Bulldogs Sign Desjardins, Palushaj and St-Denis to AHL Contracts

Hamilton Bulldogs Press Release
09/26/2012 11:33 AM –
MONTREAL, QC – Hamilton Bulldogs General Manager Marc Bergevin announced today the signings of goaltender Cedrick Desjardins, forward Aaron Palushaj and defenceman Frederic St-Denis to American Hockey League contracts. As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Last season, Desjardins played 32 games with the Lake Erie Monsters, posting a 16-11-5 record and three shutouts. During the 2011-2012 season, his sixth as a professional, Desjardins led the AHL with a .932 save percentage, finished third in the league with a 2.11 goals against average and was selected to represent his team at the 2012 American Hockey League All-Star Classic in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Desjardins, a native of Edmundston, New Brunswick, started his professional career with the Montreal Canadiens organization in 2006-2007. In four seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs, the 6’0”, 192-pound goaltender played 92 regular season games, accumulating a record of 49-27-5, a 2.34 goals against average, a .909 save percentage and 10 shutouts. Desjardins also played in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games for the ‘Dogs, recording a 6-4-0 record, a 2.62 goals against average, a .902 save percentage and one shutout.

In 148 career regular season AHL games, Desjardins, 26, has a record of 80-43-12, a 2.33 goals against average, a .919 save percentage, 14 shutouts and was also named an American Hockey League Second-Team All-Star in 2010. In two career National Hockey League games with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2010-2011 season, Desjardins went 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals against average and a .968 save percentage. Desjardins also led the Cincinnati Cyclones to the ECHL championship and captured the Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award in 2008.

Palushaj, 23, finished third on the Bulldogs in points in 2011-2012 with 35 (15 goals, 20 assists), while collecting seven powerplay goals, six game-winning goals, 115 shots on goal and 35 penalty minutes. The 5’11”, 187-pound forward also played 38 games for the Canadiens last season, recording five points (one goal, four assists), 37 shots on goal and eight penalty minutes. Palushaj recorded his first-career NHL point on February 5th, 2012 against the Winnipeg Jets and scored his first-career NHL goal on March 17th, 2012 versus the New York Islanders.

Palushaj ranks 20th in all-time points with the Hamilton Bulldogs with 102 (40 goals, 62 assists) in 121 games over three seasons. In 169 career regular season AHL games with the Peoria Rivermen and Hamilton Bulldogs, the native of Livonia, Michigan has registered 126 points (47 goals, 79 assists). Palushaj played 82 games for the University of Michigan of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association from 2007-2009 notching 94 points (23 goals, 71 assists). Palushaj was acquired from St. Louis in exchange for forward Matt D’Agostini on March 3rd, 2010, after being originally selected by the Blues in the second round, 44th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

In 2011-2012, St-Denis, 26, played 58 games with Hamilton, recording 28 points (three goals, 25 assists), 114 shots on goal and 18 penalty minutes. St-Denis was selected to represent the Bulldogs at the 2012 American Hockey League All-Star Classic in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After making his National Hockey League debut with Montreal on November 16th, 2011 vs. the Carolina Hurricanes, the 5’11”, 182-pound defenceman played in 17 games with the Canadiens, notching three points (one goal, two assists), 11 shots on goal, 10 penalty minutes and a +3 rating.

In 200 career AHL games, all with Hamilton, St-Denis has produced 70 points (12 goals, 58 assists), 96 penalty minutes and a +29 rating. The native of Greenfield Park, Quebec is fifth all-time on the Bulldogs in assists by a defenceman with 58, sixth all-time by a defenceman in points with 70 and eighth all-time by a defenceman in games played with 200. St-Denis was originally signed by the Montreal Canadiens as a free agent on July 1, 2010.

2012-2013 Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets, Pioneer Flex Pack tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now! For as little as $10 per game, you can enjoy the many benefits of being a ‘Dogs season ticket holder including reserved seating for all home games at Copps Coliseum, the option to redeem unused tickets for any regular season game, discounts on team merchandise and access to exclusive season ticket holder-only events with the team. Convenient payment plans are available. For more information on how to join our team by becoming a Hamilton Bulldogs season ticket holder, or for more information on Pioneer Flex Pack tickets or group tickets, call 905-529-8500 or 1-866-DOGS-TIX, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com. ‘Dogs single-game tickets are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster Outlet, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or by calling 905-529-8500 or 1-866-DOGS-TIX.

Visit the official website of the Hamilton Bulldogs at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com