Dogs win second in a row, 3-2 in double OT over Kings in Powell River

A spirited start to this one, with the Kings having the better of the play early in the game, and a power play opportunity in the first two minutes. The Kings had an early edge in chances, with Billy Christopoulos making a couple good early saves. The Bulldogs would get some chances of their own as the period wore on, with Dylan Haugen making a King miss and skating in on a partial break but Brett Magnus was equal to the task in the Kings net. The Kings generated a great chance on a 3 on 2 rush late in the period where Nick Halagian walked in as the trailer and took a pass right in the slot but Christopoulos made a fantastic glove save to keep it 0-0 after 20 minutes, with the Kings leading the shots 10-7.

The pace picked up as the second period started, with each side coming out like they had something to prove. The Bulldogs earned a power play early this time, and the BCHL's best power play connected to make it a 1-0 game when Brett Stewart blasted a one-timer on goal from the left circle off a Kurt Gosselin pass that was tipped and then went off the post behind Magnus. Josh Adkins would tap the loose puck over the line at the 1:55 mark with Dylan Haugen and Brett Stewart picking up the assists. The Bulldogs would take a 2-0 lead at the 12:28 mark of the period when Josh Adkins worked the puck out of the right corner and back to Drew Weich at the right point. He would slide it across the line for Drake Brown, who put a quick wrister at the net that was deflected past Magnus by Everett Putz. The only assist on the play went to Josh Adkins. The Dogs would end up in the penalty box shortly afterwards, and that would allow the Kings to find the back of the net as a faceoff was won back to the line to Jeremy Leclerc, who put a quick wrister at the net that was tipped home by JJ Coleshaw to make it 2-1, with Liam Lawson also drawing an assist at the 14:37 mark of the second. The Dogs would be penalized again almost immediately afterwards when Dylan Haugen was somehow given the only penalty for digging at a puck on the side of the net before the whistle sounded, only to be roughed up big time by the Kings after the whistle. The Kings would come close on a goalmouth scramble and celebrated like they had scored, but after not making a call on the play the Referee would talk to his Linesman and wave it off as it stayed 2-1 Dogs after 40 minutes, with the Dogs out-shooting the Kings over the period 14-11 for a two period total of 21 aside.

The Bulldogs were again penalized at the 20:00 mark of the second, as the Kings started the third period with another power play. The Dogs penalty killers were equal to the task though, as they killed it off to protect the lead. The Dogs would earn their second power play of the game later in the period, and had several great looks around the net but couldn't get the insurance marker, with Brett Magnus coming up with a fantastic right pad save off a Mitch Makin rebound in front to keep it 2-1. The Dogs would do a great job to protect the lead through the late stages, but the Kings would push and get the equalizer with just 30 seconds left in the third period when a puck was thrown on net from the goal line by Kurt Keats. It would go off traffic in the crease and a mad scramble ensued that saw Carmine Buono jam the puck home to make it 2-2 at 19:30 with Jarid Lukosevicius also drawing an assist on the play to force overtime with the Kings outshooting the Dogs 13-9 in the period for a 60 minute total of 34-30 in favour of the Kings.

Each side would get their chances in the first OT, with the best one going to Brett Lashuk as a Bulldog defender stepped up at centre ice and missed and Lashuk skated in alone on a clear-cut breakaway. He couldn't bury it though as Christopoulos came up with a game saving blocker save as the game went to 3 on 3 double OT. The double OT wouldn't last long as Drew Blackmun stole the puck from Jeremy Leclerc. Drew Weich would find it and put a hard pass up the left wing to a streaking Everett Putz, who raced over the Kings line and blew a slap shot top corner, short-side under the bar and over the glove of Magnus for his second of the game and the game winner as the Dogs raced off the bench to celebrate. Weich and Blackmun would pick up the assists at 31 seconds of double OT.

Final shots favoured the Kings 36-34 with Billy Christopoulos picking up the win while Brett Magnus took the loss. The Dogs went 1 for 2 on the power play while the Kings went 1 for 5.

The Dogs open up 2015 Friday night at home when they host the Surrey Eagles.

Hammer

Dogs visit Kings tonight to bring in 2015

It's goodbye to 2014 with the calendar flipping to 2015 tonight as the Bulldogs (16-12-1-3, 4th Island) head over to Powell River to face the Kings (16-14-0-7, 3rd Island) at the Hap Parker Arena for a New Year's Eve tilt.

The Dogs of course were last in action on Saturday night when they returned from the Christmas break and beat the Kings 5-3 at the Dog Pound to snap a four game losing streak.

