Hamilton Bulldogs 2022-23 Season Thread

[Jawk]

Great crowd today.

I'm going to say, I told you so... about Donovan being sick. This team has a few players battling illness and gutted out a huge win.

By far, Malboeufs best game of his career. He stole this one.

I still can't believe the way some people talk about these players. I had a Rangers fan behind me that called Arcuri a loser and then yelled "how does it feel to be a loser in your hometown" at Costantini. This was a guy that was probably 60 yrs old. It just blows me away. The Costantini comment didn't go over well with the people around him.

There are people that simply don't care that the players are kids. Or don't know.

If the kid I know actually makes this league, I will abandon all forums and social media. Can't imagine trying to ignore the idiots.

 

[rangersblues]

The Bulldogs certainly have the junior hockey cycle figured out. Two OHL championships in 4 years. By the looks of things you'll be competing for another in the near future.

I'm so jealous.

 

[Rounder8]

The Bulldogs certainly have the junior hockey cycle figured out. Two OHL championships in 4 years. By the looks of things you'll be competing for another in the near future.

I'm so jealous.

lol, I literally said to my wife today that I'm jealous of Rangers fans because they know that their team is never going anywhere and they get such great fan support.

 

[rangersblues]

lol, I literally said to my wife today that I'm jealous of Rangers fans because they know that their team is never going anywhere.

I really feel bad for Hamilton fans. Bad situation you find yourselves in unfortunately. I think I'd still try to follow the team if I could. I think you have a good owner and good people running the team.

I also think Brantford will really support a well run team.

 

[Helvigster]

Question, will the posters from Hamilton continue to post when the team moves? Not sure how manyy posters are from Brantford.

I'd have to think about it, but I like to think I would continue to support the team. I don't know if I would go to games, but as long as their games are still being broadcasted in the Hamilton area (since I'm not willing to cough up the funds for OHL Live or whatever its called), I'll watch them.

But then a part of me is a little upset about the situation all around. If it turns out they don't come back after 3 years and end up staying, my perception with Andlauer will probably change negatively. I know him being unexpectedly booted out while the renovations occur isn't his fault (unless you're HUEPG), but there's a really good chance the team doesn't return to Hamilton at all, and he's fully aware of that. Of course though, he has 3 years to wager his options, so I can't fault him right now, but I also can't help but think that he may be giving the fans in Hamilton a false sense of hope that the team will be back post-renovations.

 

[rangersblues]

I'd have to think about it, but I like to think I would continue to support the team. I don't know if I would go to games, but as long as their games are still being broadcasted in the Hamilton area (since I'm not willing to cough up the funds for OHL Live or whatever its called), I'll watch them.

But then a part of me is a little upset about the situation all around. If it turns out they don't come back after 3 years and end up staying, my perception with Andlauer will probably change negatively. I know him being unexpectedly booted out while the renovations occur isn't his fault (unless you're HUEPG), but there's a really good chance the team doesn't return to Hamilton at all, and he's fully aware of that. Of course though, he has 3 years to wager his options, so I can't fault him right now, but I also can't help but think that he may be giving the fans in Hamilton a false sense of hope that the team will be back post-renovations.

At the end of the day I don't believe Andlauer will have final say on if the Bulldogs return to Hamilton. I think the consortium running the arena may place conditions (lease, playing dates etc) that will be unfavourable. The renovations they have planned don't seem suited to have an OHL team as a major tenant unfortunately.

 

[Rounder8]

At the end of the day I don't believe Andlauer will have final say on if the Bulldogs return to Hamilton. I think the consortium running the arena may place conditions (lease, playing dates etc) that will be unfavourable. The renovations they have planned don't seem suited to have an OHL team as a major tenant unfortunately.

I don't disagree with you.

My only question would then be, who are they planning on having as an anchor tenant?

Are they spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a reno for 9 Toronto Rock games per year?

 

[Canadian Game]

I'd have to think about it, but I like to think I would continue to support the team. I don't know if I would go to games, but as long as their games are still being broadcasted in the Hamilton area (since I'm not willing to cough up the funds for OHL Live or whatever its called), I'll watch them.

