Syracuse, NY (December 10, 2011) --The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Hamilton Bulldogs tonight 4-1 at the War Memorial Arena.

Syracuse had a season-high  46 shots but Dan Sexton's marker with 2:03 left in regulation was the only shot Bulldogs goaltender Robert Mayer let through.

“We had a lot of good quality chances and he had numerous tough saves and stopped me on a breakaway a few times,” said Crunch forward John Mitchell. “I have to commend him on his play today, he played really well.”

The Bulldogs opened up the scoring just over 6 minutes into the first period. Hamilton's first tally was a goal by Philip Desimone. The lone assist went to Gabriel Dumont.

Exactly five minutes later the Bulldogs put in their second goal of the night scored by Dany Masse. Assists went to Aaron Palushaj and Brian Willsie. The first period ended with the Crunch down 2-0.

A minute into the second, as Palushaj came out of the box from a 2 minute roughing minor, he broke away with the puck and came in alone on Jeff Deslauriers. He scored with a quick shot stick side to put the Bulldogs up 3-0.

The Bulldogs finished up their scoring with 7:13 left in the third. Gabriel Dumont had his second point of the night when he scored the goal, it was assisted by Frederic St. Denis and Joe Callahan.

Sexton finally broke through with just over two minute remaining in regulation for the Crunch's lone tally.

Tonight was also the Stanley Steemer Tired Teddy Toss, with over 2,500 stuffed animals were collected. The animals will be refurbished by Stanley Steemer and then donated to the Salvation Army.

The Crunch hit the road this Wednesday the 14 when they play the Devils at Albany. The next home game is Friday, December 16 against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

Crunchables: Mark Bell and Patrick Maroon both wore an “A” today… Former Crunch players Mark Mitera and Michael Blunden returned to War Memorial Arena tonight. Mathieu Carle is also a former Hamilton Bulldog.