Player of the Week: Charles Hudon
I’m running out of adjectives to describe Charles Hudon’s rookie season in Hamilton, and that’s a good thing. Hudon tallied four points on the week, pushing him over 30 points on the year, and making him the first in the AHL to hit that peak. He started another big week with a beautiful goal against the Adirondack Flames, where he scored while two defenders were hanging all over his back.
Hudon then followed that up with a pair of assists in Hamilton’s Annual Toy Toss game, then added another assist Saturday night in a rematch against Rochester. In seven games this December Hudon has nine points and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down his torrid scoring pace.
Weekly Stats:
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | PPP | SHG | SOG |
| Charles Hudon | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | +2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Sven Andrighetto* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gabriel Dumont | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Christian Thomas | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Magnus Nygren | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daniel Carr | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Michael Bournival* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Drayson Bowman | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Eric Tangradi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Mac Bennett | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Greg Pateryn | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jacob de la Rose | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Nathan Beaulieu* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darren Dietz | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Davis Drewiske | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Jarred Tinordi | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Morgan Ellis* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Nevins | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Connor Crisp | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
*Denotes player is in the ECHL/NHL
| Goalie | GP | W | L | OTL | SO | GA | GAA | SV% |
| Mike Condon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2.02 | .913% |
| Joey MacDonald | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3.28 | .923% |
Sven Andrighetto: Andrighetto is currently playing in Montreal where he is riding a three-game point streak (2G 1A).
Gabriel Dumont: The captain of the Bulldogs finally broke his goalless drought this week with a tip-in goal against Rochester and added an assist on Daniel Carr’s sixth goal of the year.
Christian Thomas: Thomas hit the scoresheet only once this week when he notched his second powerplay goal of the year against Rochester.
Magnus Nygren: Nygren did not play this week due to illness and according to head coach Sylvain Lefebvre is “day to day.”
Daniel Carr: Carr is finding his way in the goal column more often and scored his sixth of the year to make it rain toys in Hamilton Friday night, and he followed that up by assisting on Gabriel Dumont’s seventh goal of the year the next night.
Michael Bournival: Bournival is currently playing in Montreal after completing his conditioning assignment.
Drayson Bowman: Bowman made his way on the scoresheet by first assisting on Charles Hudon’s ninth goal of the year and then Friday night he assisted on T.J. Hensick’s game tying goal against Rochester. He would cap off the week with the Bulldogs opening goal Saturday night against the Amerks.
Eric Tangradi: Tangradi was sent down from Montreal and played only one game where he was held pointless but registered six shots on net.
Mac Bennett: Bennett was held pointless in all three games played this week.
Greg Pateryn: It was an up and down week for Pateryn who registered two assists on Saturday against Rochester, but also took a penalty in overtime that the Amerks scored on to win the game.
Jacob de la Rose: The Swedish forward was pointless again but still logged major minutes at even strength and on the penalty kill. De la Rose is expected to captain Team Sweden at the upcoming World Junior Championship.
Nathan Beaulieu: Beaulieu has been called up to Montreal and is without a point since his call up.
Darren Dietz: Dietz was once again held pointless this week.
Davis Drewiske: Drewiske scored his first as a Bulldog this week against the Flames and then added an assist Saturday night against the Amerks.
Jarred Tinordi: The hulking defensemen was without a point but showcased some new offensive skills when in control of the puck. Tinordi also logged massive minutes on Hamilton’s top penalty killing unit and in a 4 on 3 situation blocked at least a half dozen shots.
Morgan Ellis: Ellis is currently playing for the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL and had two assists this week.
Jack Nevins: No points in three games for Nevins but he beat up another fourth liner so there’s that.
Connor Crisp: Crisp notched his first point of the season when he assisted on Drewiske’s first goal of the year.
Michael Condon: Condon only got one start this week but managed to earn a win while making 21 total saves.
Joey MacDonald: The veteran goalie started two games this week and would lose in overtime in both of them. Despite the losses MacDonald was outstanding making 47 saves against Adirondack and 38 against Rochester including several highlight reel worthy stops Saturday night.
Dalton Thrower: Thrower has begun practicing with the team but according to Lefebvre is a “few weeks away from being ready.”
Year to Date Stats:
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | PPP | SHG | SOG |
| Charles Hudon | 27 | 9 | 21 | 30 | +11 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 55 |
| Sven Andrighetto* | 21 | 9 | 9 | 18 | +1 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 63 |
| Gabriel Dumont | 27 | 7 | 9 | 16 | -3 | 50 | 1 | 0 | 77 |
| Magnus Nygren | 15 | 4 | 6 | 10 | +2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 38 |
| Christian Thomas | 21 | 7 | 4 | 11 | -8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 54 |
| Daniel Carr | 27 | 6 | 4 | 10 | +4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| Drayson Bowman | 17 | 4 | 6 | 10 | +3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 33 |
| Eric Tangradi | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | +2 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 37 |
| Jacob de la Rose | 27 | 3 | 2 | 5 | +2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 34 |
| Mac Bennett | 20 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Greg Pateryn | 27 | 2 | 6 | 8 | +1 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 31 |
| Michael Bournival* | 7 | 3 | 5 | 8 | +6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Davis Drewiske | 27 | 1 | 5 | 6 | +2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
| Darren Dietz | 26 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Nathan Beaulieu* | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Jarred Tinordi | 17 | 0 | 3 | 3 | +3 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Morgan Ellis* | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Jack Nevins | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Connor Crisp | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
*Denotes player is in the ECHL/NHL
| Goalie | GP | W | L | OTL | SO | GA | GAA | SV% |
| Mike Condon | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 2.34 | .924% |
| Joey MacDonald | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 2.80 | .906% |
From the coach:
Sylvain Lefebvre had a lot to say when I caught up with him Saturday night and here are the major points
On the powerplay:
“We had late chances on the powerplay to put the game away and we didn’t capitalize. The Amerks did and they won, it’s a different game if we converted on those extra chances.”
On the penalty kill units:
“The first unit was fantastic, they went out there, competed and blocked shots and you can tell the team appreciates that. The second unit didn’t block the same shots and it cost us the win in the end.”
On Jacob de la Rose heading to the WJC:
“It’s hard to replace a player of his caliber on the penalty kill, and in the lineup. Guys are going to be competing for that spot, and someone will step up while he’s gone.”
On Hudon and Hensick’s hot streak:
“It’s tough to always get good match-ups especially on the road, but having two players like them in the lineup makes it easier to have favourable match-ups.”
On MacDonald and Condon:
“They both gives us a chance to win every single night which is all we can ask of them. Good teams roll with two solid goalies and that’s what we’re doing right now.”
On injuries:
“Nygren is still day to day with his illness. Thrower is practicing with the team but he needs time to get game ready, he’s a few weeks away still.”
The Bulldogs’ record currently stands at 12-10-5 giving them 29 points, which places them third overall in the AHL’s North Division, and seventh overall in the Western Conference. The Dogs are back in action on December 17 when they kick off a two game series against the St. John’s IceCaps before hosting the Texas Stars on December 21.
