The Hamilton Bulldogs (American Hockey League affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) will continue their eight-game home stand to begin 2010 this week by hosting two teams at Copps Coliseum for two games.  The Lake Erie Monsters (American Hockey League affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche) will be in town for a 7:30pm matchup on Wednesday, January 13^th. The 'Dogs will entertain the Rochester Americans (American Hockey League affiliate of the Florida Panthers) on Friday, January 15^th for another 7:30pm contest at Copps. Hamilton will close out the week when they head to Grand Rapids (AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings) to battle the Griffins on Saturday, January 16^th for a 7:00 p.m. match-up.

Last week, the Bulldogs extended their lead in the North Division and Western Conference standings by picking up three home-ice wins before dropping a game in overtime.  The 'Dogs began the week by defeating the Chicago Wolves (American Hockey League affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers) 3-1 on Wednesday, January 6^th at Copps Coliseum.  The Bulldogs then took to the ice on Friday, January 8^th, getting their second 3-1 victory in as many games with this win coming against the Lake Erie Monsters.  One night later on Saturday, January 9^th, Brock Trotter scored a hat trick to lead the Bulldogs to a 5-2 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins. Hamilton lost its only game of the week 3-2 to the Monsters in overtime on Monday, January 11^th but managed to still collect a point and extend their point streak to five-games.

THIS WEEK AT THE DOG POUND
It will be $1 hot dog night at Wednesday's game versus the Lake Erie Monsters. Fans can participate in the hotdog eating contest that will be going on at every Wednesday home game. Also at Wednesday's game any fans with a Shoppers Drug Mart optimum card can enter into a draw for a chance to take part in a shootout during the second intermission. The winner of the shootout will win $100,000 worth of Shoppers optimum points. Friday's game will be "Guns N Hoses" night at Copps Coliseum where Hamilton's firefighters and police services will be celebrated. There will be a pre-game skate with Bruiser and music from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. for all firefighters, police services and their friends and families with the purchase of a game ticket. Friday's game is also redemption night for season ticket holders. 

WEEK IN REVIEW:

Wednesday, January 6^th, 2010 - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 3 vs. CHICAGO WOLVES 1

Copps Coliseum - Hamilton, ON

Hamilton Goals: Ryan White,*David Desharnais, P.K. Subban

Chicago Goals: Johnny Pohl

Goaltending: Hamilton - Cedrick Desjardins (W, 25 shots, 25 saves) / Chicago- Peter Mannino (L - 34 shots, 32 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 1-4 / Chicago 1-4

Attendance: 1,952

*- Game Winner

Friday, January 8^th, 2010 - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 3  vs. LAKE ERIE MONSTERS 1

Copps Coliseum - Hamilton, ON

Hamilton Goals: Brock Trotter*, Mathieu Darche, Ben Maxwell

Lake Erie Goals: Ryan Stoa

Goaltending: Hamilton - Cedrick Desjardins (W, 27 shots, 26 saves) / Lake Erie - Tyler Weiman (L, 31 shots, 29 saves);

Power Play: Hamilton 1-5 / Lake Erie 1-6

Attendance: 3,277

*- Game Winner

Saturday, January 9^th, 2010 - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 5 vs. GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2

Copps Coliseum -Hamilton, ON

Hamilton Goals: *Mike Glumac (2), Brock Trotter (3)

Grand Rapids Goals: Mattias Ritola, Jamie Tardif

Goaltending: Hamilton - Cedrick Desjardins (W, 27 shots, 25 saves) / Grand Rapids- Jordan Pearce (L, 37 shots, 33 saves)

Power Play - Hamilton 2-6 / Grand Rapids 0-4

Attendance: 3,110

*- Game Winner

Monday, January 11^th, 2010 - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 2 vs. LAKE ERIE MONSTERS 3 (OT)

Copps Coliseum -Hamilton, ON

Hamilton Goals: Mikael Johansson, Brock Trotter

Lake Erie Goals: Ryan Stoa (2), Marty Sertich*

Goaltending: Hamilton - Cedrick Desjardins (L, 30 shots, 27 saves) / Lake Erie - Tyler Weiman (W, 29 shots, 27 saves)

