That's right folks, The Hamilton Bulldogs are the first pro hockey team in Ontario to take home a championship since the Toronto Maple Leafs did it in 1967. Wow must really suck to be a leaf fan :). Anyways the Bulldogs ended up taking the series 4-1 with the 2-1 victory on Thursday night over the Hershey Bears. The same Hershey Bears that defeated the Bulldogs in 1997. This is the first championship in Bulldogs history which has been around for 11 years.
Ajay Baines scored the winning goal almost at the midway point of the 3rd period. It was a shorthanded marker (his second in as many nights) and was a beautiful set up by Maxim Lapierre who also had the opening goal of the game. The Baines - Chipchura - Ferland line has been the most consistent for the Bulldogs in the 2007 playoffs. While the line is the so called checking line for the team, they also chipped in with timely goals when needed.
Carey Price was once again solid in net for the Bulldogs and took home the playoff MVP award. He became the 3rd player in AHL history to have played junior hockey the same year as starting for a AHL team and winning the MVP award. You all may know this already but the last goalie to accomplish this feat was the one and only Patrick Roy in 1985. Of course the year after he did that the Montreal Canadians won the Stanley cup. It has been a very impressive year for Price. To go along with this MVP award of the AHL playoffs and winning a Calder cup championship, he also won the award for the most outstanding goaltender in the entire CHL this year AND won gold for team Canada at the World Junior Championships where he was named top goaltender and MVP of the tournament. All this being accomplished before the tender age of 20 is pretty darn impressive and has all habs fans like myself and the habs brass drooling over what he will be able to do for the habs in the coming years.
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