The Kings have been a very busy team lately, as they were in Duncan on Sunday where they fell 6-2 to the Capitals, before bouncing back and snapping a four game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Grizzlies in Victoria on Monday night. Tonight's game will be their fourth contest in five days.

It's another huge four point game, with the Dogs trailing the Kings in the Island Division standings by three points, with five games in hand. The Bulldogs had best bring their work boots and be ready for a hard fought game where one has to think that nothing less than a full 60 minute effort will see them coming home with two points.

Everything gets underway on Pacific Chevrolet Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with the pregame show at 4:45 and the puck drop at 5:00pm as I will fly solo on the broadcast.

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com


Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is Justin Morissette, the voice of the Surrey Eagles, who the Bulldogs host Friday night.

Have a safe and happy end to 2014 tonight!

Hammer

Dogs top Kings 5-3 in a wild one at the Dog Pound

The Bulldogs looked refreshed coming out of the break as they were flying off the opening puck drop, taking a 1-0 lead just 1:11 into the game when Josh Adkins won a race onto a loose puck in the Kings zone in the right circle and put a perfect cross-ice pass into the slot onto the tape of Everett Putz who beat Stefan Wornig with a gorgeous finish top corner, glove side. A back and forth period with lots of pucks on both nets saw the score stay 1-0 until the late stages of the frame with Billy Christopoulos coming up with a series of huge saves to protect the lead. The Kings would get on the board with less five minutes to play when Jarid Lukosevicius intercepted a pass in the Kings zone and raced end to end up the left wing where he beat a Bulldog defenceman wide and then cut across the crease and stuffed it home past the far pad of Christopoulos. The goal was un-assisted at 15:28 of the first as it was a 1-1 game. The Kings would be penalized after the whistle at the Bulldogs net when things got hot and heavy at the whistle, which was a theme throughout the period. The Dogs connected on the advantage 1:59 after the Kings had tied it to take the lead right back as Scott Clark dug the puck out of the right corner to Drew Weich at the right point, who slid the puck across the line to Kurt Gosselin, who blew a slapper on net that was stopped by Wornig. He couldn't control the rebound though, as Mitch Makin found it and roofed it top corner, glove side at 18:27 for a 2-1 Dogs lead after 20 minutes, with the Dogs up 19-17 in the shots.

The second period was again hotly contested, with neither team able to find the net through the first half of the period. The Bulldogs would have a plethora of power play opportunities, thanks in part to the Kings picking up a couple of Bench Minors. The Dogs would fail to capitalize on those chances, and also failed to connect on a long 5 on 3 power play of over 1:20 in duration, but no without earning a bunch of chances around the Kings net. The Dogs came painfully close, with both Scott Clark and Kurt Gosselin hitting the crossbar but being unable to get it to go past Wornig. Mitch Makin would also be robbed by Wornig on a save of the year candidate, as he threw his glove behind him on the goal line to rob Makin on a cross-crease one-timer. The Kings would answer back with just 20 seconds to go in the period when Carmine Buono came out of the penalty box behind the Bulldogs defence. He would chase the loose puck down and get a weak shot on net that was stopped by Christopoulos, but Kurt Keats beat the Bulldog backcheckers to the Dogs net and lifted the rebound home to make it a 2-2 game at 19:39 of the second. The Bulldogs out shot  the Kings 18-10 in the frame for a 40 minute advantage of 37-27.

The Dogs took their third lead of the game just over five minutes into the third period when Mitch Makin won a race to a loose puck in the Kings zone and put it behind the net for Chris Schutz who put it right out front from a sharp angle onto the stick of Scottie Clark at the left side of the net where he one-timed it home to make it 3-2 at 5:03. The score stayed that way until the back half of the period when Garrett Halls out-letted the puck to Dylan Haugen who carried the puck up the left wing and over the Kings line where he dropped it to Halls who walked into the top of the left circle where he ripped one top corner and over the glove of Wornig bar and in to make it 4-2 at 13:19 of the third. It was a 5-2 game less than a minute later when Drake Brown put a pass ahead at centre to Eric Therrien, who just left the puck as he saw Zak Bowles absolutely flying up ice. Bowles would blow through the Kings defence and in on goal where Wornig got a good piece of it to keep it out initially. A King back-checking to the net would fall on top of him as the puck trickled over the line to make it 5-2 at the 14:16 mark of the third. The Kings would get one back with just under two minutes to play when Jacob Pritchard knocked down an outlet pass and put a rink-wide feed onto the tape of Nick Halagian who beat Christopoulos seven-hole to make it 5-3 at 18:17 of the third. The Kings would have several in tight chances as time ran down but Christopoulos made back-to-back pad saves to protect the lead.

