Canucks on THE PEAK tonight, Bulldogs This Week tomorrow, Alberni Wrestling Update.

First off - A huge congrats to the boys and staff for the 4-3 come-from-behind OT win in Burnaby Saturday. With about 5 or 6 minutes left I got that "they won't be denied" feeling from watching their effort. I just knew they were going to come back and win the thing with the way they were playing. Cool stuff, and I hope I get to see it more, and I hope the fans get to see it and feel it too.

To read my recap of the two games over the weekend, visit the Bulldogs official website HERE

The Vancouver Canucks are on the road today trying to break a two game losing streak as they visit the Blue Jackets in Columbus.

Get it all on THE PEAK part of the Canucks Radio Network, with the pregame show getting underway at 3:30 and the puck drop just after 4:00 this afternoon.

For more - Check out the Canucks website HERE

Bulldogs This Week returns tomorrow at 6pm. More on the show tomorrow. As always, if you'd like to request a guest, drop me a line and I'll do my best to get them on the show.

(image: alberniwrestling.ca )

Here's a great update from James Messenger and Tom McEvay on the official start of the Wrestling Season...

Alberni Wrestlers Compete at Island Novice in Campbell River

Wrestling teams from ADSS, EJ Dunn, and Neill Middle School travelled to Campbell River on Saturday to compete at the Island Novice Wrestling Championships. The tournament marks the official start of the school wrestling season.

Not surprisingly the Alberni Valley was well represented by its school wrestling teams. EJ Dunn Middle School with a team of twenty five athletes sent the largest contingent from Alberni. The squad from Dunn proved there was strength in numbers and despite being made up almost entirely of first year Grade 6 and 7 wrestlers finished second in the Junior Girls Division and third in the Junior Boys Division.

On the girls side EJ Dunn was led by silver medal performances from Lauren Barker (34 kg) and Emma Vanderlee (57kg). Both Vanderlee and Barker are a credit to the value of Alberni’s kid wrestling program run by coach Russ Bodnar. Products of this program both girls only in grade six wrestled opponents up to three years older than them to claim their silver medals. Also adding to the team total was Remi Wells (Bronze at 34 kg), Enya Graham-Fred (4^th at 47 kg), and Danika Bratt (4^th at EJ Dunn).

The EJ Dunn boys team also brought home some hardware finishing third in their division just behind Phoenix Middle School from Campbell River and Dover Bay from Nanaimo. The third place finish was a whole team effort and was claimed by those wrestlers who battled through on the consolation side of the tournament. Colin Simister (35 kg) Russel David (41 kg) and Riley Neville (66 kg) won bronze medals in their weight classes. Valuable team points were contributed by the placings of a number of wrestlers. Corey Rasanen (4^th at 49kg), Wes Frank (4^th at 66 kg), Andrew Quach (4^th at 63 kg), Barry Fred (5^th at 35kg), Nathan Sutherland (5^th at 41 kg), Eric Gill (5^th at 48 kg), Anthony Fred (5^th at 45 kg), Barry Fred (5^th at 35 kg), Dean Leyland (5^th at 51kg), and Joseph Dugan (6^th at 66 kg).

When asked about her team’s performance Assistant Coach Alee Magnussen made the following statement. “I am happy with how our Dunn team did. We brought a lot of kids to their first ever wrestling tournament today. They all wrestled tough and learned a lot. We had a lot of fun too. What more could you ask for?”

Neill Middle school also had a group wrestlers compete in the Junior Boys division. Their team finished seventh overall based on performances of Jarred Beckett (bronze at 38 kg), Chas Henstridge (bronze at 45 kg), Austin Jaworski (bronze at 60 kg), and Nickolas Young (5^th 66kg).

Due to the fact the tournament is classified as a novice tournament only a small number of ADSS wrestlers were eligible to compete. Despite being part of a small group wrestler Wes Boris made sure he brought something back to the school and claimed the silver medal at 70 kg. On the girl’s side wrestler Brandi Curley just missed bringing home a medal as she finished 4^th at 51 kg.

Wrestlers from all three teams will be right back on the mats training this week in preparation for upcoming tournaments. This Saturday December 6^th Alberni’s elite wrestlers will be travelling over to the Roberts Rumble at SFU. A select group of novice and intermediate wrestlers will be travelling to the Cougar Invitational in Duncan. Wrestlers at all levels will be travelling to the SFU War On the Floor December 17, 18, & 19.

Way to go guys and gals.

Hammer