What a game. Clippers 4 Dogs 3 in double OT

Where to start?

The biggest crowd at the pound in a long time?

The Sam Mitchell vs. Carson Schell captain vs captain scrap TWO seconds into the game?

Bill Bestwick returning the "Bestwick wave" from the fans on other side of the rink in the delay that followed?

The 19 power plays in total?

The Clippers fan bus making noise in the pound?



The Clippers won 4-3 in double OT, their second straight 4-3 overtime win in Port Alberni in a penalty filled affair. Luc Olivier Blain would give the Clippers a 1-0 lead banging a rebound home in front on the 5 on 4 power play seconds after the Dogs had got one man out of the box. The Dogs would even the game at 1-1 on the second of back to back power plays when Sam Mitchell tipped in a Kevin Ross point shot.

Before the celebration even died down it was 2-1 Clippers 38 seconds later as Cody Bremner put a perfect shot short side bar down on Frank Slubowski. The Dogs would out shoot the Shipmen 17-6 in the first yet trail 2-1 into the second as they couldn't buy a goal off of several scrambles around Loic Boivin.

The Bulldogs would tie the game at 2-2 with the only goal of the second period when Sam Mitchell found a loose puck in the slot and patiently steered it home. No assists would be given on the goal as referee Ryan Benbow said the Clippers had scored on their own net. After further review on our replay it looked clearly like Mitchell scored the goal. Assists on the play would have went to Kevin Ross and possibly Josh Mitchell as it was Josh's shot that was blocked and caromed back to Ross at the right point where his slapper ended up being blocked and found by Sam in the slot.

The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game just short of five minutes into the third on a goal that the Clippers protested, as Jesse Halikas found Matt Hatch alone in front with a pass off the end boards where he would put a five hole deke home to make it 3-2. My only guess on a Clipper protest would be that they wanted an icing call. In the linesman's defense they might have ruled no icing as it appeared Johnny Rogic was battling a Clipper stick as the pass arrived. The Dogs would go the penalty box three straight times to open the third, but their penalty kill was solid as they held the Clippers off the board for the first two chances. The third would be one too many as Nicholas McIntyre let a one-timer go off a carom from a Mark MacMillan shot block that found the back of the net with 9 minutes to go to tie the game at 3-3.

The Bulldogs would then have a glorious chance to win the game late with a 5 on 3 power play for a full minute with 90 seconds left in the third.

The best chance to win it in regulation came with less than 30 seconds on the clock when Mark MacMillan put a shot off the post from in tight that bounced out of play.

The Clippers would kill the remainder of the Bulldog power play to open overtime, and then a minute later it was the Dogs turn to kill as the Clippers went to the power play and had several great chances as all of a sudden Frank Slubowski was very busy.

The Dogs would kill it off and the game went to double overtime, where the Clippers would win it on a 2 on 1 with Cody Bremner putting a beauty cross ice pass to Joe Perry who one-timed a slap shot into the open side before Slubowski could get over.

My good buddy Al (even though he's a Clipper fan) who was in attendance sent me a message and said it was karma coming back to the Dogs for their third goal, as he thought the Clippers winner might have been offside. I didn't notice it on the play nor did Rick but interesting none the less. I actually went and looked at the replay and it's just too close to call. In the end I'll go with the lineman on it as he was right in position on the line.

Crazy game, albeit entertaining with a great crowd. It almost like a football game at times with the special teams playing such a huge part. It was as if one team would get possession of the ball for a while to try and march one into the net, and then the other team would get a crack and back and forth.


Up tomorrow, it's the Dogs visiting the Cowichan Valley Capitals. For now, I really need a bed!

Good night.

Great game, good efforts put out by both teams, great crowd from both sides of the puck.

Hammer

Parents!

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Hope to see you there!