Final shots favoured the Bulldogs 52-37 with Billy Christopoulos picking up the win while Stefan Wornig took the loss. I had the Dogs at 1 for 9 on the power play while the Kings went 0 for 3.     

Bulldogs host Kings tonight, a Very Merry BCHL Christmas

 It's back to action after the Christmas break tonight for the Bulldogs (15-12-1-3, 4th Island) as they try to snap a four game losing streak when they host the Powell River Kings (15-12-0-7, 3rd Island) who try to snap a two game slide of their own tonight at the Dog Pound.



The Dogs were last in action on December 18th at home when they fell 3-2 to the Kings in overtime. The Kings last saw action December 20th in Vernon where they dropped their second in a row, 5-2 to the Vipers

From the Bulldogs perspective, it's the second of three straight games against the Kings, as they pay them a visit on New Year's Eve for a 5pm start at the Hap Parker Arena in Powell River. Here's hoping that the Christmas Break benefited the Bulldogs, as they got a couple extra days compared to the Kings, and they have the advantage of being at home and not having to travel today.

Every game in this season series has been hotly contested, every game has been decided by a single goal, and three of them have gone to overtime, with the Kings winning the last two head-to-head meetings in OT.

This is obviously another huge four point game, as the Dogs trail the Kings by three points for third place and hold three games in hand. The Dogs are also five points back of the Grizzlies for second in the Division, and hold two games in hand on them. Games in hand of course don't mean anything unless you win them!

Don't miss a second of the action with me providing the play-by-play, Bruce MacDonald adding the colour commentary and analysis and Dan Tisserand compiling team and player stats on Van Isle Ford Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with the pregame show getting things going at 6:45 and the puck dropping just after 7:00.

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

My second and final (belated) Christmas present to you will air tonight in the 1st and 2nd Intermission shows as I'm happy to again present a "Very Merry BCHL Christmas" with Coaches and Broadcasters from around the league telling me what's on their wish list and also sending out Season's Greetings.

Accept my apologies that it's a couple of days late, but here's hoping it keeps you in the holiday spirit for an extra day. With the Bulldogs only having one game on the schedule in the week leading up to Christmas, I simply didn't have enough air time to fit both Christmas specials in.

Once again a huge thanks to everyone around the entire league for giving me their time to enable me putting this together, and for being up for a little fun too!

Hammer  

Merry Christmas! My present to you!

I hope this special time of year is treating you well. Players and parents, I hope you are enjoying your time with one another and your time at home with friends as well. Fans, I hope you are getting some downtime and together time with your loved ones as well!

Players - have fun, but not too much. Also be sure to have some Christmas treats and eats, but again not too much rich food and drink, and most importantly enjoy some rest and relaxation and come back energized and ready to go for the second half.

Here's my Christmas presents to you, if you missed them on the last broadcast before the Christmas break.

Click the links to listen!

A Very Merry Bulldog Christmas PART 1

A Very Merry Bulldog Christmas PART 2

We'll talk to you again on the 27th!

Hammer

Dogs drop 3-2 OT decision to Kings to head on Christmas Break

It was obvious that the Bulldogs were very ready to play right off the opening puck drop as they had a noticeable jump to their step as they won all the races and battles early in the game to run up an early 7-1 lead in shots and a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard as Eric Margo drove the net and put a perfect cross-crease pass onto the tape of Marcus Russel off the back post where he one-timed it home. Drew Blackmun also picked up an assist on the play at the 3:15 mark of the first. The Dogs would continue to control the play, running up a 14-1 edge in shots through the Media Time out. It would be all for naught just a minute later however, as JJ Coleshaw threw a put out front from behind the goal line that deflected off a Bulldog defender and in past Billy Christopoulos. There would somehow be two assists given on the own-goal as Colton Sandberg and Brent Lashuk were awarded helpers at the 11:10 mark of the first. The Bulldogs didn't deflate for long after the bad-luck goal as they continued to push the pace and put the puck at the net, although they couldn't beat Magus as it stayed 1-1 after 20 minutes, with the Dogs leading the shots on goal 20 to 7.

