The Hamilton Bulldogs are a minor league ice hockey team that plays in the North Division of the American Hockey League. The Bulldogs franchise moved to Hamilton for the 1996-97 season. Previously, the team had played in Cape Breton and was known as the Cape Breton Oilers. Before that time, the franchise had also played in Nova Scotia and Moncton.http://hockeydb.com/stte/hamilton-bulldogs-5998.html

For the team's first six seasons in Hamilton, they were the minor league affiliate for the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers. The agreement between the two teams ended after the 2002-03 season. Another Canadian franchise, the Montreal Canadiens, replaced the Oilers, becoming the Bulldogs' new minor league affiliate for the 2003-04 season.http://hockeydb.com/stte/hamilton-bulldogs-5998.html

The Bulldogs finished the 2009-10 regular season with the best record in the AHL's Western Conference. The team recorded 115 points, with a record of 52-17-3-8. Their performance earned them first place in the North Division by 24 points.http://theahl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=standings&season_id=30 In the playoffs, the Bulldogs met with the Manitoba Moose in the first round. Hamilton defeated Manitoba four game to two to advance to the second round. In the division finals, Hamilton faced off against the Abottsford Heat. Hamilton also beat the Heat four game to two, advancing to the Western Conference Finals. In the third round, Hamilton's season ended against the Texas Stars. The Bulldogs lost the series four games to three with Texas. Three of Hamilton's losses came in overtime.http://theahl.com/stats/bracket.php?season_id=33

David Desharnais was the Bulldogs' top scorer in the 2009-10 season. Desharnais registered 51 assists and 78 points for Hamilton. The top goal scorer for the team was Brock Trotter, he scored 36 goals in 75 games. The leading goalie for Hamilton was Cedrick Desjardins. He had a record of 29-9-4 in 47 games. He recorded a goals against average of 2.00 and a save percentage .919.http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0007912010.html

Some former Bulldog players have gone on to have careers in the NHL. Goalie Jaroslav Halak played three seasons with the Bulldogs before going on to play with the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues.http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/h/halakja01.html Montreal center Maxim Lapierre scored 74 points in 129 games during his minor league career with the Bulldogs.http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/l/lapiema01.html Winger Tomas Plekanec had 176 points in three seasons in Hamilton before moving up to play for the Canadiens.http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/p/plekato01.html