Bulldogs visit Kings for first time this season tonight

It's the first meeting of the season between these Island Division rivals in Powell River, as the Bulldogs (9-16-1-0, 4th Island) visit the Kings (13-12-0-0, 2nd Island) at the Hap Parker Arena.

The Bulldogs were last in action Sunday afternoon at home where they snapped a two game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs. The Kings last saw the ice Saturday night at home, where they dropped their fourth straight, 7-5 to the Chilliwack Chiefs.

These teams have met just once this season, and it was just back on November 10th, a 4-0 Bulldog win.

I'll be live tonight on 93.3 The Peak FM's Bulldogs Hockey presented by Pacific Chevrolet. The broadcast starts at 6:45 for our pregame show, with the puck drop and play-by-play to follow at 7:00pm.

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is former Bulldog (2015-2017) Brody Claeys - the 2016-2017 Bulldog MVP, now playing his Sophomore season with the NCAA's University of Alaska-Anchorage  Seawolves

If you aren't in 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.hockeytv.com



In other news from yesterday, Bulldogs goalie John Hawthorne earned the BCHL's Player of the Week... congrats John! 

Alberni Valley Bulldogs goaltender John Hawthorne has been named the BCHL Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 18, the league announced Monday.

The second-year netminder faced a ton of rubber over the weekend, stopping 105 of 111 shots over three games. Hawthorne finished the week with .946 save percentage, a goals-against average of 2.02, one win and was named a game star twice.

The 20-year-old from Chemainus, B.C. made 33 saves on 36 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Wednesday night and followed that up with a 32-save performance on Saturday in a 2-1 loss to the Prince George Spruce Kings and was named the game’s first star. Hawthorne was finally rewarded for his solid play on Sunday afternoon when he made 40 saves and was named the game’s second star in a 4-1 win over the league-leading Chilliwack Chiefs.

After this week’s games, Hawthorne sees his save percentage climb to .920, tying him for second-best in the BCHL. He has a 7-12-0 record, a 2.84 goals-against average and two shutouts, while playing the fifth-most minutes in the league.

Honourable mentions:

Chilliwack Chiefs F Harrison Blaisdell: 3GP, 2G, 5A, 1st star
Chilliwack Chiefs F Kevin Wall: 3GP, 3G, 5A
Wenatchee Wild F Josh Arnold: 3GP, 2G, 4A, GWG, 1st star
Surrey Eagles G Cayden Bailey: 3GP, 1W, 85 saves/91 shots, .934 SV%, 2.35 GAA, FortisBC Energy Player of the Game
Prince George Spruce Kings G Logan Neaton: 2GP, 2W, SO, 41 saves/42 shots, .976 SV%, 0.50 GAA, 3rd star
Nanaimo Clippers G Jordan Naylor: 2GP, 2W, 62 saves/66 shots, .939 SV%, 2.00 GAA, 3rd star
Langley Rivermen F Trevor Ayre: 2GP, 3G, 1A, hat trick, GWG, 1st star

And in more news, the Bulldogs and Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society announced that they've begun the process of searching for potential ownership partners of the franchise.. 

BULLDOGS, PAJHS BEGIN SEARCH FOR POTENTIAL OWNERSHIP PARTNERS

November 19, 2018 – Port Alberni, B.C – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs Junior A Hockey Club has begun a search for Ownership Partners that will solidify the long-term success of the franchise in Port Alberni.

The Bulldogs franchise relocated to Port Alberni from Burnaby in 2002 and quickly became ingrained as an important part of the city’s sporting community. The team was sold in 2012 to the Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society, which has owned and operated the team for the past seven seasons.

“The Bulldogs have been run by a committed group of local individuals who were determined to keep BCHL hockey in the Alberni Valley,” says PAJHS Director Darren Deluca. “The reality is that Junior A hockey is a business and we feel the time is right to find an ownership partner who shares our interest in the success of the team and the significant role it plays in our community.”

From a strong season ticket base that exceeds 700 to a team-friendly arena lease and tremendous local corporate sponsorship support, there is no shortage of positive factors that should make the Bulldogs an attractive opportunity for potential ownership partners.

“We have tremendous fans and sponsors that really set the Bulldogs organization apart,” says Deluca. “The relationship with local government is strong and there is a lot of money being invested in the economic development of our region. And anyone who has been inside the Alberni Valley Multiplex for a big game knows that this is a great hockey town. We’re very confident that potential partners will see all the reasons why the Bulldogs can thrive on and off the ice over the long term in Port Alberni.”

The Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society is spreading the word regarding the potential for ownership in the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in order to attract the best possible field of potential partners. BCHL franchises sell at a wide range of values and Alberni Valley’s is going to be driven by the market.

“The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are an essential part of our local community,” says City of Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions. “In addition to providing great entertainment to hockey fans in Port Alberni, the team contributes to numerous projects and events that benefit our citizens. We look forward to working with anyone whose goal is to ensure the long-term strength and stability of the Bulldogs organization in the Alberni Valley.”

To learn more about the Bulldogs organization, the City of Port Alberni and the opportunity to join our team, visit www.albernivalleybulldogs.ca/invest.

***
Media Contact:
Darren Deluca

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