The Bulldogs would continue to control the better of the play in the second, out-chancing the Kings but having nothing to show for it on a series of in close one-timers and set up that they failed to convert through either bad luck or the strong play of Brett Magnus who robbed Mitch Makin on a cross-crease set up, and then Dylan Haugen on a partial breakaway right down the middle. Troy Dobbs had a shot from the line hit the bar and stay out, and at the other end the Dogs got caught leaving the zone and turning the puck over at their Blue Line as JJ Coleshaw kept the puck on a 2 on 1 breakaway and snapped one past the blocker arm of Christopoulos to make it 2-1 Powell River at 7:01 of the second on the un-assisted marker. It couldn't have been easy for the Dogs to not feel deflated and that lady luck was against them as they led the shots 26-11, but trailed in the game. They would continue to fight, getting the equalizer three minutes later when Troy Dobbs made a great pass from his own zone to Justin Marreck over the Kings line up the left wing where he walked in on a partial breakaway and snapped one top corner, far-side past the glove of Magnus. Kurt Gosselin also picked up an assist on the play at 10:52 of the second. The teams would trade chances through the remainder of the period, with the Kings failing to convert on back-to-back power plays as the period concluded with a 2-2 tie and the shots even at 15 aside for a 35-22 advantage for the Bulldogs after 40 minutes.

The third period saw the Dogs kill off 1:08 of power play time for the Kings to keep it tied. Each team would have their chances, but the score remained tied through the Media Timeout. The game stayed tied until the final minutes, with the Dogs being penalized with 1:17 to play. They would come up with a solid kill to gain a single point and force overtime, but the Kings would win it just 35 seconds into sudden death when Jacob Pritchard walked out from behind the Dogs net and went short-side high cross-bar and down past the glove of Christopoulos for the 3-2 final.

Final shots favoured the Bulldogs 49-34, with Billy Christopoulos taking the loss while Brett Magnus earned the win and 3rd star honours in the Kings net. The Dogs went 0 for 2 on the power play while the Kings went 1 for 5.

The Dogs head off on the Christmas break on a four game losing streak, with a couple of great efforts ending in tough luck losses. They are next in action on December 27th at home when they again host the Kings.

All the best over the Holidays to you and yours, I'm taking some time off but will post the Bulldogs Christmas special over the break!

Hammer

Dogs host Kings tonight, A Very Merry Bulldogs Christmas

It's the final game before the Christmas break for the Bulldogs (15-12-1-2, 4th Island) as they host the Powell River Kings (14-10-0-7, 2nd Island) at the Dog Pound in a big four point game, with just two points separating second to fourth place in the tight Island Division. 

The Dogs were last in action Saturday at home when they lost their third in a row, 5-3 to the Vernon Vipers. The Kings were last in action Saturday in Victoria where they lost their second in a row, 5-2 to the Grizzlies. 

The big challenge tonight for the Bulldogs is to somehow stay focused and be ready to play, and not be dreaming about heading home for a much deserved break, as the Kings still have games tomorrow and Saturday before they head home. It's easier said than done, as most of the players have been away from home, family and friends since August. Going home with a win to think about is certainly much better than going home on a losing streak, so here's hoping some motivation can come from that thought. 

 We will have all the action as always for you on 93.3 The Peak FM's  Bulldogs Hockey brought to you by Van Isle Ford with the pregame show taking the air at 6:45 with the puck drop coming up just after 7:00 with Dan Tisserand compiling the statistics, Bruce MacDonald adding the colour and analysis while I call the play-by-play.

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

It's the last game before the Christmas break, so tonight I'm happy to give away my present to you. This has become quite the tradition as I think it's into about it's 10th year now.

Listen during the 1st and 2nd Intermissions for "A Very Merry Bulldogs Christmas" as I compiled the wish lists of the Bulldogs players, Coaches and Staff.  It's always a lot of fun, and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed putting it together!

The idea is quite simple - I asked the players to tell me what's on their Christmas wish list, and I encouraged them to send out a Christmas greeting to whoever they wanted to send one out to.

Coming up during the Bulldogs first game back from the break on the 27th will be the league-wide edition of my Christmas special, "A Very Merry BCHL Christmas" 

Hammer

Great game, great effort, tough luck - Dogs fall 5-3 to Vipers

You knew who the Officials were in this one before you even got to your seats, as the same Referee as the night before caught the Dogs for a minor penalty just 18 seconds into the game. The Bulldogs would kill it off, but the Vipers certainly controlled the momentum as they built up an early 5-0 lead in shots. The Dogs were unable to generate any sustained offensive attack throughout the early minutes of the game, with the Vipers continuing to push and eventually going up 1-0 when Thomas Aldworth stole the puck from the last Bulldog defender at centre ice and raced in alone down the left wing where he snapped a perfect top corner far-side shot over the glove of Christopoulos. The goal was un-assisted at 6:23 of the first. There would be a series of penalties near the midway point of the period when the Bulldogs earned their first power play of the game, only to then take a penalty just 16 seconds into the advantage on incidental contact in front of the Viper net. Vernon would take a 2-0 lead on a gorgeous goal by Riley Brandt as he walked down the right wing and in tight on the Bulldog goal before putting a perfectly placed shot top corner, short-side high on Christopoulos. Ken Citron picked up the only assist at the 13:48 mark of the first. The Bulldogs looked completely out of sorts, but battled back with several good shifts and sustained attack in the late moments of the period to test Jarrod Schamerhorn but they couldn't find the net as the Vipers took the 2-0 lead to the room after one with an 11-9 lead in shots.

