As I previously joked about back in May - all the Bulldog news seems to happen when I'm on Holidays. At the time, as I was enroute to Mexico, the Coaching change occurred. Over the last two weeks while I was on vacation with my family in Manitoba, the Bulldogs released a series of News Releases.
From everything to completing the Coaching staff, to some solid additions to the roster, the awesome news of Brody Claeys' scholarship and details on the 'Dogs hockey school, please read below!
Welcome to the team and community Jeff and Scott, Colten, Jackson and Bradley and a huge congrats to Brody Claeys!
Accept my apologies for not getting the news up here sooner - hard to get to work and back to work when you're living on the lake in Northern Manitoba!
Hammer
FORMER CSSHL FORWARD BRINGS PROVEN OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION, TWO-WAY MENTALITY
Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce that Burnaby Winter Club Midget Prep forward Bradley Ong has committed to join the team for the 2017/18 BCHL season.
Ong is coming off a tremendous year that saw him score 22 goals and add 23 assists in 30 regular season games during the 2016/17 Canadian Sport School Hockey League campaign. His 45 points were good for 10th spot amongst all Midget Prep scorers, and he also also tied for the CSSHL playoff scoring lead with eight points in just five games.
"Bradley is a smart, skilled forward who has been one of the elite players in the CSSHL over the past two seasons," says Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. "He has great instincts at both ends of the ice and the ability to finish and make plays off the rush and in the offensive zone. He has all the tools to be an excellent BCHL player and we're very excited that he's chosen to develop as an Alberni Valley Bulldog."
Ong captained the BWC Midget Prep team last season after netting 47 points the previous year with the Delta Hockey Academy.
"I'm extremely excited to be a part of the Bulldogs organization and to play for Coach Matt this upcoming season," says Ong, who describes himself as a two-way player who can be relied on in all situations. "This is a new slate for the team and a new opportunity for me to be an impact player and help the team win. My goal is to have an impact on the team's success and to lead by example through working hard and pushing my teammates."
Ong will take the ice with his new teammates when the Bulldogs begin their main training camp on Monday, August 21st at Weyerhaeuser Arena.
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19-YEAR OLD NETMINDER POSTED IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS IN SECOND CENTS' SEASON
Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce the acquisition of 1998-born goaltender Colten Lancaster from the Merritt Centennials in return for 1997-born forward Alex MacDonald and future considerations.
Lancaster is a two-year BCHL veteran who posted a 5-15-0 record in 24 appearances for the Centennials last season. Despite his modest win-loss record, the 19-year old finished 11th amongst qualifying BCHL goaltenders in goals-against average (3.04) and ninth in save-percentage (.913). He was also named a Three Stars selection on 11 separate occasions.
"Colten is a quality young man who has already proven himself to be a very capable BCHL goaltender during his two seasons in Merritt," says Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. "We feel that he's just starting to scratch the surface of his potential and we look forward to seeing his continued development and growth into an elite netminder while in a Bulldogs' uniform."
Before joining the Centennials, Lancaster spent his 16-year old season playing under Hughes on the U18 Prep team at Pursuit of Excellence.
"I'm very excited to be coming to Alberni Valley; the town is beautiful and they are known for their amazing fans," says Lancaster, who describes himself as calm and efficient between the pipes. "I look forward to playing on Bulldogs and have high hopes for what the team can do this season. I feel that all individual success starts with the guys in front of me. When the team does well that's when individuals start to have success and if we can keep that in mind we have a great opportunity to make it to playoffs and see where it goes from there."
"I've had the opportunity to play for Matt Hughes before and found him to be an unreal coach and a very honest, straightforward guy. I really cannot wait to play for him again."
Lancaster will take the ice with his new teammates when the Bulldogs will begin their main training camp on Monday, August 21stat Weyerhaeuser Arena.
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18-YEAR OLD FORWARD EXPECTED TO ADD OFFENSIVE PUNCH IN ALBERNI VALLEY
Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce that Shawnigan Lake Midget Prep forward Jackson Doucet has committed to join the team for the 2017/18 BCHL season.