Power Play - Hamilton 2-7 / Lake Erie 2-6

Attendance: 2,380

*- Game Winner

NORTH DIVISION STANDINGS:

(As of Tuesday, January 12^th)

BULLDOGS NOTES:

• Bulldogs D Yannick Weber has been named to Switzerland's Men's Ice Hockey Team for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.
• G Cedrick Desjardins and D P.K. Subban were named to the 2010 Canadian AHL All-Star Team with Subban being voted as a starter for the team.
• The Bulldogs earned their 500^th regular season victory with a 3-0 win over the Lake Erie Monsters on Saturday, November 28^th.
• Hamilton's 58 points are currently eight more than any other team in the Western Conference.
• The 'Dogs have the second-lowest number of regulation losses in the league, having suffered defeat just nine times when overtime or a shootout was not necessary.
• Hamilton's 0.707 points percentage is currently second best in the AHL.
• The Bulldogs currently have the lowest team goals against average in the league, allowing an average of just 2.15 opposition tallies per game thus far this season.
• Hamilton's AHL Canadian All-Star G Cedrick Desjardins was recently named the AHL's Goalie of the Month for his stellar play throughout December. Desjardins won all eight games he appeared in, posting three shutouts to go along with a 1.16 GAA and a 0.949 SV% for the month. He also managed to set a Bulldogs franchise record in December for individual shutout streak. Desjardins went 212 minutes and 37 seconds without letting a single puck get past him. The New Brunswick native has won 13 of the last 15 games he's appeared in, and now boasts the 2^nd-best goals against average in the league at 1.68 (best among goalies with over 1,000 minutes played), the 3^rd-best save percentage at 0.933 (2^nd-best among goalies with over 1,000 minutes played), and leads the league with five shutouts on the year. Desjardins is also tied for 2^nd in the league with 17 wins on the year.
• Bulldogs C Brock Trotter tied a career-high by scoring four points in the Bulldogs' latest triumph, a 5-2 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday, January 9^th. Trotter potted his first-career hat trick and added an assist to lead the Bulldogs to their fourth straight victory. The Brandon, Manitoba native has now scored 22 points in his last 18 contests, during which the former Denver Pioneer has found the back of the net on 12 occasions, and added 10 helpers. Trotter is currently pacing the Bulldogs attack with 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points this season. Trotter is also second on the team with a +17 rating.
• Bulldogs rookie D P.K. Subban has scored eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points in his last 23 games, which included his first-career AHL Gordie Howe Hat Trick as the 'Dogs soared past the Grand Rapids Griffins 7-3 on New Year's Eve. Subban is currently ranked 2^nd among all AHL defensemen and 1^st among AHL rookie defensemen in scoring with nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points in 40 games played this season. Subban's nine goals put him in a tie for the most in the league by a defenseman. The Rexdale, Ontario native also ranks 2^nd in the league with a +22 rating.

UPCOMING GAMES:

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13^TH - HAMILTON BULLDOGS vs. LAKE ERIE MONSTERS

7:30 PM EST - COPPS COLISEUM -Hamilton, ON

• The game at Copps Coliseum will be the sixth of eight games between the North Division opponents this season
• The 'Dogs edged out the Monsters on Friday, January 8^th by a score of 3-1 with Bock Trotter (15-21-36) depositing the winning tally before dropping a 3-2 overtime decision on Monday.
• On Sunday, the Monsters beat out the Rochester Americans by a 3-1 score with Lake Erie rookie netminder Billy Sauer making 32 saves in the victory
• Due to their recently strong play (7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games) Lake Erie has snuck out of the North Division basement, and are now sitting in 6^th with a 17-19-0-4 record, good for 38 points 
• In 2008-2009 the Bulldogs decisively defeated Lake Erie in the season series 6-2-0-0 in eight games
• Hamilton's all-time record against the Monsters is just as dominant at 16-3-0-1-1
• RW Darren Haydar (16-19-35) leads the Monsters' attack with 35 points in 35 games thus far this season
• There are currently four Ontario natives on the Monsters' roster: RW Brian Willsie (London), RW Darran Haydar (Milton), D Wes O'Neill (Essex), and LW Randy Rowe (Burford)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15^TH - HAMILTON BULLDOGS VS. ROCHESTER AMERICANS