The second period was much more evenly played through the first half, with each team having their share of chances but both goalies coming up big to keep it 2-0 through the Media Time out with just over eight minutes to play in the period and no penalties either way to speak of. It was quite fun to watch, and played at a high pace. Immediately after the time out, the Vipers would be penalized, and the Bulldogs made quick work of the advantage to get on the board and make it a 2-1 game as Kurt Gosselin walked the line to the right point before finding Scotty Clark in the deep slot where he put a quick shot on goal that was stopped by Schamerhorn. He couldn't control the rebound, although he did stop the first chance by Mitch Makin. Chris Schutz would get a second and third crack at it, and he managed to squeak it under Schamerhorn and over the line to make it 2-1 at 12:05 of the second. The Dogs would continue to attack, and made it a 2-2 game four minutes later as Zak Bowles dumped the puck in and the Dogs got in hard on the chase after it as Everett Putz finished his check and threw the puck out front where Troy Dobbs one timed one on goal that was stopped by Shamerhorn. The puck would bounce right onto the tape of Eric Margo, who one-timed it home into the open side to make it 2-2 at the 16:00 mark with Putz drawing the only assist. The Vipers would strike late in the period in controversial fashion as a pass to the crease went off the skate of Liam Coughin and in. Initially I thought it was just a lucky/unlucky bounce, but upon looking at the replay it looked like it was clearly kicked. The Referee was in perfect position to make the call (yes, the same one) and called it a goal with most of the Bulldogs on the ice immediately signalling that it was kicked in. The discussion as to whether it was a good goal or not was a very quick one, with the goal standing with Liam Coughlin getting credit for it from Thomas Aldworth and Ken Citron drawing the assists at 19:14 of the second period for a 3-2 Viper lead after 40 minutes, with the Dogs out shooting the Vipers 15-8 in the period and 24-19 after two.

The Bulldogs would be penalized early in the third period, but they would strike right off the draw to even it up while shorthanded as Mitch Makin worked the puck out of the zone for Justin Marreck who carried it over the Vipers line before sending Makin in on the breakaway where he went to the backhand and slipped it through the five hole of Schamerhorn to make it 3-3 at 6:34 of the third period with Marreck drawing the only assist. The Bulldogs would kill off the remainder of the penalty to keep it tied, but the Vipers would take their fourth lead of the game shortly afterwards with Liam Coughlin's second of the game coming in the form of a top of the crease deflection past Christopoulos with assists going to TJ Dumonceaux and Thomas Aldworth at 10:06 of the third period. The Bulldogs would push hard to get the equalizer but the Vipers defended well to protect the lead as it went into the final minute at 4-3 Vipers. The Bulldogs would call time out and pull their goalie for the extra attacker and created a glorious chance deep in the slot for Brett Stewart but Schamerhorn came up with a pad save on the one-timer with 10 seconds to play. TJ Dumonceaux would find the loose puck at centre ice and deposit it into the empty net at 19:57 for the 5-3 Final score.

Shots favoured the Bulldogs 37-24 with Billy Christopoulos taking the loss while Jarrod Schamerhorn picked up the win. The Dogs went 1 for 3 on the power play while the Vipers went 0 for 4.

The Bulldogs have one game left before the Christmas break as they host Powell River on Thursday.

Bulldogs host Vipers tonight, Marlon Sabo interview

It's the first meeting of the season between the clubs as the Vipers (19-8-1-2, 2nd Interior) travel to the Dog Pound to pay the Bulldogs  (15-11-1-2, 3rdvIsland) a visit.

The Bulldogs were in Nanaimo last night where they dropped their second in a row, 5-2 to the Clippers, while the Vipers were in Powell River last night where they did the Dogs a favour and won their third in a row 4-3 over the Kings.

The Vipers have had a busy week already, as they were at home on Wednesday night to West Kelowna where they picked up a 3-0 win. They head home tomorrow night but first will visit the Clippers at the Frank Crane for a 2pm start.

I'll call the play-by-play with Bruce MacDonald adding the colour and analysis on Van Isle Ford Bulldogs hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with everything getting underway with the pregame show at 6:45 with the puck drop to follow at 7:00pm.

