It's an extremely rare neutral site regular season game today for the Bulldogs (11-9-0-2, 3rd Island) as they host the Trail Smoke Eaters (17-7-2-1, T-2nd Interior) at the Rod Brind'Amour Arena in Campbell River for a 2:00pm start time.
While rare, today's contest is not entirely unprecedented, as the Bulldogs have played at the very least one neutral site regular season game (not including the BCHL Showcase) previously - at the Minoru Arena in Richmond as they fell 4-1 to the Surrey Eagles on December 29th 2010
Today's game is, as far as I'm aware the first time in franchise history where the Bulldogs have been the "home" team. This of course wasn't part of the plan...if you've had your head under a rock or your body on a sandy beach for the last couple of weeks you're forgiven in not knowing that the Bulldogs have been, for the lack of a better word - "homeless" since early November when the ice plant was shut down at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
I've tried my best to be optimistic and patient throughout it all, as inconvenient as it has been. Safety first is of the utmost concern. At the same time, it's gone on long enough that patience is getting harder to find, at least for me personally. There's been several instances where it's looked like there has been a light at the end of the tunnel....only to end up as the light turning out to actually be an oncoming train!
The Bulldogs announced yesterday that they've now also been forced to move Tuesday night's home game against the Prince George Spruce Kings to Oceanside Place in Parksville as they STILL won't have a rink to call home. It's all way above my paygrade and level of understanding...I know power play percentage...not "parts per million"
Enough of all that anyway...the show must go on...and it is - and the Bulldogs had best be ready for the Smoke Eaters.
The Bulldogs were last in action Wednesday night in Nanaimo for their first game in twelve days, where they came back from a 4-1 hole after 40 minutes to tie it in the final minute on the way to dropping a 5-4 shoot out decision to the Clippers.
The Smoke Eaters are playing their third game in two and a half days, as they won 6-2 in Powell River on Friday night to open their trip, before dropping a 4–1 decision last night in Nanaimo to the Clippers.
We've done our due dilligence throughout the week to make sure we're as prepared as we can be to bring you today's proceedings on Pacific Chevrolet Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM. The broadcast is on the air at 1:45 for the pregame show, with the play-by-play to follow at 2:00 as Bruce MacDonald provides game analysis and colour commentary while I call the play-by-play.
Today's 2nd Intermission feature is the latest edition of the Island Division This Week.
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
Hammer
____________________________________________________________
There has never been a subscription fee for this blog - and there never will be, but if you enjoy stopping by here, why not consider donating to the cause? Just click HERE. . . and thank you very much. *
*As eloquently said by Gregg Drinnan of Taking Note - the best hockey/sports blog around
No comments:
Post a Comment