Dogs 3 Kings 1, Dogs host Clippers tomorrow, battle for "Rival Hammer"

Wasn't it nice to see Frank Riddle back last night? He will surely help the Dogs back end. Marley Keca also impressed me in his debut. I was very happy to see Sawyer Mick break through with his first goal as he was rewarded for his hard work. He could have 6 or 7 already with the chances he has had. Here's hoping that they go in with more regularity now for him. 

I also really liked the work ethic of Trent Murdoch last night. He had an extra jump in his step and an extra fight in his battles. Here's hoping he breaks out too as he had several great chances last night. 

 Just to add some fuel to the Dogs vs. Clippers rivalry, like it needed it - I just really want to see this Hammer!

Home Depot Introduces Battle of the Rival Hammer

PRESS RELEASE
September 30, 2010


The 2010-2011 BCHL Hockey Season is underway and Home Depot Nanaimo is proud to announce that we will be sponsoring the Nanaimo Clippers and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. We have been sponsoring the BCHL hockey league since 2009, and Home Depot in Nanaimo has been serving Vancouver Island for over 13 years.

At Home Depot, we feel that there is no better way to celebrate our sponsorship of these two teams than by celebrating the intense rivalry that exists between the two teams and between the two cities. When the Bulldogs and Clippers play it quite simply means more than the two points that are up for grabs. It means bragging rights. For players, coaches, and fans it’s as much about the Bulldogs and Clippers, as it is about the Alberni Valley and Nanaimo. The games are bigger. The crowds are bigger. The hits are bigger and the goals are bigger. And last but not least, the rinks are louder. It’s what a great rivalry is all about – great hockey, great community involvement, and playing for the logo on the front of the jersey and the team and the city that it represents.

To make the battle between the Bulldogs and the Clippers (including the communities of Port Alberni and Nanaimo) about more than just bragging rights, Home Depot is proud to announce that they have increased the stakes, as the teams this season will battle for the “Rival Hammer”
Standing six feet and made out of wood, the Rival Hammer will have both the Bulldog and Clippers logos on it. For the time being, it will be on display at Home Depot in Nanaimo. Over the course of the season the Bulldogs and Clippers will meet 10 times, and the winner of the season series will win the coveted “Rival Hammer” for their team and for their city.

After Game One of the series back on September 17th in Port Alberni, a 4-3 Bulldog win in overtime, the Bulldogs have a 1-0 lead in the series. The next game of the series goes this Saturday night, also at the Dog Pound in Port Alberni.

Be sure to visit Home Depot in Nanaimo and see the “Rival Hammer” first hand. Home Depot is a proud sponsor of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL, serving Vancouver Island for 13 years.




Hammer (me, not the rival one) haha





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Dogs add Keca, will play tonight, Frank Riddle returns tonight....

Bulldogs Add Defenceman Keca


Press Release
September 30th 2010


The Alberni Valley Bulldogs would like to announce the signing of 93 D Marley Keca.


Keca played 17 games last season tallying 1 goal and 3 assists with the Quesnel
Millionaires.



"Marley is a smooth skating defenceman that we have had our eye on for a year. He has a
ton of upside and will make an immediate impact to our team," states Bulldogs GM/Head
Coach Paul Esdale. "We look forward to Marley joining the Bulldog organization and
expect big things from him," adds Esdale.



Keca will be in the lineup tonight when Alberni takes on the Powell River Kings.



For more information please contact Paul Esdale at 250.723.4412.



Marley was at the Kelowna Rockets camp this fall and was recently released.


I'm also happy to announce that Frank Riddle will return to the Bulldogs line up tonight. Riddle was injured in the season opener in Powell River.


Hammer



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Dogs host Kings tonight, skate with Bulldogs, Bulldogs Fight Cancer, Season Ticket deadline, LAST HOURS TO VOTE, Golf Update,

 The Bulldogs are back at it tonight, hosting the only team that has beat them this season in the Powell River Kings. My preview for the weekend is up on the Bulldog website, you can read it HERE

 The Bulldogs are again joining the fight against Breast Cancer as they did last year:

Read more on the initiative from the Dogs website here

The Bulldogs have their Season Ticket deadline coming up TOMORROW at 4pm. Read more about it from the Bulldogs website HERE

They also have a reception Saturday night after the Clippers game, and their annual "Skate with the Bulldogs" this Sunday - again, more info from the Dogs website is here 


Get voting! DEADLINE 2pm!