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

 Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is former Bulldog Marlon Sabo , now in his Sophomore season with the NCAA's Princeton Tigers.

Sabo scored one of the most memorable, and without question one of the biggest goals in Bulldogs Franchise history - an OT winner to force a deciding game in the 2012-2013 Island Finals series. The Dogs went on to win that game, also in OT.

Loud memories.

 

Hammer

Dogs fall 5-2 to Clippers

Not the tidiest or sharpest start to the game for either side as there were plenty of misplays on the puck on either side, but the Bulldogs still took a 1-0 lead just over one minute into the game as Marcus Russell found a loose puck in the slot and walked in alone through the slot where he snapped one top corner, far side under the bar over the blocker arm of Guillaume Decelles. Eric Margo also picked up an assist on the play at the 1:12 mark of the first. The play continued to be a little on the sloppy side through the early minutes, with both sides fighting the puck at times. The Bulldogs would get their game going a bid just short of the midway point of the period on a great shift by Zak Bowles, Eric Margo and Drew Blackmun kept the puck in the Clippers end for an extended period that saw several chances in the slot and around the net. Just a minute later it was a 1-1 game and the Teddy Bears were flying as a Bulldog defender turned the puck over in the zone right onto the stick of Brett Roulston who put a centering pass onto the tape of Nicholas Carrier who cut across the crease and backhanded one top corner over the glove of Nathan Warren to send the Teddy Bears flying. Taylor Green also picked up an assist on the play at 12:25 of the first with the score staying that way into period two with the shots in the Clippers favour 11-10 after 20 minutes.


The second period saw no scoring through the first half. The Clippers had a couple good chances with the Bulldogs struggling to move the puck in their end, but both Cole Maier and Anthony Rinaldi had shots hit the post as it stayed 1-1. The score would stay that way until the late stages of the second when the Bulldogs were awarded their first power play of the game - and just their second over the last two games - but they made it count as Kurt Gosselin walked the line from left to right and into the right circle where he threw a quick wrister on goal that was stopped by Decelles. Mitch Makin was again in the perfect position in front of the goal where he one-timed the rebound on his backhand through the fivehole of Decelles to make it 2-1 from Gosselin and Brett Stewart at the 17:10 mark of the second for a 2-1 Dogs lead after 40 minutes. Shots favoured the Dogs 11-10 in the period for a 21-21 tie after two periods.


The third period saw the Referee become an immediate factor, missing what appeared several obvious calls against the Bulldogs - obvious enough that the Bulldogs lost their cool and yelled in the Refs ear to complain. In engaging with a complaining Bulldog during the play, the Referee missed what looked like another infraction on Zak Bowles. During that play, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was given to the Dogs. Seconds later, another penalty went to the Bulldogs to hand the Clippers a 5 on 3 for 1:30 in duration. Not so fast though, as off the ensuing faceoff the Clippers would be penalized. They would connect on huge amount of open ice created by the 4 on 3 power play as Brendan Taylor jammed in a loose puck in the crease with assists to Cole Maier and Yanni Kaldis at 4:09 of the third to make it 2-2. A minute later, another penalty to the Bulldogs. Less than a minute later, and another Clippers power play goal on a deflected point shot made it 3-2 Nanaimo as Nicholas Carrier deflected a point shot past Nathan Warren with assists to Brett Roulston and Nicholas Gushue at 5:50 of the third period as in less than two minutes the Officiating had completely changed the complextion/flow/score of the game. Quite simply, what wasn't a penalty through the first 40 minutes of the game all of a sudden was - but only for a four minute span of the third period - and then wasn't again. Credit to the Clippers for seizing the opportunity that was presented to them, and at the same time the Dogs penalty kill needed to be better in this moment. The Bulldogs would call Time Out to try and right the ship and find their composure, and possibly get an ear from the Referee, but he would refuse to speak to anyone on the Bulldogs side of the puck. The Dogs pushed hard and didn't quit, but couldn't recover to find the equalizer as the Clippers hit the empty net twice in 5 seconds and change - first it was Brendan Taylor from Jacob Hanlon and Nicholas Gushue at 19:02 and then Nicholas Gushue from Spencer Hewson at 19:05 for the 5-2 Final.

Shots favoured the Clippers 31-28 with Nathan Warren took the loss while Guillaume Decelles picked up the win. The Dogs went 1 for 2 on the power play while the Clippers went 2 for 6.

 The Bulldogs weekend concludes tomorrow when they host the Vernon Vipers.

Hammer

Bulldogs visit Clippers tonight, host Vipers tomorrow

After three straight games between the teams at the Dog Pound, the Bulldogs (15-10-1-2, 3rd Island) head over the Hump tonight for their third visit of the season to face the Clippers (21-10-0-1, 1st Island) at the Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo.

