Men's Night tonight, Rip Curl Pro in Tofino, Game 7 Officiating....

It's Men's Night tonight at the Alberni Golf Club! The course is in great condition...great golf, great prizes, great dinner and a great time! Call the Pro Shop at 250-723-5422 to get registered!


Shifting gears...here's a great excuse (if you needed one) to head out to the West Coast...

(image: http://www.ripcurlprotofino.com/)

CANADA’S TOP SURFERS BATTLE THIS WEEKEND AT RIP CURL PRO TOFINO

Canadian Surfing Championship takes place June 1^st and 2^nd at Cox Bay in Tofino, BC.

Canada’s largest surfing competition kicks offs this weekend with over 100 registered surfers to compete. Surfers in nine separate divisions will vie for over $30,000 in cash and prizes. The event is the only one in Canada open to all divisions, including; Pro Men, Pro Women, Masters and Longboard.

Officially sanctioned by the Canadian Surfing Association (CSA), the Rip Curl Pro Tofino is the official Canadian Surfing Championship. The CSA recognition means that this weekend’s event will deliver a national champion in each division. Top Canadian surfers Peter Devries, Noah Cohen, and Leah Oke will among the competitors battling for a title.

The Rip Curl Pro Tofino is Canada’s premiere surfing event, attracting spectator crowds of all ages with entertainment on and off the beach. “In it’s seventh year, the Rip Curl Pro Tofino brings Canada’s surf community together with a festival atmosphere in a supernatural setting.” said Event Organizer Myrosha Daley. He added “The event offers more than just competition including; surfboard demos, beach games, live music and shoreline clean up.”

The Rip Curl Pro Tofino starts Saturday June 1^st, 7:00am and will run through Sunday afternoon. 

WOW, how about the continuing story that is the Officating in the NHL Playoffs? Imagine the riot that would have resulted if the Hawks would have lost the game, and the series last night!

That's it for now!

Hammer

Ingram and Mills win Officiating Awards

Big congrats due!

Hammer

 

The BCHL is proud to announce the recipients of the BCHL officiating awards for the 2012-2013 season.

The Kelly Sutherland Award and the Brad Lazarowich Award were created last year to recognize officiating excellence in the BCHL.

The Kelly Sutherland Award for the top referee is presented this year to Jeff Ingram. Jeff is a veteran referee in the BCHL who is currently a Level 6 official. He refereed the BCHL Fred Page Cup this year and was selected to referee in the Western Canadian Championships in Nanaimo, where he was assigned the final game between the Surrey Eagles and Brooks Bandits. 

"Jeff is a quality referee and person.  He has been a top referee in the BCHL for many years and is committed to excellence both on and off the ice," said BCHL Director of Officiating Derek Adams. "Jeff has acted as a mentor to our young referees and is a leader on our staff who sets the bar extremely high for the standard of how we want our games in the BCHL to be officiated". 

Jeff also referees in the WHL and CIS, and was selected to referee the CIS Championships in Saskatoon in 2013. 

The Brad Lazarowich Award for the top linesman is presented to Bevan Mills. Bevan has been a linesman in the BCHL since 2004 and has worked the Fred Page Cup for the past four years. Bevan was also selected to officiate in the Western Canada Cup this year. 

"The mark of a great linesman is one who makes the referee's job easier because he works hard at being proactive in preventing situations from escalating. That's what makes Bevan such a great linesmen" said Adams.  "Bevan is extremely professional and respectful both on and off the ice and is committed to making the officiating team the best team on the ice every night". 

Bevan is also a linesman in the AHL and WHL and was selected to work the 2013 Memorial Cup this year in Saskatoon.

"These awards are a testament to the commitment the BCHL Board of Governors has to recognizing and supporting the officiating program in the BCHL" said Adams. "I congratulate both Jeff and Bevan for receiving these awards, but I am extremely proud of everyone on our officiating staff. There are always going to be some tough games, but our staff consistently comes to the rink every night to work hard and officiate the game in a very fair and professional manner."

Sent from my iPhone

PAJHS holds AGM tonight, Amsterdam comes to town, more pictures of Jeneece Place!

Don't forget the PAJHS Annual General Meeting TONIGHT!

The above picture is from the Inlet webcam. A big welcome to the Amsterdam, as up to 1500 people will disembark the ship and visit the Valley today....be sure to give them a nice welcome!

I was having trouble uploading pictures yesterday....here's some extra shots of the amazing Jeneece Place in Victoria, and Beacon Hill Park!

Bandits take RBC Cup, Chris Frank takes out linesman, great weekend at Jeneece Place

Big congrats to the Brooks Bandits, and former Bulldog Tanner Hicks on winning the RBC Cup on Sunday, 3-1 over the host Summerside Western Capitals.

