Dogs 4 Warriors 2

As Coach Kevin Willison said on the post game show "the boys went to battle tonight", and did they ever as the game got nasty at times as the Dogs topped the Warriors 4-2 tonight at Royal LePage Place.

The Dogs didn't appear fazed by the long day of travel as they had their legs from the outset after a long bus trip from Grand Forks. While the Dogs carried the play they trailed the game after one with Travis Blanleil converting on a 2 on 1 rush. The Dogs also dodged several bullets with the Warriors hitting the post several times.

The Dogs came out with the same energy in the second and were rewarded when Tryg Strand banged in a rebound off a Turner Popoff point shot. The game remained tied with the Dogs failing to beat a stellar Daayne Rodrique on back to back power play chances. Shortly after the power play elapsed they found the net anyway when the Kalashnikov brothers set up Brandon Halls on the rush as he snapped one high glove side to make it 2-1. A big turn of events later in the period saw a high hit by Chase Van Allen go un called, and the Dogs actually go to the power play with the Warriors sent to the box for unsportsmanlike conduct. A bench minor for the same then resulted in the ejection of Warriors head Coach Rylan Ferster and a full two-minute 5 on 3 that they connected on with the eventual game winner as Evan Tironese fired one through the legs of Rodrigue.


The Dogs built the lead to 4-1 early in the third on another power play as Hunter Stewart roofed a rebound in front. The game would then erupt in fireworks several times, the first being when Turner Popoff picked up a 5 minute major for kneeing when he stepped up at centre ice. He would be challenged and respond with a spirited scrap. Later in the period Chase Van Allen was victim of a high hit that dislodged a tooth and resulted in Trent Dorais challenging Matt Berry. As that fight was going on Ryan Lougj was jumped but the lineman intervened. During the ensuing 4 aside hockey off the Popoff hit and major penalty cancelled by the instigator to Westside the Warriors made it 4-2 when Brett McKinnon banked a wrap around home. The Warriors came on strong late in the game and had several great chances to make it a one-goal game but Matt LaRose came up huge to protect the lead.


Final shots 40-27 Bulldogs


The Dogs went 2 for 7 on the power at while the DWarriors went 0 for 5


Three Stars
3)Hyland
2)McKinnon
1)Tironese

The Dogs are on their way on a happy bus to Vernon to face the Vipers