February 07, 2008
MONTREAL, QC – Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced tonight that the Club has assigned defenceman Ryan O’Byrne to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Gainey also announced that the Club has signed free agent Brock Trotter to a three-year contract (2007-2008 to 2009-2010) and assigned the centreman to their AHL affiliate. As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
O’Byrne, 23, played 11 games with the Canadiens this season, scoring two points (two assists) while delivering 20 hits, blocking 18 shots while averaging 14:03 time on ice.
Prior to his recall to Montreal on December 5, 2007, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound rearguard registered eight points (two goals, six assists), 43 penalty minutes and a plus-4 rating in 18 games with Hamilton. O’Byrne was selected to play for the Canadian All-Star Team at the 2008 American Hockey League All-Star Classic, but was unable to participate in the event due to a hand injury sustained in a game versus the Florida Panthers on December 28, 2007.
The native of Victoria, British Columbia, who was selected in the 3rd round, 79th overall in the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft, has played 98-career AHL games with the Bulldogs, collecting two goals, 18 assists, 20 points and 172 penalty minutes.
Trotter, 20, played 24 games with the University of Denver Pioneers in 2007-2008, his third season with the NCAA team. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound centreman led the team with 31 points in 24 games (13 goals, 18 assists), and registered 18 penalty minutes.
The native of Brandon, Manitoba, led the University of Denver in scoring with 40 points in 40 games in 2006-2007 (16 goals, 24 assists). Trotter registered 76 points (32 goals, 44 assists) and 42 penalty minutes in 79 games during his three seasons with the Pioneers.
The defending Calder Cup Champion Hamilton Bulldogs next home game is tomorrow, Friday, February 7th at 7:30 p.m. versus the San Antonio Rampage. 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 information on season, flex or group 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 the VIA Rail Pre-Game Show 20 minutes prior to the scheduled game-time.
