AHL action returning to Mile One this preseason

The Hamilton Bulldogs announced today that the club’s 2008 training camp will be held at Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Nfld., from Sept. 29 through Oct. 5, 2008.

In preparation for their 13th season in Hamilton, the Bulldogs will also host North Division rivals the Manitoba Moose (AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks) and the Toronto Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) in a preseason tournament at Mile One Centre.

“All three teams decided that it was not only a viable option, but also a wonderful opportunity for our coaches, players and staff to return to a city and province that strongly supported an AHL team for 14 years,” said Hamilton Bulldogs president and governor Glenn Stanford.

The four-game round-robin tournament, which will feature the AHL’s three Canadian-based franchises, will commence on Thursday, Oct. 2, with a contest between the Manitoba Moose and the Toronto Marlies. The tournament’s second game will take place on Friday, Oct. 3, when the Hamilton Bulldogs will battle the Marlies. The third and final game of the round robin is set for Saturday, Oct. 4, when the Bulldogs will meet the Moose. Following the round robin, the top two teams will advance to the tournament’s championship game, which is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 5.

All on-ice training camp sessions and practices will be open to the public. Tickets for all pre-season tournament games will be available at the Mile One Centre Box Office, by phone at 709-576-7657 (St. John’s) or 1-800-361-4595 (toll-free) and online at www.admission.com beginning on July 5.

Every Hamilton Bulldogs pre-season game will be broadcast live on AM 820 CHAM and online at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com. Joining Hamilton Bulldogs play-by-play announcer Derek Wills as a guest color commentator will be former St. John’s Maple Leafs (AHL) broadcaster Brian Rogers.