Midget/Bantam Bulldog Updates..

Thanks as always to Simon for keeping me in the loop!


BANTAM A BULLDOGS BATTLE TO ISLAND SEMI-FINAL

With two weekend wins the HFN Forestry Bantam A Bulldogs have battled their way into the Island Tier 2 semi-final. Just before the playoffs the team lost top goal scorer Cameron MacAdams for at least four weeks due to a ruptured appendix. Flu also took a toll on the team and they dropped their first play-off game in Powell River on January 31. That gave them a week to adjust or be eliminated.

They started slow on Saturday against a bigger, hard hitting Nanaimo team. There was no score in the first period. In the second period, penalties became a factor. On the Bulldog’s fifth power play opportunity Dylan Haugen banged in a pass from Marino Somerville to open scoring. A few minutes later on another power play Beau Wilson took a feed from Sam Visona to make it 2-0 Port Alberni. Nanaimo got one back with a Bulldog in the box a minute later. Five minutes into the third period hard work earned another goal when Cortland Thibodeau scored from Haugen. Then Nanaimo closed to one again. Alberni kept skating and with six minutes to go, Sam Visona picked off Brett Williscroft’s blast to go up 4-2. Wilson’s second goal (assisted by Williscroft and Somerville) with three minutes left gave Port Alberni a 5-2 win.

On Sunday the Bulldogs were at home to a strong Oceanside team that has given them a hard time all year. The game went back and forth for the first half with chances at both ends. Alberni did a good job of limiting Oceanside’s chances and when the puck did get through, Gianni Crema shut the door over and over. Ten minutes into the second period Somerville broke out and passed to Wilson who drove between the defence and pushed the puck past the goalie on the left side. The only other goal was in the middle of the third period. Persistent pressure paid off when Thibodeau banged in the rebound off a shot by Haugen. The last ten minutes seemed slow as Oceanside threatened repeatedly, but in the end Crema claimed the shut out.

After the game, Coach Kevin Somerville said, “We got everyone on the same page (and) got a solid effort from all our players. We will be looking for that same effort level to carry over to next weekend.” That’s when the team will travels to Victoria for their semi-final game against Juan de Fuca.


MIDGET BULLDOGS SWEEP NORTH ISLAND
CLAIM HOME ICE FOR SEMIS

The Midget A Bulldogs completed their sweep of Tier 2 North Island teams on the weekend to claim home ice advantage in the semi-final next week. After beating Nanaimo 3-1 and Oceanside 9-1 they made the trip Powell River on Saturday.

Alberni opened scoring less than a minute in when Jeff Dagg one timed a pass in from the near slot. Luciano Somerville and Carson McCulloch assisted. But this was not to be an easy win for the Bulldogs. Powell River scored on a breakaway at the twelve minute mark and again when they found a loose puck at the start of the second period to go ahead 2-1.

Alberni turned it around at fifteen minutes. Bryan Read jumped in from the blue line to block a clearing attempt and passed in front where Catlin Macleod put it to Sheldon Trees and in. Then Troy Rata blasted one in from the point. Darrin Oscienny and Miles Fitzgerald picked up assists. A minute later speedy Andre Savard assisted Oscienny to put Alberni ahead 4-2 at the ice clean.

As play resumed, Rata pinched in and instead of shooting, rimmed the puck around the boards to the opposite side where Miles Fitzgerald one timed it in from the top of the circle. Seconds later Powell River got it back with a slap shot from the right point. Then McCulloch and Savard set up Jeff Dagg for a slap shot from the slot, the third goal in less than a minute. The period ended at 6-3.

Powell River came out hard in the third period and grabbed the momentum with two power play goals in the opening minutes to close to 6-5. With thirteen minutes to go MacLeod fought through the defence and was able to push the puck just inside the left post. From that point the Bulldogs controlled play. The final goal came with Miles and Leo Fitzgerald cycling the puck back to the points from where Travis Coghill released a slap shot to bend the twine for an 8-5 final. Eddie Dyson worked hard in net to claim the win.

The team again thanks sponsors GDM Boom & Sort and Rain Coast Erosion Control.
The Midget A Bulldogs will play Juan De Fuca, the second place team from South Island in semi-final action at the Multiplex at 2:30 on Saturday February 14.