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Get there EARLY - Dogs host Clippers, parents weekend, Doug Krantz interview, SHAW tailgate party, Boston Pizza post game show

What a title, on what it quite the weekend for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

Fresh off a 3-0 loss Wednesday night in Victoria that snapped their winning streak at five games (the first such winning streak since the last 5 wins of the infamous 20 game win streak during 05-06) the AVB host the streaking Nanaimo Clippers who are winners of four in a row. They are winners of 7 of 8 games, going unbeaten over the stretch with one tie in Salmon Arm being the only blemish.

This is a special weekend off the ice, with no less than 15 players having their parents, step parents, grandparents, brothers, cousins, aunts ETC in town from all over North America to see their boys play! All of the families present will be introduced on the ice starting at 6:45 so please make it to the rink early if you can to give them a nice welcome! The players will be presenting their families with Bulldog gift bags.

More incentive to get there early, beside the families being introduced on the ice...
Game day sponsor SHAW is throwing a Tailgater' in the parking lot of the Multiplex, serving up Burgers and Dogs under the tent so come rain, sun, shine, or monsoon!

As I mentioned last night they will also be auctioning off a HD PVR for charity, with the auction ending at the start of the first period.

Catch the pregame on 93.3 The Peak at 6:45, with the puck dropping at 7:00.

Tonight's first intermission guest is Casey Bailey, the second is former Bulldog Doug Krantz (with some great flo' going on down below) now with Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL so don't miss them!

Last but not least - don't forget the Boston Pizza post game show live at BP's after the game with myself and Nolan Graham on the air and the rest of the Bulldogs making their way down as well.



I say predicting is for Nostradamus, but when I interviewed Clippers play-by-play voice Dan Marshall he said that overtime was a good prediction for tonight, with the last two games between these teams needing extra time. The Dogs won most recently, 2-1 in double OT at the Frank Crane Arena on October 23rd on a Matt Hatch winner. The week prior, Andy Smith scored the winner for the Clippers in the first overtime period at the pound for a 4-3 final.



Hammer

Bulldogs Parents to be introduced on ice tomorrow night! And SHAW's Tail Gate Party kicks off at 5:30!

Just talked to Bulldogs Director of Marketing and Game Days Laurie Smillie, who informed me that the Bulldogs parents will be introduced tomorrow night on the ice starting at 6:45pm to kick off parents weekend!



Pretty cool stuff! So please take note and spread the word to one and all to come to the rink a little early to give the parents a nice welcome in front of a good crowd!!




Remember 6:45....6:45 the ceremonies start!!




AND don't forget that the SHAW tailgate party kicks off rain or shine or snow under the tent at 5:30 with free hot dogs and hamburgers!




AND - SHAW will be auctioning off a HD PVR. The price starts at zero, and the auction ends beginning of the second period. Value is $500.00 with proceeds going to charity.



Laurie says she'll be watching and the second the puck hits the ice for the second period the auction is OVER!



I think that's all for now.




And oh yeah - the Dogs host the Clippers tomorrow ;)




Hammer










Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Grizz 3 Dogs 0

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs had their 5 game winning streak snapped with a 3-0 loss to the Grizzlies tonight at Bear Mountain Arena.

The Dogs fell down 1-0 ten minutes in, and then 2-0 with five to play.

The Dogs then got in penalty trouble, down two men for well over a minute. They came up with a big penalty kill, and futher seemed to gain momentum with a goal to make it 2-1. The goal however after some discussion would be disallowed.

The goal would prove to be a huge turning point as the Dogs didn't find the net after that as the Grizzlies added one more on a Jordan Heywood powerplay blast in the second for the 3-0 final.

Save from the 5 on 3 kill and the disallowed goal that followed, the Dogs didn't really have much in the way of offense in this one, generating just 19 shots. The Grizz didn't exactly shoot the lights out either putting 26 shots on net but they certainly out chanced the Dogs.

You can't win them all, and I don't think the Dogs will win many on nights like this one with how they played.

Just my two cents.

Now for my two bits.