Doucet is a skilled centre who scored 25 goals and added 24 assists in 30 regular season games for Shawnigan Lake during the 2016/17 Canadian Sport School Hockey League campaign, tying for eighth in scoring in the Midget Prep division. He also tied for top spot amongst 1999-born scorers with OHA forward and Penticton Vees commit Cassidy Bowes. The 18-year old wrapped up his season with five goals and two assists in four games at the CSSHL championships.
"Jackson is a dynamic forward whose skating and skill level make him an outstanding BCHL prospect," says Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. "He has consistently produced offence in a very competitive league, and I've had the opportunity to see firsthand the impact he can have on a game when the puck is on his stick. We're thrilled that he has chosen to take the next steps in his hockey career as a Bulldog."
Over three seasons at Shawnigan Lake, Doucet totaled 62 goals and 128 points in 89 CSSHL games.
"I'm very excited to meet my new teammates and the community," says Doucet, who describes himself as an offensive player who also takes pride in playing a complete 200-foot game. "The Bulldogs are well known for having a very supportive fan base and I'm looking to be a part of the team regaining it's winning tradition."
"I'm going to be focused on helping to bring more offensive depth to the team and on using my speed to create opportunities. In the end I want to be a part of instilling a winning mindset in our group and always be playing to win."
Doucet will take the ice with his new teammates when the Bulldogs begin their main training camp on Monday, August 21st at Weyerhaeuser Arena.
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NEW ASSISTANT COACH & TRAINER SET TO JOIN HUGHES BEHIND BULLDOGS' BENCH
Port Alberni, BC - The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have rounded out their Hockey Operations staff for the 2017/18 season with the additions of Jeff Dubois and Scott Crema. Dubois joins the Bulldogs as the team's Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager while Crema will serve as the team's Trainer/Equipment Manager.
Dubois comes to the Alberni Valley from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League's Creston Valley Thunder Cats, where he posted a record of 97 wins, 42 losses and 4 ties over three seasons. Following the 2016/17 campaign, Dubois was named the KIJHL's Coach of the Year after guiding the Thunder Cats to a record of 36-9-1-1 and a first place finish in the league's Eddie Mountain division. Previous to his time in Creston, Dubois won two B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League championships as the head coach at Selkirk College.
"I'd like to thank Matt Hughes, Ron Paulson and the Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society for the opportunity to join the Bulldogs' team," says Dubois. "I'm excited by the new direction of the team under Matt's leadership and I'm honoured to be a part of that. I know the organization well from my time as a Bulldogs scout and I've seen firsthand the passion the community has for their team. I can't wait to get started."
Crema joins the Bulldogs after recently graduating from Camosun College with a Bachelor's Degree in Athletic and Exercise Therapy. Crema brings years of hands-on experience, having spent the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons with the Western Hockey League's Victoria Royals and the 2014/15 campaign with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League's Victoria Cougars as a Student Athletic Therapist.
"I'm thrilled to get my foot in the door in the BC Hockey League and begin the process of working my way up the same as our players do," says Crema. "I'm excited for the experience of working with the Bulldogs' players and staff and looking forward to a great season."
Dubois and Crema join new Bulldogs head coach and general manager Matt Hughes, who was hired in April following three successful seasons guiding the Pursuit of Excellence U-18 Prep team. He is also a former head coach of the BCHL's Salmon Arm Silverbacks and the AJHL's Grand Prairie Storm.
"I'm excited to solidify our Hockey Operations staff by adding Jeff and Scott to the Bulldogs' team," says Hughes. "Both Scott and Jeff bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their respective roles, and having our staff finalized allows us to look forward to preparing for a successful 2017/18 season."
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2016/17 BULLDOGS TEAM MVP EARNS OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY COLLEGE HOCKEY WITH SEAWOLVES
Port Alberni, BC - The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are thrilled to announce that 20-year old goaltender Brody Claeys has committed to attend the University of Alaska Anchorage and suit up for the NCAA Division I Seawolves for the 2017/18 season.
