The Hamilton Bulldogs, the affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens are coming off back to back first place finishes after the team has relocated from Quebec to Hamilton just two years ago. Their first year in Hamilton, the Dogs came within one win of getting a Calder Cup, but it was not to be as they ran out of gas, and the following year saw them bow out in their second round after getting a first round bye for winning their division.
For the third year in Hamilton, it will be one filled with turnover and new faces as the Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars entered into an agreement which allows for Dallas to send up to six players to Hamilton on loan. This would make for the third such arrangement in as many years, as the Canadiens shared the team with the Edmonton Oilers two years ago, and they also had an agreement with last years Stanley Cup winners the Tampa Bay Lighting. In addition to the new players from the Stars organization, gone are several key veterans from last season and the players on loan from Tampa, as captain Benoit Gratton, Francois Beauchemin, Karl Dykhuis, Patrick Traverse, Rene Vydarney, both goalies J-F Damphousse and Eric Fichaud, as all have signed with other teams or will not be sent to Hamilton, as only Dykhuis remains in the organization. In addition, top prospect’s like Alex Perezhogin will not be with the team, as he is back in Russia playing for RSL champs Avangard Omsk as he serves a year long suspension, Marcel Hossa has signed with Mora of the Swedish Elite league, and Ron Hainsey is still considering his options any may or may not end up in Hamilton this year.
The Bulldogs camp has already gotten underway, and with all the new faces in camp it will make things interesting for second year head coach Doug Jarvis, who has just signed on as the assistant coach of the Canadiens once the NHL season resumes. Until that time, Coach Jarvis will have a lot of young players to work with, as he tries to get them to play into his system of smart defensive play. Of the thirty-two players in attendance at camp, only twenty one are Canadiens prospects, and only ten of those players saw regular time with the team last season.
Goaltending
This will be the biggest question mark for the team going into training camp, as the team is without any veteran netminders, and the three goalies in camp have a total of thirty-eight games of combined AHL experience. Yann Danis will be fighting for the starter’s job according to Coach Jarvis, as he was a standout goalie in the NCAA for Brown University of ECAC. After being a Hobey Baker finalist in his senior year, Danis was signed by the Canadiens and was in nets for three games, getting a shutout in his first professional start. Also in attendance at camp is Dallas prospect Dan Ellis, one of their top prospects and the most experienced of the three goalies, as he will look to win a roster spot as well. Olivier Michaud is the third goalie at camp, as he looks to beat out one of the goalies or he could make a return trip to the ECHL, where he spent most of last season when he wasn’t filling in for injuries in Hamilton.
Defense
Another question mark will be the defense, as only two defensemen in camp played the entire season in Hamilton last year, so it will be interesting how the inexperienced defense can handle themselves. Making a return to Hamilton due to the NHL lockout, Mike Komisarek will be back in steeltown as his strong play in last year NHL playoffs will be a welcome addition. In addition to the young defense will be last year’s standout rookie J-P Cote who was just recently signed by the Canadiens after getting a tryout with Habs last summer, and a contract with Hamilton where he went on to led the team in +/- with a +27. Second year player Andrew Archer will be looking for an increased role with the team, as injuries and depth made ice time difficult to come by, but this year he’s in full health and coming off a good showing at the Development and Rookie camps this summer. Looking to make his debut with the team, Matt Shasby spent his first season outside of the NCAA, playing in the ECHL where he saw a great deal of ice time. Philippe Plante who’s under contract with Hamilton is the oldest defensemen on the team, as the twenty-six year old has spent the last five seasons playing in the AHL and IHL, and his veteran presence will be needed.