I was lucky enough to get out on an absolutely AMAZING day yesterday to play a round at the Alberni Golf Club. Below is an update on Gerry from the things happening at the club. TOMORROW NIGHT they will be hosting a Glow-Ball Golf Night at the course. You'll get some dinner and then head out for some fun! Call the pro shop for more info at 250 723 5422

In Men's Club action this past weekend, there was none, thanks to mother nature the course was to wet and soggy to play golf.The weather man has promised better conditions for this upcoming Sunday. So much for the weather report.

This Sunday October 3 will be the windup to the Men's Club for another season.It has been a good year with only a couple of rain outs. Lots of members, lots of particication, lots of laughs and some great golf.

On Sunday it will be the Dave Gray Contracting four man best net and best gross competition, with a shotgun start at 8:30AM. Please register in the Pro Shop in your own group as soon as possible, When you register please indicate on the sheet if you will be eating lunch after golf, this will give the kitchen some ieda, so they can be prepaired. Each person will be responsible for their own lunch. Breakfast will also be available starting at 7AM.

It would be great to see at least 100 men out for the day, besides prizes for the winners of the event there will be many, many cash draws.There will also be the awarding of trophys and prizes for the winners and runners up of the Club Championship. Be sure to sign up, it promises to be a fun day.

Raise a Reader...

I'm here on Napier St. at the Alberni Valley Times office until 10am live on THE PEAK promoting raise a reader! Come down and buy a paper and support Literacy!

The BBQ by donation goes here from just after 10 until about 1pm so be sure to make your way down if you don't have lunch plans.

Get fed. Raise a Reader.


Hammer



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Raise a Reader TODAY, Sawyer Mick story, Dogs kids camp story, ULTIMATE FISHING TOWN, VOTE VOTE VOTE

Today is Raise a Reader Day! Look for folks decked out in bright Orange T-Shirts around the community selling Alberni Valley Times Newspapers for a donation. That donation stays here in the community and goes to Literacy Alberni!

Speaking of the Times, they have a nice story today on Bulldog Forward Sawyer Mick, click HERE to read it

They also have a write up on the Dogs Pro Day Hockey Camp click HERE for that one.

Time is ticking! Less than two days to go! VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE

Christina Spence wins National Championship, Van Isle Ford "Drive One 4 UR Community, What a "late and blindside" hit gets you in the SJHL....

Very cool story here on local golfer Christina Proteau, as she has just won the Golftown National Amateur Series Women's Championship.

Read more from the Alberni Valley Times HERE

Huge congrats to Van Isle Ford, and to the community at large, for coming out to support their "Drive One 4 Minor Hockey" Saturday at the Multiplex. All told, over $3,000.00 was raised for Minor Hockey. That's over 150 test drives. Way to go Port Alberni!

AND a special "thanks" and  "way to go" to the Cowichan fans and parents that supported the event as well. I was told that a group of Cowichan parents took vehicles out for a quick drive as they had an hour or more until their kids games started once they arrived at the Multiplex Saturday from Duncan.

"I'm supporting Minor Hockey" was the phrase I heard all day long. Great stuff. You can bet that Minor Hockey can desperately use the $3,000

Because there is never enough of the Nanaimo-Port Alberni rivalry.....A blog reader sent this story in via email to me with the note "Way to go PA, you beat Nanaimo" 3,200 or so raised by Port Alberni, 20,000 or so people. 1,200 was raised by Nanaimo, 80,000 or so people. Read more here




From Gregg Drinnan's blog Taking Note regaring a recent suspension from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League:

"The SJHL has lowered the boom on F Justin Ducharme of the La Ronge Ice Wolves. He drew a 16-game suspension for a hit on Andrew Dommett, the captain of the Kindersley Klippers on Sept. 19. The league called it a “late and blind-side hit.” . . . According to the Regina Leader-Post, “Dommett suffered a broken jaw on both sides and also lost several teeth. The injuries could cause him to miss up to two months.” . . . Ducharme will be eligible to return on Nov. 19."

Sounds like the Frank Riddle hit to me, although Frank's injury was to his head, not his face. Nice to see the SJHL take such a hard stance and send such a message that hits like this aren't allowed. Too bad the BCHL saw fit to hand only a paltry two games to the Powell River Kings Scott Renner for the Riddle hit.