The Bulldogs were last in action Saturday night at home where they fell 6-3 to the Langley Rivermen, while the Clippers were in action already this week on Wednesday night where they snapped a season-high three game losing streak with a 3-1 win in Duncan at the Island Savings Centre over the Capitals.

The Clippers lead the season series 3-1, but the last head to head meeting saw the Dogs pick up a 5-0 win at the Dog Pound last Wednesday night.

It's the Clippers Teddy Bear Toss tonight, so expect them to come out motivated to get that goal early to get the plush airborne. On the other side of the puck the Dogs need to be just as ready to make the bears cool off in the stands for a while to hope the Clippers start to think of them. Last Friday the Grizzlies picked up a 6-0 shut out in Duncan over the Capitals on their Teddy Bear Toss night. NO ONE wants to be shut EVER, but it's even worse when most of the fans in attendance are waiting with their bears for that first goal! 

 We'll have all the action covered for you from the tight confines of the Frank Crane Gondola on Pacific Chevrolet Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with the pregame show at 6:45 ahead of the 7:00 puck drop with Dan Tisserand compiling Team and Player Stats and Bruce MacDonald providing the colour and analysis while I will call the play-by-play.

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is Vernon Vipers Play-by-Play voice Graham Turnbull  as the Bulldogs return home to host the Vipers tomorrow night for the first meeting of the season between the teams.

Hammer

Bulldogs add Eric Therrien, move Rose

Sounds like a great addition to the team - welcome Eric! At the same time, all the best to Jeff Rose heading back to Alberta!

Eric's stats HERE
 

PRESS RELEASE
December 10, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs announce that they have acquired the playing rights of 1994-born veteran forward Eric Therrien from the Drayton Valley Thunder of the AJHL. Therrien played the last three seasons with the Lloydminster Bobcats (AJHL) before being moved at the December 1 deadline to Drayton Valley. Therrien, from Willow Bunch, SK, put up 11 goals and 18 assists in 59 regular season games last season along with 5 assists in 9 playoff games for the Bobcats.

Therrien, who is 6'1" and 190lbs, instantly adds 145 games of experience to the Bulldogs' line-up.

Going the other way is 1996-born rookie defenseman Jeff Rose. Rose, who is from Calgary, AB, put up 1 goal and 2 assists in 28 games this season for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs would like to thank Jeff for his contributions to the team both on and off the ice. At the same time we are excited to welcome Eric to the Bulldogs Family.

Therrien is expected to join the team on Thursday.

For further information or comment on the above story please contact Alberni Valley Bulldogs’ head coach and general manager Kevin Willison

Hammer

Bulldogs host annual Winter Wonderland everyone welcome skate tonight

It's a fun tradition this time of year, the Bulldogs Winter Wonderland everyone welcome skate from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Multiplex. Everyone is welcome, rentals are free of charge, and the players will be on hand! Hopefully we'll see you there!

Hammer

Some pictures from last night's event courtesy Kaicee Trott and me!

Rivermen top Dogs 6-3

A great start to the game as the Dogs came out off the opening puck drop and threw a bunch of pucks on net early on Darren Martin. They resulted in fat rebounds, but the Dogs couldn't corral them on several near misses around the net. The Rivermen would get a power play on an odd penalty handed to Kurt Gosselin, and they capitalized to open the scoring on a crazy scramble that saw almost every player on the ice in the Bulldogs crease as Billy Christopoulos made several saves and battled hard to secure the puck but couldn't do so as the puck eventually came out to the hash marks to Zachary Bleuler who put a slapper off the traffic and in to make it 1-0 at the 5:26 mark on the power play from Matthew Graham and Dante Hahn. The Bulldogs would respond well to the goal and pushed right back but couldn't find the net before they caught caught snoozing in their own end as Gage Torrel walked through the right circle and un touched to the slot where he slid one low and inside the far post past Christopoulos to make it 2-0 at the 10:52 mark with Evan Anderson drawing the assist. The Dogs again didn't deflate as they came right back with a great chance on a Zak Bowles breakaway where he blew by the Rivermen Defence at centre ice but he couldn't beat Martin. The Dogs failed to capitalize on another point blank chance minutes later when Justin Marreck was set up wide open in the slot but put a shot just high over the net. The Rivermen would again strike to take a 3-0 lead with less than four to play in the period when a battle in the left corner of the Bulldogs zone saw the puck come out to Justin Szeto who walked into the left circle and blew a quick slapper through the seven hole of Christopoulos short-side to make it 3-0 from Kevan Killistoff at the 16:17 mark of the first. It certainly didn't feel like a 3-0 game, but that was the score after 20 minutes with the Rivermen up 13-12 in the shots.