I was quite shocked and ashamed - as I said on the air - when a doctor was called over the public address late in the game to the Bulldogs dressing room, which was met with a loud cheer and high fives by a group of Victoria die hards surrounding the broadcast booth.

During a commercial break I opened the door and said to the fans " Did they just call a doctor to our dressing room, and did you all cheer? You should be ashamed of yourselves"

First things first - I've never had a problem in Victoria. Quite the contrary actually. There's a great group of off ice volunteers and office people and game day staffers that I always enjoy chatting with on my trips to Vic.

And they have a great group of diehards that support their team, cheers, chants, rituals and the like. That's awesome stuff.

But if your ritual is to all cheer and high-five when the doctor gets called to a dressing room, yiu might want to take a long look at that one.

Maybe I feel this way because I just saw a player on Sunday get his face destroyed, and his career and life possibly changed as a result.

Maybe its because I know these guys are all kids, and humans, no matter what team they play for. Sons, grandsons, brothers. You get the picture.

In the end it gives me a greater respect and admiration for the fans in Port Alberni. A kid gets hurt from the other team in the Dog Pound, and when he gets up, its to a loud ovation. A kid gets seriously hurt like he did on Sunday, and I receive dozens of emails, texts, and phone calls from Bulldog fans into the night inquiring about the health of the Burnaby player and sending him well wishes.

Best fans in the league.

I'm not painting all the Grizz fans with the same brush, and I'm in now way attaching their actions to the organization in any way. So don't take it that way.

I'm just hoping maybe one or two of the people that cheered when the doctor was called will reflect a bit. Hey, I get fired up to and get caught in the emotion of things too. But I NEVER get my excitement from kids getting hurt. And neither should you.

Hammer

Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Game Day Chat

Dogs in Victoria to start 4 games in 5 days

A busy week for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs begins tonight as they visit the Bear Mountain Arena for the third time already this season to face the Grizzlies.

The Dogs are unbeaten against the Grizzlies with 2 wins and a tie.

The Dogs started their current 5 game winning streak with a 4-2 win at Bear Mountain Arena on November 6th.

The game day chat will be back tonight, as it is for all road games. It's not for some, it's not for all, but it's open to all who want to come and hang and chat and listen to or watch the game.

Here's a story on the Victoria side of the puck from the Times Colonist by Sharie Epp, mostly focusing on Grizz Goalie Richie Virtanen.

Click here to read "Virtanen coming up big for Grizz"

And from the Bulldogs side of the puck from the Alberni Valley Times by Shane Morrow, mostly focusing on Mitch MacMillan

Click to read "Dog Pound: An opportunity to get to know the Bulldogs"

Oddly, there isn't a mention at all about the game tonight.

Oh well here goes then -

PREGAME 7:00. PUCKDROP 7:15. All on 93.3 The Peak FM.

My second intermission feature guest is Dan Marshall, the play-by-play voice of the Nanaimo Clippers, here to play the Dogs at the Pound on Friday.

Some Alberni Valley Bulldogs alumni interviews on the way over the next couple of games include Doug Krantz and Stephen Pattison, stay tuned!

Here's a look at the Bear Mountain Arena to better paint the picture for you tonight on what the rink looks like, etc.

Video - Watson saves the day, MacMillan wins it

Here's some of the highlights from Friday's double overtime. Great call by Rick on the Watson poke check. I was fooled with how it looked when it happened because he lost his stick as well.

It's been a long time since I've heard that kind of "pop" out of the crowd when that one went in and saw arms go up like that.

Awesome!

Bulldogs still "honorable mention" in Nationwide rankings, VIDEO - Friday's winner, Marcello Ranallo interview...

The Dogs didn't receive any more love from the CJHL ranking folks when it comes to the latest National Rankings. They are still an "honorable mention" which is nothing to sneeze at of course. However, I still hoped that three wins in three games since last weeks rankings might have bumped them into the top 20. No, the rankings don't really mean anything. But they are a nice recognition to the team for their efforts and a nice bragging point for the fans and the community.