As I said when I first commented here on the incident, just my humble opinion. Feel free to regale me with your own. I don't intend to call the league disciplinarians out, but I don't think two games sends a message. I don't want to see that sort of incident again, and I don't want any kids going through what Frank Riddle has gone through. 

Read more from the Regina Leader Post
Hammer

"Around the Pound, the Bulldog Talk Show" tonight on THE PEAK

Be sure to tune in to another edition of Around the Pound, brought to you by the Alberni Auto Group, live on 93.3 The Peak FM tonight from 6pm to 7pm.


Tonights line up, in order of appearance:


Bulldogs Head Coach and GM Paul Esdale


Bulldogs players Josh Mitchell and Frank Slubowski


Team Canada West Head Scout Leonard Strandberg


And last but not least, by popular demand, highlights from the weekend!

Hammer


If you have any questions, suggestions, complaints concerns or feeback we'd love to hear from you, so drop me a line HERE



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Dogs 3 Warriors 3

Quite the game, and 70 minutes of hockey later no one is the winner.


Westside has a heck of a team, and a gutsy team as well as they sure didn't look like a group playing their 4th game in 5 days.


Frank Slubowski was the reason the Dogs didn't lose this game, what a performance!


Check out my full recap on the Dogs website here


Hammer


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Bulldogs Pro Day Hockey Camp tomorrow!

Bulldogs Youth Pro Day Hockey Camp
PRESS RELEASE
September 26, 2010


The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to host a single day Youth Hockey Camp on Monday September 27, 2010 at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. The camp will feature on ice instruction from your favorite Alberni Valley Bulldog Players focused on individual skills, skating, and competitive fun! Each session will include 1.5 hours of on ice instruction and will conclude with a tour of the Bulldogs Dressing Room.


Ages 6 – 8 will skate from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM followed by ages 9 – 10 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.


Head Coach Paul Esdale “We are thrilled to provide this fun and interactive on ice instruction opportunity to members of our minor hockey systems. All of our players and staff have been provided the guidance and leadership from our favorite role models, and this event is a great way for members of the Bulldogs family to give back to the future generations of this sport we all love.”



The cost for the day camp is 12.00 dollars per player and spots are limited. For those still interested in registering, you can do so in person at the Alberni Valley Multiplex, the Echo Centre, or by calling 250-723-2181. There are only 25 spots available, call to secure your position in the Bulldogs Youth Hockey Camp today!


Alberni Valley Bulldogs Hockey Club
3737 Roger Street
Port Alberni, B.C., Canada, V9Y 8E3
Phone: 250-723-4412 Fax: 250-723-4452
www.albernivalleybulldogs.ca

Beauty Day

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Game Day - Bulldogs host Warriors

It's the first afternoon game of the season as the Dogs look for their 4th win in a row as they host the Westside Warriors as they attempt to finish their road trip at 2-2 while avoiding dropping their second in a row.

The Warriors opened up their trip in Cowichan Wednesday with a 3-2 loss to the Caps. They beat the Clippers 3-2 Friday at the Frank Crane Arena, and lost 3-1 in Victoria last night. All close games that I'm sure could have went either way.

If the Dogs want today go to their way, they had best be ready. YES, the Warriors have been on the road for a lonnnnng time, but from my experience I've learned its best to be ready for the road weary as they can play a heck of a game when one might think there is no gas left in the tank. Maybe it's the coming together on the road thing, maybe it's the positive thoughts of finally heading home when it's done, maybe it's because it's almost second nature when it comes to your fourth game in five days. Whatever the case, it's easy to get going when you are playing lots of hockey more often than not.

See you at the rink!

Hammer

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Favorite pic so far...

Alberni Valley (BCHL)


Wicked!


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More pics

I don't know if these are getting old for you, but they sure aren't for me!


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Scotiabank Place

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Dizzy...

Thanks to Nolan Graham for the pictures....must be an unreal feeling for Nolan watching a guy he coached last year in Alberni playing tonight in Ottawa in the NHL.

Just wow.



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From the Dog Pound, to THIS

Cool stuff! More pictures to come.


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The shirt says it all..

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Game Day Stats Pack from Ottawa...

Seems surreal to see that name there doesn't it?

#59 doesn't have the same ring that "the great eight" had that's for sure.

Good luck tonight Dizzy!


Thanks to my spy in Ottawa for sending the picture!