7:30 PM EST - COPPS COLISEUM - Hamilton, ON

• This will be the sixth encounter of ten meetings between the North Division rivals this season
• So far, Hamilton is 2-3 against Rochester this year
• Their last game was on December 30^th, 2009 which saw the 'Dogs emerge victorious in earning a 4-1 victory with Mathieu Darche scoring the winning goal
• The 'Dogs have recently distanced themselves from the 2^nd-place Americans who own a 23-15-2-0 record, good for 48 points in 40 games this season
• On Sunday, the Amerks snapped a five-game losing skid by beating the Binghamton Senators by a score of 6-1, with C Jamie Johnson (17-21-38) getting a hat-trick
• Last year, Hamilton went 5-3 in eight games against Rochester
• Their all-time record versus the Amerks is 54-63-7-0-3
• C Jamie Johnson (17-21-38) is leading the Rochester attack with 17 goals and 21 assists in 40 games played this year
• There are a total of seven Ontario natives on the Americans roster: C Chris Taylor (Stratford), LW Michael Duco (Toronto), C Shawn Matthias (Mississauga), D Michael Caruso (Mississauga), D Peter Aston (Toronto), D John de Gray (Richmond Hill), and C Jamie Johnson (Port Franks)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16^TH - HAMILTON BULLDOGS @ GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS

7:00 PM EST -VAN ANDEL ARENA- Grand Rapids, MI

• This will be the third of six meetings between the North Division opponents this season
• Their last contest saw the 'Dogs down the Griffins by a score of 5-2 on Saturday January 9^th at Copps Coliseum, with Brock Trotter and Mike Glumac getting three goals and two goals respectively
• The Griffins are fifth in the North Division with 41 points and a 20-19-0-1 record
• Due to call-ups and injuries Grand Rapids has been struggling as of late dropping seven of their last eight games
• Last season the Bulldogs doubled up the Griffins in the season series a 4-2-0-0 record
• Hamilton's all-time record against Grand Rapids is 27-14-1-2-4
• C Patrick Rissmiller (10-19-29) currently leads the Griffins with 29 points in 41 games and LW Francis Pare leads Grand Rapids in +/- with a +18 rating
• There are seven Ontario-born players on the Grand Rapids' roster: C Kris Newbury (Brampton), C Cory Emmerton (St. Thomas), C Evan McGrath (Oakville), RW Jamie Tardif (Welland), D Andy Delmore (Windsor), D Paul Crosty (Brampton), and D Ryan Stokes (Corruna)

ALUMNI WATCH:

There are more than 40 former Bulldogs on 2009-2010 National Hockey League rosters. Over 60 percent of all former 'Dogs have played in at least one NHL game. Here are a few highlights and accomplishments of ex-'Dogs from this past week:

