REAL SEASON begins, Dogs visit Clippers to open Playoffs

After being absent from the dance last year the Bulldogs (29-20-2-5, 3rd Island) make their return to the post season tonight as they visit the Clippers (32-20-0-4, 2nd Island) at Frank Crane Arena for Game one of this best-of-five series.

The Bulldogs finished the regular season winning two in a row while the Clippers lost two in a row. The Bulldogs won the final head-to-head meeting, last Friday in Nanaimo by a score of 5-4 in overtime. The Bulldogs took the season series, winning five games while the Clippers took three.

You can forget about all of the above though, as it all means absolutely nothing now as the slate is wiped clean and the teams and players all have a stat line of zero.

I have been very lucky in my career to witness some fantastic playoff runs, going to five league championships and two Royal Bank Cup tournaments, and I'm hoping the Dogs can make this run a long one was well. Playoffs are everything, it's why we are involved in the game. They are about passion, intensity, drive and sacrifice. At the same time, they are about the opposite - composure, discipline, playing smart.  Mostly, they are about having a short memory. What happened last game/period/play doesn't matter, it's only about what's up next. One night you can be sky high off a huge win, the next you can be so low after a tough loss that you are lower than a snakes belly in a tire rut. PARK IT and look to the next play/period/game. 

  
I'm hoping for a great crowd for the boys on the bus at the top of the hump today, and I'm hoping for good weather for the die hard faithful that make their way up there! If the weather is ugly, I'm pretty sure it's nothing that will deter anyone that calls Port Alberni home as we all have umbrellas. Besides, it's often sunny up there when it's socked in down in the Valley so who knows, you might just see some sun!

 

Catch all the action with myself and Bruce MacDonald on Boston Pizza Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with the Pacific Chevrolet pregame show kicking off at 6:45 with the puck drop just after 7:00

Tonight's 2nd intermission will feature a replay of my interview from THE PEAK Morning Show with the new members to the Bulldog Staff, Business Manger Scott McWilliam and Director of Sales and Marketing Erica Horsfield. I thought it was important to get them on the air to get them introduced to the Valley and to the Bulldog fan base, and that's why I'm airing it again tonight for anyone that missed it! Welcome to the community and welcome to the team Scott and Erica, you're gonna love it here!

Don't forget you can also watch the game through the Pay-per-view broadcast through Fast Hockey

Another "don't forget" is that there is a Fan Bus again going down to Nanaimo for Game 2 tomorrow night! It leaves Boston Pizza at 5:30 sharp. If you want to be on it, call the Bulldogs Office to get registered.

Also an important heads up for Bulldogs Season Ticket and Corporate Ticket holders - the deadline to purchase your tickets for Monday's Game 3 is TONIGHT at 6pm.

Call the Bulldogs Office, or get to the office, because if you don't claim your tickets by the deadline tonight they will go on sale to the public.

That's it for now, DROP THE PUCK ALREADY!

Hammer