The Bulldogs would come out with some fire to start the second, and got on the board early as Port Aberni Native and Affiliate Player Chase Gaudreault scored his first career goal on a quick wrister from the slot off an Eric Margo pass to make it 3-1 at the 3:00 mark of the period. The Rivermen would come right back with a great shift to try and restore the three goal lead, but Billy Christopoulos made two great saves to keep it 3-1. The Dogs would push hard throughout the next five or six minutes to try and chip away at the deficit but they couldn't find the net through the Media Time out as it remained 3-1 Langley. The Rivermen would control the play over the next three or four minutes, as the Bulldogs had troubles getting the puck out of their end. When they finally did, they failed to get a dump in deep into the zone and it resulted in a 2 on 1 rush that turned into a breakaway as Evan Anderson walked in on net and banked it off the blocker of Christopoulos and in to make it 4-1 at the 16:39 mark of the period with Gage Torrel assisting. The Dogs would earn their first power play chance of the game late in the frame but they couldn't capitalize on it as the period ended with the Rivermen up 4-1, and up in the shots 25-19 after out shooting the Dogs 12-7 over the period.

 The Dogs came out flying to start the third, making it a 4-2 game just over two minutes in when Zak Bowles raced up the right wing on a 2 on 1 rush where he kept the puck and scored with a perfect short-side high wrist shot past the blocker of Darren Martin. Troy Dobbs picked up the only assist at the 2:23 mark of the third. It was a whole new game just 30 seconds later when Scotty Clark blocked a shot at the Dogs line and raced in on a breakaway where he went backhand-forehand and roofed one to make it 4-3, un assisted at the 2:53 mark as the Rivermen called time out to slow things down and right the ship. It was a whole new game again just 24 seconds later as Kevan Killistoff hustled into the Dogs zone and won a battle for the puck in the right corner and threw a cross-slot pass onto the tape of Justin Szeto who one-timed it home before Christopoulos could get over to make it 5-3 at the 3:17 mark as the building fell silent. The Bulldogs would continue to battle to make a game of it again, and had a glorious chance with 11:01 left when they were awarded a penalty shot after Gage Torrel appeared to save a goal by putting his hand on the puck in the crease. Zak Bowles would take the penalty shot, but Darren Martin out-waited him and came up with the huge stop to preserve the two goal lead. That would be as close as the Dogs would get though as they called time out and gambled with the goalie out with 3:30 left and a faceoff in the Langley end. They would win back to back draws, but couldn't beat Martin before getting a shot blocked that resulted in an open-netter from centre ice for Colton Kehler with assists going to Kevan Killistoff and Zachary Bleuler at 16:47 of the third period for the 6-3 final score.

Shots favoured the Rivermen 38-35 with Billy Christopoulos taking the loss while Darren Martin picked up the win. The Dogs went 0 for 1 on the power play while the Rivermen went 1 for 1.

The Dogs are next in action Friday in Nanaimo.

Hammer

Bulldogs host Rivermen tonight, Tryg Strand interview

It's the second and final meeting between the teams tonight as the Bulldogs (15-9-1-2, 2nd Island) host the Langley Rivermen (13-10-1-4, 3rd Mainland) at the Dog Pound.

It's an oddity in a packed BCHL schedule that both teams come into play tonight having last night off. The Bulldogs were last in action Wednesday at home where they snapped a two game losing streak with an emphatic 5-0 win over the Nanaimo Clippers in one of their best efforts over a full 60 minutes so far this season. The Rivermen were also last in action on Wednesday night in Chilliwack where they lost their second in a row, 4-3 in double overtime to the Chiefs.

These teams last met on Sunday October 26th in Langley where the teams played to a 2-2 tie.

There's nothing like Saturday night Hockey at the Dog Pound, and we're excited to bring it to you on Van Isle Ford Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM tonight with the pregame show at 6:45 with the puck drop and play-by-play/colour+analyis and team+player stats to follow from myself, Bruce MacDonald and Dan Tisserand

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is last year's Bulldog Captain Tryg Strand, now with the CIS's Guelph University Gryphons
 
Who's this RYAN Strand guy anyway?

Here's a highlight reel goal from Tryg from last year! Beauty!

Tonight is the Alberni Valley's turn to host the BCHL's Five hole for Food Challenge, so please bring a handful of non perishable food items to the game if you can share them, so support the less fortunate this time of year, and also to bring in more food than the rest of the BCHL!

Hammer