I got a call Friday morning from my friend Jenny Fortin at SHAW, offering me congrats from all the great SHAW crew in Port Alberni and asking me if I was able to help them do a story on me winning the BCHL Broadcaster of the Year Award last week. Of course I obliged...Look for that to be on SHAW TV CHANNEL 4 sometime tonight after 6pm! Thanks again Jenny and SHAW, much appreciated!
Here's a great update on the Midget Bulldogs...WAY TO GO FELLAS!!
MIDGET HOCKEY
BULLDOGS BEAT BRAVES FOR ISLAND BANNER
There is a banner in the Weyerhauser Arena commemorating the Vancouver Island championship won by the Alberni Valley Midget AA team 20 years ago. The Alberni Valley Midget A Bulldogs reached the same pinnacle on Saturday night (Feb 28) in Saanich, when they defeated Saanich Braves 6-3 in the third and deciding game of the play-off series. Coach Brent Demerais said, “It was a barn burner. We were behind the whole game until way into the third period, but we turned it around.”
Saanich forced the third game by pulling off a 2-1 overtime win on February 22nd. This followed the 5-4 overtime win by the Bulldogs the day before in Saanich. In a series where neither team had ever led by more than a goal, there was some apprehension about returning to the unfamiliar Pearkes Arena with its smaller ice surface and unpredictable boards. This time the arena lights were unpredictable as well with mysterious dimming during the game causing several delays in play.
Both teams came determined to win and brought their fans to support. A hundred Alberni supporters were on hand with loud cheers, whistles, noisemakers and Bulldogs flags to urge the team on. They included players from the ADSS basketball team who came over from their tournament to lend much appreciated support.
The Braves took the early momentum when Bulldogs offensive pressure allowed a 2 on 1 break for Saanich which resulted in a goal after the first minute. Saanich continued to press hard and threatened again during an extended 5 on 3 power play in the middle of the period. Demerais said “Killing that 5 on 3 was the turning point for us.” The Bulldogs peppered the other net with shots in the rest of the period, but were unable to find a way past the Saanich net minder.
Saanich opened up the first two goal lead of the series early in the second period and it looked as if the momentum would go their way again. But 20 seconds later the Bulldogs got it back. Carson McCulloch passed to Andre Savard who worked through the defence on the left side and set up Jeff Dagg in front to score high on the glove side. With 5 minutes left in the period the Bulldogs were pressing on their sixth power play opportunity. Sheldon Trees grabbed a rebound at the side of the net, carried it behind the goal and passed to Catlin MacLeod who was waiting at the other corner of the net to slap it in. Two minutes later Saanich reclaimed their lead on another power play and the second period ended with Alberni still behind 2-3.
Both teams came into the third period knowing what was at stake. Saanich adopted a defensive dump and chase style that kept Alberni away from their end. There were chances at both ends, but the Saanich lead held up for seven long minutes. Then Troy Rata pinched in and passed to Catlin MacLeod. He got it to Luciano Somerville in the slot for a shot that deflected high past the Braves netminder. The tying goal visibly shook the goalie’s confidence. This was followed by a series of penalties that left Alberni shorthanded, but they used their speed to repeatedly break up the Saanich powerplay. As the seconds ticked off the penalty, Leo Fitzgerald on forecheck stole the puck from a Saanich defenceman in their end and went one on one to beat the goalie again and give Alberni their first lead of the game. The applause was deafening and the Alberni team energy picked up another notch as they sensed victory. The Braves pulled out everything they had in the closing minutes but the Bulldogs shut them down. With the goalie pulled for an extra attacker and a minute left on the clock, Sheldon Trees picked up the puck near centre and sniped the top corner of the empty net. Then with 20 seconds left, MacLeod made another long shot into the empty net for a final score of 6-3. But the game was not quite over. The final seconds were tense, but the Bulldogs kept their cool and the officials did a good job of keeping players with nothing left to lose from getting out of control.
Goalie Edward Dyson was kept busy throughout the game, turning away 49 of 52 shots for the victory, a .942 save percentage. Demerais said, “Sometimes your goalie is your best penalty killer and Eddie was awesome in this game.” Assistant Coach Dave McConnell said, “We needed everyone on the team today, we played everyone and we got what we needed from everyone.” After the game the coaches and players received well deserved congratulations from Alberni fans and also from some of the Saanich parents. There were also favourable comments about how well the Bulldogs conducted themselves. Thank yous also go to team manager Janet Fitzgerald and Russell Dyson for looking after the paperwork and arrangements behind the scenes. Thank you again to team sponsors GDM Boom and Sort and Rain Coast Erosion control.
Now it is on to the BC Provincial Tier 2 Championships for the Midget Bulldogs. Vancouver Island District and the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies are the hosts this year so they won’t have far to go. They will compete with the champions from the other seven Districts in BC. The championship will be held in Victoria (at Bear Mountain) from March 15 to 19, 2009.
Wow, as my old coach once said "You don't realize how short a best of five is until you lose the first two"
The Nanaimo Clippers are in do-or-die mode tonight with the Cowichan Valley Capitals hoping to advance to round 2 to face the Victoria Grizzlies with a first round sweep.
Check out this story from Michael Rhode from the Nanaimo Daily News by CLICKING HERE
That's it for now!
Hammer
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