But then a part of me is a little upset about the situation all around. If it turns out they don't come back after 3 years and end up staying, my perception with Andlauer will probably change negatively. I know him being unexpectedly booted out while the renovations occur isn't his fault (unless you're HUEPG), but there's a really good chance the team doesn't return to Hamilton at all, and he's fully aware of that. Of course though, he has 3 years to wager his options, so I can't fault him right now, but I also can't help but think that he may be giving the fans in Hamilton a false sense of hope that the team will be back post-renovations.

Even if the lease at FOC is jacked way up (likely) and the city still doesn’t let him build a new arena? What else can he do to bring hockey back to Hamilton?

I don’t think he’s purposely trying to give a sense of false hope. He’s leaving the door open for opportunity because ideally he wants to be in the Hamilton. But the city really seems to want to handcuff him to the FOC, and he’s not going to come back without it being a good fit for him as well.

 

[barriers]

Even if the lease at FOC is jacked way up (likely) and the city still doesn’t let him build a new arena? What else can he do to bring hockey back to Hamilton?

I don’t think he’s purposely trying to give a sense of false hope. He’s leaving the door open for opportunity because ideally he wants to be in the Hamilton. But the city really seems to want to handcuff him to the FOC, and he’s not going to come back without it being a good fit for him as well.

The city isn't stopping him from building a new arena, they're just not paying for it. Andlauer's offer was far better than most owners will ever put into facilities but his $30M or so wouldn't have gone very far. The parking garage Limeridge required to be built as compensation for the land use was estimated to cost $52M itself (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/lime-ridge-arena-1.5428441.)

For what it's worth CadillacFairview is still discussing building a private-owned arena where the Bay currently is but I'm not sure how close to reality any proposal actually is.

 

[Helvigster]

At the end of the day I don't believe Andlauer will have final say on if the Bulldogs return to Hamilton. I think the consortium running the arena may place conditions (lease, playing dates etc) that will be unfavourable. The renovations they have planned don't seem suited to have an OHL team as a major tenant unfortunately.

that's EXACTLY what I was worried about when I first read the developer's plans. As soon as I read that they were going to try to keep the max capacity around the same, I assumed that they weren't going to want the team around once renovations ended. An OHL team isn't going to sell out 17k seats per game, so the only reason I can think of as to why they're keeping the capacity the same is because of concerts. Well, either that or unless they think an NHL team is coming here, which it isn't.

I don't disagree with you.

My only question would then be, who are they planning on having as an anchor tenant?

Are they spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a reno for 9 Toronto Rock games per year?

That would be an extremely laughable and poor allocation of money if that was indeed the case. I don't know the Rock's average attendance since they've moved to FOC, but I can't imagine it would be anything enough to force open the upper bowl on a consistent basis.

Even if the lease at FOC is jacked way up (likely) and the city still doesn’t let him build a new arena? What else can he do to bring hockey back to Hamilton?

I don’t think he’s purposely trying to give a sense of false hope. He’s leaving the door open for opportunity because ideally he wants to be in the Hamilton. But the city really seems to want to handcuff him to the FOC, and he’s not going to come back without it being a good fit for him as well.

Well from what I've taken in, especially given the interview with the HUPEG spokesperson on the radio, I would feel extremely disrespected and unwanted by both the developers, as well as city council (I know it's a different one now, but still) if I was him.

 

[Jawk]

Made the trip out to Brantford to check out the Civic center, have some serious work to do to make it look like a passable OHL building.

Bathrooms and concessions are going to be a nightmare.

 

[Rounder8]

Made the trip out to Brantford to check out the Civic center, have some serious work to do to make it look like a passable OHL building.

Bathrooms and concessions are going to be a nightmare.

We should know in the next year or so if they're planning on staying in Brantford because they will start building a new arena.

There is no way that arena is a permanent solution.

 

[Jawk]

We should know in the next year or so if they're planning on staying in Brantford because they will start building a new arena.

There is no way that arena is a permanent solution.

The most obvious issues are things they are addressing.

Things that stood out to me in order that I noticed,

1. Current lighting is absolutely terrible.
2. Score board is about 30 years old
3. Glass
4. Boards

Other issues that I'm not sure what they can do,

1. Bathroom facilities
2. Concessions
3. Walkway around top of seats is very narrow. Even a couple people not standing right against the railing cause a back up. If you squeeze against the wall the floor is covered in bolts that trip you up.

After talking with some people, the price increase is going to be more that just a typical year over year jump.

