Three Bulldogs Skating in NHL

March 6, 2009

Jeff Hamilton '01, a free agent forward, was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs for the remainder of the 2008-09 season and skated last night in the 2-1 win at Washington. He is the third Bulldog to skate in the NHL this season.

Forward Chris Higgins '05 (39, 8-8-16) is skating for the Canadiens, while defenseman Joe Callahan '05 (14, 0-1-1) is with the Islanders.

Hamilton, who had 17 shifts last night, had more than 14 minutes of ice time in his first NHL action since finishing the 2007-08 campaign with Carolina. , Hamilton, 31, played in 50 games in the American Hockey League with the Chicago Wolves this season, registering a team-high 53 points (16 goals, 37 assists) with 18 penalty minutes.

Hamilton, a native of Englewood, Ohio, has played in 143 career NHL games for four teams including the Islanders and Blackhawks. His 173 career collegiate points (80 goals) are a Yale school record.

During his NHL career, which began in 2003-04, he has registered 29 goals and 42 assists for 71 points with 40 penalty minutes.

In 2003-04, the 5-10, 185-pound winger captured the Willie Marshall Award as the AHL's top goal scorer with a career-high 43 goals in just 67 games as a member of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Hamilton also led the Islanders' AHL affiliate that season with 68 points and was named to the AHL's First All-Star Team.