Bulldogs host 'Backs tonight at the Pound, Hunter Stewart interview

It's the first meeting of the season between the teams tonight as the Bulldogs (21-16-2-3, 4th Island) host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 19-16-3-5, 5th Interior) at the Dog Pound.

It seems kind of crazy that it's Game 43 of 58 Regular Season contests tonight for the Bulldogs, and they are seeing a team for the first time, however, they still haven't seen every team in the league as they have yet to see the Merritt Centennials and won't until mid-February.

The Bulldogs were in action last night at home where they won their second in a row, 5-1 over the West Kelowna Warriors. The Silverbacks kicked off a three-in-three Island swing last night in Victoria where they did the Bulldogs a favour and beat the Grizzlies 4-0. Their trip concludes tomorrow afternoon in Nanaimo.

It's amazing what a couple wins can do to the standings - or a couple of losses. The Bulldogs lost one and tied one with the Capitals last weekend and went into play on Wednesday six points up on 5th place, five points back of 3rd and seven points back of 2nd. All of a sudden they are ten points up on the Caps, one point back of the Grizzlies for 3rd and just three back of the Kings who sit 2nd in the Island Division.

The Bulldogs will need to be ready to play, and ready to play desperate and hard tonight because you can bet the Silverbacks will be a hungry group, as they are currently outside of the playoff picture and looking in, sitting 5th in the Interior. However, after a win last night and a West Kelowna loss to the Bulldogs they enter play tonight just three points back of the Warriors for the 4th and final playoff spot, with the Silverbacks holding two games in hand. They are also just four points back of Merritt for 3rd place. The 'Backs have been playing good hockey as of late, with only Penticton, Vernon and Nanaimo with records comparable to Salmon Arm over their last 10 games (7-3-0-0) where they have picked up wins over both Penticton and Nanaimo over that stretch.   

If you can't make it out to the fantastic social event that is Saturday night hockey at the Dog Pound, fear not as we will bring it all to you wherever you may be on Van Isle Ford Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with the pregame show at 6:45 and the puck drop just after 7:00. I will call the play-by-play, Dan Tisserand will compile Team and Player stats and Bruce MacDonald will provide the colour and analysis.

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 Hunter Stewart, currently in his Freshman season with the Marian University of Wisconsin Sabres

If you have some free time today don't forget that the Alberni Invitational is going on at ADSS!

Here's the schedule for the final day of action today:

The Alberni Invitational tournament action will start again this morning at 8:30 am with the exciting semi-finals in each weight division.

Preliminaries continue until at about 11 am when placing matches begin. Finals are scheduled for 1-5 pm that Saturday and admission is free but space will be limited. 

That's all I have, we'll see you at the rink!

Hammer