Hammer


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How 'bout them Dogs, Van Isle Ford "Drive one for Minor Hockey" today only at Multiplex, Dziurzynski to suit up for Sens tonight

Couldn't help but open my eyes this morning and one second later think "wow, what a game last night"

The Dogs have shown us plenty in just four games, but what really stands out so far is their work ethic and their resiliency.

Five minutes left in the game last Friday, Cowichan scores on the 5 on 3 to tie it up. Before you knew what happened, Josh Mitchell scores shorthanded to put the Dogs ahead to stay.

Less than TWO minutes left last night, and the Chiefs score what you might have thought was the winner as they went up 3-2. An incredible 11 seconds later and its - guess who - yep, Josh Mitchell, catching a puck in mid air in tight and spinning and firing it under the bar to tie the game up again.

Not so fast people heading to their cars....

The Dogs have plenty of areas to work on, and no one wins Championships in September.

Having said that its still hard to not get excited about the Dogs prospects this season after seeing the last three games.

The vets have stepped up when needed, the rookies have shown promise, the D has held it together through injuries, and Frank Slubowski has been Frank Slubowski.

Throw in the fact that the Dogs have about 3 or 4 very good offensive players who haven't broken out yet, and this looks like a darn good team.

BUT one game or one weekend can change EVERYTHING so here's hoping the guys keep it going in the right direction. So far, so good.

Moving on....

Its a big day for Alberni Valley Minor Hockey as Van Isle Ford is here until 4pm trying to raise $6000.00 for the AVMHA with their "Drive one For Your Community" promotion.

*You will not be asked to buy a car

*They will not try to sell you a car

*They will not take your phone number

Quite simply, this is all about raising money for LOCAL Minor Hockey.

Its this simple - take a 3 minute test drive, and Ford will give Minor Hockey $20.00.

That's it, that's all.

I'm here at the Multiplex until 1pm so I hope to see you down here!

Last but not least....

David Dzuirzynski is expected to suit up tonight as the Sens host the Habs. Sadly, there will be no TV coverage...I was quite excited on a Saturday off to sit in front of the tube and watch the former Dog in the show. Good ole radio might be the only way to follow the game live.

Congrats to Dizzy, exciting stuff!

Now, on behalf of everyone that supports Minor Hockey, get your butt down to the rink and take a test drive! (Please and Thanks)

Hammer

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Audio Highlights 3rd and 4th goals. LOUD.

http://www.mediafire.com/?dcxw713vk58ukxp

What a game. Audio Courtesy and Copyright 93.3 The Peak FM and the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

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4-3 Dogs in Overtime

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Warm Up

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Website up again - vote vote vote vote!

Game Day! Bulldogs host Chiefs on Raise a Reader night at the Dog Pound, Dogs at Safeway tomorrow...Tour de Rock into town today..

The Dogs are back at it as they host the Langley Chiefs tonight at the Pound on "Raise a Reader" night.

Read my Weekend Preview  on the Bulldogs website here

Get it all on 93.3 The Peak with the pregame show hitting the air at 6:45

Tonight's second intermission feature guest is Andrew Deans, play-by-play voice of the Westside Warriors.

Don't forget that the Dogs will be at Safeway signing autographs on Saturday from 12noon to 2pm. Fans are encouraged to come out and meet the guys!

The Tour de Rock rolls into Port Alberni today, so please get out and support the riders as they come down the hump. They should be at Walmart by 12noon. After that it's off to the Johnston Road Co-op for 1:30, Coast Realty for 1:50, and a visit to Alberni Elementary at 2:15.

Tonight is the Red Serge Dinner at the Italian Hall, Mc'd by The Peak's Jolie McMullan. At last report yesterday, there was only FIVE tickets left. Call the Canadian Cancer Society in Port Alberni to try and get a ticket: 250-724-2912

To make a donation for local rider Wilma Bolderheij, visit her page here

It's not an easy ride up and over the hump, but as Wilma said on THE PEAK this morning, it doesn't even compare to the uphill battle kids face who are fighting cancer. And THAT is some inspiring stuff, isn't it?


That's all I have for now.

Hammer

Frank Crane Arena Upgrades Fail to Deliver.....

Wowzers, no punches pulled here by Phillip Wolf from the Nanaimo Daily News regarding the Frank Crane Arena.

Click HERE to read it

And they didn't spend a single red cent upgrading the broadcast booth either! ;)

CHEK NEWS story on Ultimate Fishing Town, Raise a Reader Road Hockey pictures

It's all about the media today - pictures and vids!