Bantam Bulldogs Host Tier 2/3 host 8 team tournament to kick off 2013
The Alberni Valley Bantam
Bulldogs are hosting an 8 team tournament this weekend at the Alberni Valley
Multiplex. Participating teams include
the host Bulldogs, Nanaimo Clippers, Juan de Fuca Grizzlies, Kerry Park
Islanders, Oceanside Generals, New Westminster Royals, North Vancouver Storm,
and the Whitehorse Mustangs.
18 games in total will be played
at the Multiplex starting at 1130am Friday when the host team takes on Kerry
Park. Alberni Valley also plays in the feature game Friday evening at 715pm
against North Vancouver. Come on out and
support up and coming young hockey players in the valley.
Medal round games will be played
on Sunday starting with the Bronze game at 1130am followed by the Gold Medal
game at 145pm.
Visit the tournament website for more information by CLICKING HERE
Canada will be making a change in net going with Jordan Binnington instead of Malcolm Subban. Unfortunately they aren't able to go back to selection camp and make the right decision so they could have Port Alberni Native and former BCHL'er Laurent Brossoit.
As I said on the air when the team roster was announced after selection camp - Canada will be lucky to win a medal, better yet gold. I'm a Canada supporter through and through, but I'm not a fan of the politics that currently exist within the National Program. Eastern bias - 17 players from East of Manitoba was one of the reasons I had a bad feeling, but it was the goalie selections that had me convinced we were doomed. All I can think of over the last 4 years is that our goaltending was sub-par. If you don't have the best goalie, you more often than not don't win championships.
Here's hoping Canada comes out better against Russia. The last time Canada failed to Medal in this event was in 1998. Right around the time of the 1998 Nagano Olympics failure, which brought about the "Open Ice" Summit, for those that remember it.
While I thought that Canada wasn't as ready as the USA (unacceptable) I thought the bigger problem was how tight they were. You can't play the game nervous. Your hands don't work and your brain doesn't work. Having said that, I can't blame any single one of the players for being nervous when you see what Head Coach Steve Spott is like. You need to be calm cool and collected, as the kids take their cues from you. Think Sutter/Quinn for example. Spott always gives the impression that at any given second he could go absolutely postal and spontaneously combust.
All just my opinion, opinions are like you-know-whats, everyone has one!
I really hope I am wrong and the Canadian boys can find a way to pull it out tomorrow to at the very least keep the medal streak going, but I can't help shake the bad feeling I've had since the roster was announced.
The Bulldogs play their first game of 2013 tomorrow night when they host the Prince George Spruce Kings. The Dogs enjoy a night off tonight while the Sprucies begin their roadie in Powell River tonight and conclude it in Nanaimo Sunday.
HUGE points up for grabs for the Bulldogs, Kings, Clippers and of course Spruce Kings. The Dogs face a tough test in the 3rd placed Kings, and they owe them some payback after the Kings picked up a 6-3 win in Prince George in October. Here's hoping they are more ready to play than they were on Monday night or it won't be pretty as Dave Dupas and Mike Hawes have assembled a good team and have made some good additions along the way since the last head to head meeting.
Hammer
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