Bulldogs make moves at deadline....

Good evening from Wenatchee - read below for details from the Bulldogs from today and yesterday as they finalized their roster before today's deadline.

Hammer



ALBERNI VALLEY SWAPS BLUELINERS IN DEADLINE DEAL WITH SILVERBACKS

Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have completed a trade  
with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks, acquiring the CJHL playing rights of  
2000-born defenceman Ethan McLaughlin and future considerations in  
return for 1998-born defenceman Darren Rizzolo.

McLaughlin is in his first British Columbia Hockey League season and  
has three assists in 36 regular season appearances. He played his  
midget hockey with the Okanagan Hockey Academy, netting 37 points in  
36 games last season while making his Junior A debut as an affiliate  
player with the Penticton Vees.

"Ethan is a smart, two-way defenceman who moves the puck well and has  
the mobility to contribute in all three zones," says Bulldogs head  
coach Matt Hughes. "He's transitioned nicely to the level of play in  
the BCHL and we expect him to step right in and help our group now and  
in the future."

Veteran defenceman Darren Rizzolo has been moved to Salmon Arm in the  
deal. In his fourth BCHL season, Rizzolo had one goal and 10 assists  
in 26 games as well as 22 penalty minutes. In 176 career BCHL games  
split between Chilliwack, Vernon and Alberni Valley, the Mission, B.C.  
product has a combined for 10 goals and 38 assists.

"Darren has been a key member of our team over the past two and a half  
seasons and a well-liked individual in our room and in the community,"  
says Hughes. "We appreciate all his efforts in a Bulldogs uniform and  
wish him nothing but success in Salmon Arm."

McLaughlin is expected to join the Bulldogs in time for this weekend's  
three-game road trip to Wenatchee, West Kelowna and Coquitlam.

***

For more information, please contact:

Matt Hughes
Head Coach/GM

VIJHL GOALS LEADER ADDED PRIOR TO BCHL ROSTER DEADLINE

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have made their final roster addition  
prior to the January 10th trade deadline with the signing of 2001-born  
forward Josh Zary.

Zary joins the Bulldogs from the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey  
League's Nanaimo Buccaneers, where he led the team in scoring with 21  
goals and 17 assists in 28 regular season games. His  21 goals tie him  
for the league lead while his 38 points are tops amongst VIJHL rookies  
and rank fifth overall amongst all skaters.

"Josh is a highly skilled, intelligent offensive player who has made a  
seamless transition to junior hockey with the Buccaneers," says  
Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. "We're excited to have him join us  
and continue his development in the BCHL, and we think he has a bright  
future ahead of him in a Bulldogs uniform."

With the Bulldogs, Zary will be reunited with former North Island  
Silvertips linemate Ethan Jones. The duo finished in the top-10 in  
B.C. Major Midget League scoring last season, combining for 111 points.

The Bulldogs made one other move prior to the trade deadline, dealing  
the Junior A rights to 1999-born defenceman Jonathan Smart to the  
Penticton Vees in return for future considerations. Smart had been  
listed by the Bulldogs earlier in the season while playing for the  
Western Hockey League's Kootenay Ice.

Alberni Valley begins a three day, three game road trip tomorrow  
against the Wenatchee Wild, before visits to West Kelowna and  
Coquitlam on Saturday and Sunday.

***

For more information, please contact:

Matt Hughes
Head Coach/GM