• The Hamilton Bulldogs would like to congratulate the 10 alumni who have been named to Olympic rosters for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.  Forwards Mikhail Grabovski, Andrei Kostitsyn, and Sergei Kostitsyn will represent Belerus.  D Jan Hejda and C Tomas Plekanec will suit up for the Czech Republic.  Minnesota Wild F Antti Miettinen will wear the blue and white for Team Finland.  G Jaroslav Halak and F Marcel Hossa will wear their national colours for Slovakia.  Stalwart D Mike Komisarek and Vezina Trophy winner G Tim Thomas will take to the ice for the United States.
• Columbus G Mathieu Garon had his best seven days of the season, winning three times and picking up a shutout while being named the NHL's Third Star for the week... Garon made 24 saves in a win over Edmonton (Jan. 7), 20 saves in a victory over Calgary (Jan. 8), and got the shutout with 26 saves on 26 shots as the Blue Jackets defeated the Dallas Stars 2-0 (Jan. 10)
• Montreal G Jaroslav Halak picked up a win by stopping all Florida shooters and getting the shutout as the Habs defeated the Panthers 2-0 (Jan. 7)
• New York Rangers LW Chris Higgins potted the game-winning goal and was +1 as the Blue Shirts got past the Bruins (Jan. 4)
• Los Angeles C Jarrett Stoll returned from an injury last week and recorded at least one point in each of the three games he played... Stoll began the week by notching an assists against San Jose (Jan. 4), then dished out another assists against Detroit (Jan. 7), and added two more helpers in a loss to St. Louis (Jan. 9)
• Boston G Tim Thomas made 27 saves on 28 Ottawa shots as the Bruins beat the Senators 4-1 (Jan. 5)
• Columbus RW Raffi Torres picked up an assist in a win over Edmonton (Jan. 7), had a goal and an assist while finishing +3 in a 3-2 win over Calgary (Jan. 8), and scored the game-winner with a +1 rating as the Blue Jackets defeated the Dallas Stars (Jan. 10)
• Washington LW Jason Chimera scored a goal in a big 8-1 Capitals win over Atlanta (Jan. 9)
• Chicago G Cristobal Huet had a 19-save performance, backstopping the Blackhawks to a 4-1 victory over Minnesota (Jan. 5)
• Columbus D Jan Hejda had a productive week, scoring a goal and finishing +1 in a win over Edmonton (Jan. 7), picking up another goal against Calgary (Jan. 8), and dishing out an assist with a +1 rating in a win over the Dallas Stars (Jan. 10)
• Philadelphia D Danny Syvret scored a goal as the Flyers beat up on the Maple Leafs, winning 6-2 (Jan. 6)

TUNE IN TO Every Game on the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network AND CABLE 14:

Fans can listen to every 'Dogs game this season 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' icon on the Bulldogs website. All regular-season radio and online broadcasts will begin with a pre-game show 30 minutes prior to each scheduled game-time. Ellery Award-winning broadcaster Derek Wills calls the play-by-play of all 80 regular season games, while Al Craig provides the colour commentary for all home games and select road games.

In addition Cable 14 will air live broadcasts 13 of club's 38 home games at Copps Coliseum. In a joint venture with Mohawk College, Cable 14 will also broadcast the 25 Hamilton Bulldogs' home games not being shown live in their entirety as 'Dogs-in-an-Hour at 11:00 p.m. on the night of the game. 

Cable 14 will also carry Rogers Television's live coverage of six Hamilton Bulldogs versus Toronto Marlies games at Ricoh Coliseum.

For a full listing of all the games broadcast on Cable 14 follow this link: http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/page/broadcast_1019#Live%20Broadcast%20Schedule

GET YOUR TICKETS!:

Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets, flex tickets, min pack tickets, group tickets and tickets are now on sale! Individual game tickets are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office (in-person sales only), all Ticketmaster outlets and online at ticketmaster.ca or call 905-527-7666. For information on season tickets, flex tickets, mini pack tickets and group tickets visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com, or call (905) 529-8500 or 1-866-364-7849.

GET YOUR BULLDOGS MERCHANDISE AT THE "DAWG HOUSE":
Fans can purchase Bulldogs merchandise during all home games at the "Dawg House" store located behind section 114 on the concourse level at Copps Coliseum.

In the store, fans can find hats, t-shirts, jackets, replica jerseys, foam fingers, foam 'Bone Heads', and other select novelty items for sale.

MOLSON CUP - THREE STAR LEADERS:

(1^st Star - 5pts, 2^nd Star - 3pts, 3^rd Star - 1pt)

FLAMBORO DOWNS WORKHORSE OF THE GAME LEADERS:
(10 pts. - Hardest working Hamilton Bulldogs player)

HAMILTON BULLDOGS TEAM STATISTICS:

(As of Tuesday, January 12^th, 2010)

Hamilton Bulldogs