The plus side is that every seat is very close to the action. 9 rows deep, even on the ends is going to create a nice atmosphere.

A few pictures

 

[Canadian Game]

I don’t recall it being posted but the mayor of Brantford posted a video a few weeks ago go where he did a walkthrough of the arena with the facilities manager talking about renovations.



In terms of everything being completed on time, during the council meeting when the city officially approved everything, the Bulldogs said they sent a request to the OHL to start on the road and for the opener be at least 2 weeks into the season. Frankly, I’ll be shocked if renos are done on time by late September.

 

[Jawk]

I don’t recall it being posted but the mayor of Brantford posted a video a few weeks ago go where he did a walkthrough of the arena with the facilities manager talking about renovations.



In terms of everything being completed on time, during the council meeting when the city officially approved everything, the Bulldogs said they sent a request to the OHL to start on the road and for the opener be at least 2 weeks into the season. Frankly, I’ll be shocked if renos are done on time by late September.

A little surprised they haven't started yet.

 

[Jawk]

Best part of a game against Kingston is listening to Caputi scream on how to play hockey at his players all game.

 

[Jawk]

After 2; I think the reffing has been questionable.

 

[I Loveallsports]

I don’t recall it being posted but the mayor of Brantford posted a video a few weeks ago go where he did a walkthrough of the arena with the facilities manager talking about renovations.



In terms of everything being completed on time, during the council meeting when the city officially approved everything, the Bulldogs said they sent a request to the OHL to start on the road and for the opener be at least 2 weeks into the season. Frankly, I’ll be shocked if renos are done on time by late September.

This was excellent thx for sharing. I'm assuming upgrades will be completed by the start of the season.

 

[Rounder8]

Best part of a game against Kingston is listening to Caputi scream on how to play hockey at his players all game.

Did anybody else notice that the refs screwed up at the end of the 2nd period?

They gave Kingston a 5-3 for the last 9 seconds of the period. I was watching thinking that it should be a 4-3 because Grush and Mediema got minor penalties to start things followed by Panwar and then Donovan.

They corrected it to start the 3rd period because Kingston started 4-3.

 

[Jawk]

This was excellent thx for sharing. I'm assuming upgrades will be completed by the start of the season.

As crazy as it seems I don't think the timeline for things like boards/glass, lights, new board is really that big of a deal.

Has to be the work on dressing rooms that will take the longest. That's not just size and appearance, the big thing is plumbing. Apparently hot water in the building is an issue!

It's been mentioned, but it looks like they will start on the road.

Did anybody else notice that the refs screwed up at the end of the 2nd period?

They gave Kingston a 5-3 for the last 9 seconds of the period. I was watching thinking that it should be a 4-3 because Grush and Mediema got minor penalties to start things followed by Panwar and then Donovan.

They corrected it to start the 3rd period because Kingston started 4-3.

OHL reffing. Give them 15 minutes and they can sometimes get the calls right.

 

[Canadian Game]

Did anybody else notice that the refs screwed up at the end of the 2nd period?

They gave Kingston a 5-3 for the last 9 seconds of the period. I was watching thinking that it should be a 4-3 because Grush and Mediema got minor penalties to start things followed by Panwar and then Donovan.

They corrected it to start the 3rd period because Kingston started 4-3.

Nice catch. I didn’t notice at the end of the second at all.

 

[Rounder8]

Nice catch. I didn’t notice at the end of the second at all.

I had to watch the replay when I got home to make sure that I wasn't seeing things.lol

 

[Jawk]

One of, if not the, sloppiest and uninspired games they've played all year. They could have had the PP for 60 minutes and still wouldn't have scored.

 

[Rounder8]

One of, if not the, sloppiest and uninspired games they've played all year. They could have had the PP for 60 minutes and still wouldn't have scored.

It's unbelievable how bad they were.

They couldn't complete a 10 foot pass.

I truly don't understand our PP. Drop back pass so everybody is standing still and then dump the puck in and of course lose the race because of everybody standing still. The puck then gets iced. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

One of, if not the, sloppiest and uninspired games they've played all year. They could have had the PP for 60 minutes and still wouldn't have scored.

They had like 1 shot on a 2 man powerplay and then maybe 2 or 3 in the PPs the followed.

Rotten game all around. Some days this team looks like theyd be hard to beat in a 7 game series and others they look like they could be bounced in 4.