Bulldogs add Mackenzie Wight, Raffler retires...

Great news to get a player like Mackenzie back! At the same time, too bad to hear about Ben Raffler - best of luck in the future. 

Here's a few little example of what Mackenzie is capable of...


Hammer 

19-YEAR OLD FORWARD BACK IN THE VALLEY FOLLOWING MEMORIAL CUP RUN WITH BRONCOS

Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have added 1999-born  
forward Mackenzie Wight from the Western Hockey League's Swift Current  
Broncos, bringing back a player who quickly became a fan favourite  
over the course of a 27-game stint with the team during the 2016/17  
season.

Wight scored six goals and totaled 12 points over that half season  
with the Bulldogs before joining the Broncos for the remainder of  
their regular season and playoffs. He returned to Swift Current for  
the 2017/18 campaign and suited up in 55 regular season games and 20  
playoff contests en route to the Broncos capturing the Ed Chynoweth  
Cup as WHL champions. He would go on to suit up in three games at the  
2018 Memorial Cup in Regina.

"Mackenzie is a high-compete, high-energy forward who will get  
involved physically and help us be better in all three zones," says  
Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. "He's excited to be back in the  
Alberni Valley and we're thrilled to add a player with considerable  
playoff experience and leadership skills who was very recently part of  
a championship team."

The team has also announced that defenceman Ben Raffler is retiring  
from junior hockey to pursue his post-secondary education and other  
interests. Raffler was recently acquired from the Powell River Kings  
and skated in two game against the Victoria Grizzlies last weekend.

"We respect Ben's decision to move on from junior hockey and wish him  
every bit of success in the future," says Hughes. "We're disappointed  
to lose a player who we know would have been a great contributor and  
leader for us, but it was clear that he's a very mature, focused young  
man who is ready to move on to other pursuits."

Wight will make his return to the Bulldogs lineup when the team begins  
a three-game weekend road swing on Friday night in Salmon Arm.

***

For more information, please contact:

Matt Hughes