The Vernon Vipers went up to #1 in the country, the Vees fell from 3rd to 5th, and Surrey fell from 9th to 11th. The Westside Warriors are now on the honorable mention list as well, with back to back wins over Penticton - the second a 7-3 thumping.

Click here to read the full release from BCHL.ca



I'm still working on some video of Friday's double overtime winner. Be sure to check back! Here's an image from the video to tide you over. Just love the emotion from the crowd!!





It was a pleasure to catch up with Marcello Ranallo for our second intermission show yesterday.

Here's a copy of the interview by request.

A kind reminder. All audio is courtesy and copyright 93.3 The Peak FM and the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

click to listen - Marcello Ranallo interview

And finally, here's a write up from the Alberni Valley Times covering the two Bulldog games this weekend.

Click to read the article by Dwayne Stern titled "Bulldogs chalk up two more wins at Multiplex"

That's it for now!

Hammer

Dogs win 5th in a row

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs won their fifth in a row for the first time this season with a 4-1 win today over the Burnaby Express at the Dog Pound.

The game started slowly, and the offense was even further behind it, as it took until the 14:42 mark of the second for the games first goal to go on the board. The AVB took a 1-0 lead on a hard working goal as Johnny Rogic found a loose puck at the top of the paint after a first chance had hit the post, and lifted it over Harrison May.

The second goal wasn't far behind the first as the Express scored a beauty on a three way passing play just thirty seconds later to tie the game at 1-1 with Jimmy Gerrin drove the net and tipped one home from Brad Reid and Colby Kulhanek.

The Dogs took a 2-1 lead on a great play by Mark MacMillan getting the puck up the left wing for David Dziurzynski, who found Kevin Ross for the perfect pass as he jumped on the breakaway chance and went backhand past Harrison May with less than two to play in the second.

The Dogs would throw plenty of shots on net pushing for the equalizer in the third period, and they would finally get it with just over five minutes to play in the game as the Express and Harrison May did a good job to keep it a one goal game. The 3-1 goal would come on a pretty three way passing play by the Dogs as Jesse Halikas found Matt Hatch in the right circle. Hatch turned his back to the net and found Johnny Rogic with a cross ice pass that he buried high glove side on May for his second of the game. Burnaby's comeback hopes were further dashed when Alex Petan picked up four minutes for high sticking. The Dogs made it 4-1 in the first half of the double minor as Mark MacMillan went backhand top shelf from in tight with Mitch and David Dziurzynski getting the assists with 2:22 left.

The game had several scary incidents with players getting hit by pucks, with one of them having painful consequences. As Express play-by-play broadcaster Eddie Gregory said to me via text message after the game - "what a difference and inch or two makes"

In the first period Warren Muir went down to block a shot from Chris Van Duynhoven that struck him in the visor, shattering it. Besides maybe being a little rattled, Muir appeared to come out of it OK and continued to play after getting a new visor. In the third period, Luke Fenske let a shot go from the blue line that appeared to hit an Express stick in front before hitting Chris Van Duynhoven in the face. He would fall to the ice and writhe in pain in a very scary sight for the fans at the Dog Pound.

After getting several emails and texts inquiring about Van Duynhoven's well being after the game I again got an update from Eddie Gregory, who said that it appeared to be a jaw broken in two places after X Rays at West Coast General Hospital. Eddie said the puck struck him just below the bottom lip. The ovation the Dogs fans gave Van Duynhoven and the care for his well being wasn't lost on the Express, as Eddie said to pass on thanks on behalf of the Express saying "You folks out there in AV are first class and prove again and again to be the best fans in the league"

Thanks Eddie. And I hope "Vandy" is as ok as morphine can make him right now and everyone in Alberni wishes him a speedy recovery.

For the Dogs, it's five wins in a row, second by themselves in the Coastal Conference. And maybe some fans will be like me and they'll be looking for the CJHL Nationwide Rankings tomorrow!

Hammmer



Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.