In attendance from the Stars is another top prospect of theirs, as Trevor Daley brings his offensive game to the team, and likely the power play quarter back, as he brings a small frame but lots of skill. The Stars also have unsigned defensemen Dan Jancevski, who will bring a good physical stay at home defensive game, and will be one of the more experienced defensemen, as he enters his fourth season in the AHL. In addition to the Stars defensemen, there are three tryouts in camp and another on loan from the Dogs new ECHL team, the Long Beach Ice Dogs, who agreed to send two players to camp. Jonathan Jolette tries to impress management and earn a contract with the team instead of returning to the QMJHL as an overager for Shawinigan, as he is known for his time spent in the penalty box, amassing 560 minutes in his last three seasons. James Sanford is in the same situation as Jolette, as he looks to get a contract over returning to Moncton of the QMJHL, where he doesn’t shy away from the physical side of the game despite his small stature. Sanford has been an effective offensive defenseman, producing 172 points in the last three seasons with Moncton, and he will look to bring some offense to Hamilton if he can get a roster spot. Derick Martin makes his second appearance as a tryout, after making an attempt to earn a roster spot last year he is back again looking to crack the roster after spending the last two years at Saint Mary’s of the CIS. From the ECHL, defensemen Gary Zinck looks to make an impression on management, as the Cole Harbor native has spent the last few years playing in the QMJHL, CIS, UHL and CHL.
Forwards
Returning to the Dogs is last years leading scorer Tomas Plekanec, who will enter his third season in the AHL, after showing improvement over each season he’s played in North America. Chirs Higgins will also be relied up to carry much of the offense, with the loss of Alex Perezhogin, but this shouldn’t be a problem for one of last years top rookie scorers. Duncan Milroy will be looking to play an increased role with the team, as he is coming off a somewhat disappointing rookie year, as injuries and depth kept him out of the lineup at times. Fresh off a strong showing at the Canadiens Rookie Camp, Milroy will need to help fill in offensively, as he was a standout all round player in the WHL that saw him produce well offensively. Another second year player, Jonathan Ferland will look for a bigger role with the team this year, as his physical presence will be a welcome addition to the lineup. Marc-Andre Thinel will be looking to play in his fourth season in the AHL, as he’s also spent time in the ECHL as well, after a very solid career in the QMJHL. Christian Larrivee spent most of last year in the ECHL, but he will be looking to crack the roster on a full time basis after getting a brief call up last season.
New to the Dogs will be the highly anticipated debut of Canadiens first round pick of 2003, Andrei Kostitsyn, who is coming over from a successful season playing in Russia’s junior league. Kostitsyn will be looked upon to bring his highly skilled offensive game, as many fans await their first view of him in action. Corey Locke is also looking to make his debut with the Dogs after just signing a three year contract with the Canadiens, although he will have his work cut out for him, as the center position will be one of Hamilton’s strongest positions. Cory Urquhart is in the same situation as Locke, in that he will be fighting for a roster spot, but if ice time is hard to come by, he may be forced to the ECHL or back to the QMJHL. Also CHL eligible is Michael Lambert, a teammate of Urquhart’s, he will also look to earn a roster spot after signing with the Habs this summer on the tails of a career year with the Rocket of PEI.
The Veteran presence is limited this year, but with new comer Gavin Morgan and Benoit Dusablon, the Dogs will have a mix of experience, leadership, skill and character, which will surely be needed. Raitis Ivanans will be looked upon to fill the tough guy role, as he brings his impressive size and strength to the team, after leaving last years Calder Cup Champs the Milwaukee Admirals. Ben Carpentier will also be there to fill the tough guy role, as he is no stranger to dropping the gloves.
On loan from Dallas is Steve Ott as his NHL experience will be of assistance to the team, as well as his work ethic, penalty killing and speed. In addition to Ott, Antti Miettinen will also join the Dogs, and bring a well rounded game as well as several years of professional experience playing in the sm-liiga and a brief NHL stint. Also on loan from the ECHL is Marco Rosa, a former Stars 2001 pick and NCAA regular, as he looks to earn a spot in the AHL. Journeyman Eric Normandin is at camp on a tryout basis, as he is one of the oldest players at the age of 27 years old, having played in seven different leagues over the last few years, the Laval native will try an earn a contract with the Dogs.
The Season Outlook
With so many new faces and lack of experience at the professional level, there’s going to be big question marks for the Bulldogs, if they can pull it together, develop their prospects and remain competitive at the same time, but if any coach can do it, Doug Jarvis is certainly up to the task. There’s no shortage of offensive skill at the forward position, but the question remains is how the defense and goaltending will standup against the rest of the league.