Last season, the 6’3, 209 lbs Ward spent all but a pair of games with the Canadiens. In 53 games in Montreal, he recorded a career high 12 points (5 goals and 7 assists), along with a +3 rating and 21 PIMS, averaging 12:39 a game. In the 2 games he spent in Hamilton on a conditioning stint, he notched a trio of assists, to go along with 17 PIMS.

Ward is no stranger to the Bulldogs, having been on their 2002-03 Calder Cup Finalist squad. That season, he led the team in scoring, tallying 72 points (31 goals, 41 assists) in just 69 games, before being recalled to the Canadiens at the Trade Deadline when Doug Gilmour was traded. In the Calder Cup playoffs, Ward led all AHL scorers with 21 points (12-9-21) in 23 games. As a result of his efforts, Ward was named AHL MVP, as well as Bulldogs MVP. He was also named to the league’s First All-Star team, and represented Team Canada in the All-Star game.

No announcement has been made on who will be sent down to Long Beach to accommodate his signing. More than likely, if anyone is to go down, it will either be Michael Lambert, Cory Urquhart, Ben Carpentier, or Benoit Dusablon, the latter having spent significant time in the ECHL the past few seasons. However, the recent announcement about D J-P Cote’s shoulder injury may delay this by a couple of weeks.

Next action for the 2-0-1-0 Bulldogs is a trio of games in as many nights, beginning Friday in Philadelphia. Be sure to watch for the Bulldogs This Week column, which will have a recap of those games, plus any other Hamilton information.