GAME @ home vs. Powell River
Sat. March 27th
Tickets will go on sale for season ticket holders only starting @ 8am in the upper lounge area. Season Ticket Holder will have until 2pm to pick up tickets or call the office. After 2pm any tickets that have not been purchased will go out to the general public.
General Public will be able to purchase available seats starting @ 9 am in the Bulldogs office.
Please listen to 933 the Peak for all your ticket updates
Any questions please call 250-723-4412
Peaks and Valleys, ups and downs. The Dogs don't have any time to be DOWN as tomorrow night they will play the first Game 7 in team history, and the first Game 7 at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. On the line is the right to battle for the Fred Page Cup. And a season. And some Junior Hockey Careers.
In regards to getting back UP for tomorrow after losing tonight - as Assistant Coach Paul Esdale said on the post game show "you gotta park it"
This was a tense game from the get go, with no scoring through the first 40 minutes of play. A crowd of over 1000 people was certainly entertained even with the lack of scoring. It had the atmosphere of the crowd I talked about from the past that I had seen in the Rec Complex.
The Kings had the shot and chance advantage through the first period, but in the second the Dogs came back with chances of their own as the teams were tied in shots at 22 aside into period three. The Kings would have several great chances a second period power play but Frank Slubowski came up with several huge stops, most notably a pad save on a cross ice one-timer attempt.
The Kings drew first blood just over a minute into the third period when Chad Niddery drove the net down the wing and put a shot off the shoulder of Slubowski and up in the air before it fell into the back of the net. Just over two minutes later it was a 1-1 tie when David Dziurzynski dished the puck perfectly to Kevin Ross who put a quick one-timer on net. On the rebound that resulted Mitch MacMillan somehow found a way on the scramble to get a puck home and over the line while he was down tied up with a defender. The score stayed 1-1 until just over 8 minutes to play when the Kings went ahead 2-1 on a power play of their own when Mitch Labreche knocked down a Reid Campbell shot from the point straight down as Frank Slubowski was attempting to make the save high. The Dogs would protest that it was a high stick. It looked like it was a good goal in my opinion, but at the same time I'm high up and maybe it looked different to the players who are lower down on ice level. The closest the Dogs had to evening the game might have been on a low Frank Riddle one timer from the top of the left circle that snuck through Josh Watson low and appeared destined to be crossing the line until someone saved the day and cleared it off the line. The net came off on the play and it remained that way for a long time until it was spotted, which could have made things very interesting if the Dogs had scored with the net dislodged.
The Kings sealed the deal into an empty net after an earlier goal was waved off by an off-side when Matt Bodie put a saucer from his own zone off a faceoff win high and down the ice into the open cage with 24 seconds to play.
Should be fun night at the Dog Pound! Pack the shack and come support the guys.
It's Game 7 winner take all and as anyone knows anything can happen. I think it's natural to expect a win coming back home up 3-1 in a series with back to back wins on the road. When that didn't happen, it's natural to expect a win in Game 6 heading back on the road as the Dogs have been such a great road team, and they were heading to a place where the Dogs had some recent success, taking 4 straight. Having said all this, the deciding thing the last two games is that with the stakes this high it isn't about EXPECTING, it's about going out and DOING. Plain and simple fundamentals. Skating, shooting, hitting, team work,wanting it more and winning battles. No more pressure and expectations, just come out and play the game of your lives. The Kings have done it the last two games with their backs against the wall. Now that the Bulldogs are there too with their backs against the wall, it will be interesting to see how they react.
Talking at the dinner table after the game, the topic of past game sevens came up in regards with any experience that any of us had. My story is a neat one. I have called ONE Game 7 in my 10 plus years of calling hockey games. It was during the 2001-2002 season, and it was in the Conference Finals just like this one. Someone asked how that season ended. My answer? "The Royal Bank Cup Championship Game"
You gotta believe, and I know everyone in Bulldog land does.
That's all I have for now, bed time with an early boat tomorrow.
4 comments:
Hey Hammer, You Two look like a couple of GO-GO dancers up there.
That's just sad, what a place to call a game from. No matter what, you don't have to go back there again.
Alberni, the time is on you to grow as individuals and as men. You have gotten this far on the backs and accomplishments of certain members to lead you, to motivate you, and to put the puck in the net. Tonight requires efforts from the most unlikely places. Everyone must be a leader, must contribute, and grow beyond your current level of play. One game to be extraordinary, each and every one of you. Take the wind out of their sails early with a quick goal, or a big clean hit. Make them chase you to the finish line. New heroes will be created tonight, play like there is no tomorrow! I would say 'good luck,' but it will be big hearts that determine the outcome... let it be your time Alberni!
VERY well said! Hope the team reads it! Maybe put it in the locker room.
Win or lose, this season has been a fun ride. And this season is a refreshing upgrade from the last few years. With the last few coaches. Yikes. But with Nolan and Paul what a couple of nice guys. These two have brought a sense of respect and class back to the team. Not to mention winning. Good luck boys. And we will win tonight.
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