s Regular Season Champions as they had a league-high record of 49-19-8-4 (W-L-T-OTL) for 110 points. Ryder recorded 67 points (34 goals, 33 assists) in 69 regular season games that season and earned 17 points (11 goals, six assists) in 23 post-season games. Julien and Ward were with the ‘Dogs from 2000-2003 as Julien served as the Head Coach while Ward served as Assistant Coach and together they compiled a total record of 114-90-24-12 (W-L-T-OTL). During the 2002-2003 season, Julien was called up to one of Hamilton’s NHL affiliate clubs, the Montreal Canadiens, to take over as their Head Coach while Ward took over head coaching duties with the ‘Dogs bringing them to Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals. Both were named co-winners of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award in 2002-2003 which is given annually to the AHL’s coach of the year. Jarvis was Head Coach of the Bulldogs from 2003-2005 compiling a record of 79-54-10-11-6 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL).  He coached the 2003-2004 team that was crowned North Division Regular Season Champions. Thomas played in 15 games with the ‘Dogs during the 1998-1999 campaign posting a record of 6-8-0 with a 3.23 goals-against-average and .905 save percentage.

Higgins spent two seasons with Hamilton from 2003-2005 recording a total of 99 points (49 goals, 50 assists) in 143 regular season games and 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 14 post-season games. Higgins was coached by Jarvis both years he played in Hamilton and was a member of the 2003-2004 team that were the North Division Regular Season Champions and was also named Hamilton’s team MVP for the 2004-2005 season. Lapierre played in Hamilton from 2005-2008 and was a part of the 2006-2007 Bulldogs club that won the 2007 Calder Cup Championship. Lapierre recorded a total of 74 points (31 goals, 43 assists) in 129 regular season games with Hamilton and recorded 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 22 playoff games and was given the Flamboro Downs Workhorse of the Year award in 2005-2006. Torres was a teammate of Ryder and coached by Julien and Ward on the 2002-2003 ‘Dogs team recording eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 11 regular season games and  seven points (six goals, one assists) in 23 playoff games.

Hamilton Bulldogs 2011-2012 season tickets are now on sale!  For more information, call 905-529-8500 or e-mail seasontix@hamiltonbulldogs.com