Claeys joined the Bulldogs midway through the 2015/16 season in a trade from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's OCN Blizzard. He went on to play 76 regular season games in an Alberni Valley uniform, compiling an overall record of 24 wins, 40 losses and five ties along with a 3.13 goals-against average and a .904 save-percentage. Following the 2016/17 season, Claeys was named the Bulldogs' Most Valuable Player at the team's year-end awards banquet.
"I'm really excited to have the opportunity to play Division I hockey and continue my education at UAA," says Claeys. "This has been my goal and something I have been working towards for quite some time. I would like to thank my family, coaches, teammates and billet families for helping me achieve my goals."
"I'd also like to thanks the Port Alberni community and fans who helped make my experience there so enjoyable. I want to extend a special thank you to Alex (Evin) for helping me develop as a goalie and giving me the opportunity to play in Port Alberni. Also, to Tom McEvay for all his educational expertise, support and guidance."
In Anchorage, Claeys will join a Seawolves team that competes in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and recently graduated former Bulldogs defenceman Chase Van Allen.
"On behalf of the entire Bulldogs organization, I'd like to congratulate Brody on this great accomplishment and wish him all the best in his college hockey career," says head coach Matt Hughes. "We take great pride in helping young men take the next step in their academic and athletic pursuits, and Brady is another example of a player who will represent the Alberni Valley well at the collegiate level."
Claeys is the third player from the Bulldogs' 2016/17 roster who has committed to play NCAA hockey next season, joining forward Henry Marshall and defenceman Trevor Cosgrove. Another commitment will be announced in the coming days.
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GET RID OF THE SUMMER RUST AND HONE YOUR SKILLS IN A FUN ENVIRONMENT WITH BULLDOGS' COACHES & PLAYERS!
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are excited to announce the return of the team's popular Summer Development Camps for young, aspiring hockey players, which will run from August 14-18 at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. In 2017, our high energy program will offer a fun and positive learning environment, which will focus on team play concepts as well as individual fundamentals. All camp sessions will be run by the Bulldogs' coaching staff, joined by current players and other special guests. All participants will receive a free Bulldogs camp jersey. We look forward to seeing you in August!
The deadline for registration is Monday, July 31st.
To register, visit www.albernivalleybulldogs.ca. Online registration takes 5-10 minutes. Credit and debit cards are accepted.
CAMP GROUPS:
Group 1 - Ages 6-9 - $250 + GST = $262.50
Daily ice sessions for Ages 6-9 will include on-ice instruction on power skating, puck handling skills, passing and shooting fundamentals as well as controlled scrimmage play to help everyone get in game shape for the hockey season. Participants are responsible for bringing snacks and lunch. Supervision will be provided at all times. Groups are limited to 25 skaters and 3 goaltenders per session.
Daily Schedule:
8:30-9:45am - On Ice
10:00-10:15am - Snack
10:15-11:30am - Activity
11:30-12:00pm - Lunch
12:30-1:45pm - On Ice
Group 2 - Ages 10-12 - $250 + GST = $262.50
Daily ice sessions for Ages 10-12 will include on-ice instruction on power skating, puck handling skills, passing and shooting fundamentals as well as controlled scrimmage play to help everyone get in game shape for the hockey season. Participants are responsible for bringing snacks and lunch. Supervision will be provided at all times. Groups are limited to 25 skaters and 3 goaltenders per session.
Daily Schedule:
10:00-11:15am - On Ice
11:30-11:45am - Snack
11:45-1:00pm - Activity
1:00-1:30pm - Lunch
2:00-3:15pm - On Ice
Group 3 - Ages 13-17 - $125 + GST = $131.25
Evening sessions for Ages 13—17 include skill review and high tempo scrimmages to help get players ready for upcoming tryouts. Supervision will be provided at all times. Groups are limited to 25 skaters and 3 goaltenders per session.
Daily Schedule:
6:00-7:30pm - On Ice
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For more information, please contact:
Jolie McMullen
Marketing Director
(250) 723-4412
jolie@albernivalleybulldogs.ca
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