It would have been nice to see the Surrey Eagles win it all and have the BCHL repeat as National Champions, but if it wasn't the Eagles, I'm happy it's staying in the West and that "Hicksie" got to win it.

Tanner had plenty of adversity to deal with early in his career...on his first or second shift of his Junior A career he was hit from behind in Powell River and lacerated his spleen, resulting in about 6 months on the shelf. Fans may remember his first or second game back at home against the Vernon Vipers when he blocked three shots on the same penalty kill, and while leaving the ice hobbled a Viper player carried the puck directly in his path thinking he was out of the play...and he thought wrong as Hicks leveled him with an open ice hit for the ages. Never seen that before, and not sure I will again. If his rookie season wasn't tough enough, he was then traded twice the next season, first early in the year by the previous management with the Bulldogs to Trail as part of the Matt Larose trade. He was then subsequently dealt to the Bandits where he went on to win two AJHL titles and an RBC. Good things come to those to keep at it kids! It was awesome to see him on the ice as time ticked down on Sunday.

I didn't get a chance to watch the Semi Final game, but it sounded like the Eagles lost out in controversial fashion on Saturday to Summerside with a hit from behind going un-called, and the player who threw the check ending up scoring the winning goal in overtime. Ouch.

I got to know some of the Bandits crew at the Western Canada Cup in Nanaimo and I lived vicariously through them as their team won it all...now just to live it first hand next season with the Bulldogs!

Speaking of the WCC - seems like a great endorsement for the new format of sending two representatives from Western Canada to the RBC when both of them make the Semis, doesn't it? With no disrespect intended to Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the Bandits and the Eagles should have been there, and they proved it. The second ranked team in the WCC ended up winning the RBC - they wouldn't have went under the old AJ vs BC, SJ vs MJ Doyle/Anavet Cup system.

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How about this bit of crazy from the ice in Australia. Yes, AUSTRALIA. Former Cowichan Valley Capital Chris Frank ends up concussing a Linseman while also lacerating his finger. Look out for the stripes boys, wow! For those of you that are impatient, fast forward to the :50 mark to see the hits in question. This one comes from Yahoo's Puck Daddy Blog.

Yikes!

Speaking of Officiating - I listened to the Hawks vs Wings game on my drive back from Victoria (get the Tune In app if you don't have it for your smart phone, it's fantastic) and it was pretty interesting to listen to the Blackhawks Broadcast when the events of the third period unfolded. The best description of the Officiating of the playoffs can be found on Deadspin.com

"Of the phantom interference call, Corey Crawford merely said, "I think that's the first time that I've seen 'in the crease' called since about 2000." Other Blackhawks spoke up, but respectfully. And that's the point we're at. Playoff officiating has been so inconsistent, and teams have whined so much already (Chicago is certainly guilty of this), that no one can work up the energy to complain about legitimate beefs—and it'd get lost in the noise anyway."

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I hope you had a fun, safe long weekend. 

Mine was spent down in Victoria at Jeneece Place with my better half Theresa and my little guy Griffin. We have another little one on the way soon and Momma is high-risk, so she's been sent to Victoria on Doctor's orders for the next Month. Thankfully a place like Jeneece Place exists, because our family quite simply couldn't afford a month in a hotel. I don't know many people that aren't well-off that could, now that I think of it. What an amazing place!

It was a fun weekend in Victoria with a trip to Beacon Hill Farm - what an incredible place that is...a trip to visit a submarine, a great show that was the Victoria Day Parade in Victoria and more!

Ticket Deadline TODAY, Dad's Night Out at the Alberni Golf Club tonight, Men's Club tomorrow night, GO EAGLES!

TODAY is the deadline to renew your Bulldogs Season Tickets for 2013-14 to ensure your seat will be available.

Here's hoping the magical run in the playoffs will have the stands even more full throughout next season! The Dogs office is open today from 1pm to 5pm - you can renew over the phone if you can't get in there at 250-723-4412.

Anyone who renews or purchases seats by the end of the day is entered in a draw to win lunch for 4 with the Bulldogs following the Canada Day parade.

The Surrey Eagles continue to roll along at the RBC Cup. Fresh off their Western Canada Cup title, the Eagles are 2-0 at the RBC, hoping to go 3-0 today. Follow the RBC Cup HERE, and watch live for FREE on Fast Hockey - AWESOME!

Follow the Eagles journey through Brendan Batchelor's great blog found HERE

That's my little guy Griffin practicing last night on the Putting Green at the Alberni Golf Club. He can't make it tonight, but I'm hoping any Dads out there will get to "Dad's Night Out" tonight.

It's from 6pm to 7pm at the Alberni Golf Club, as kids will get instruction and some reps hitting balls on the range and on the chipping and putting green. Dad's Night Out is a great program put on by Port Alberni Parks and Rec to encourage Dads to get out with their kids and have some fun. It was fishing last week, and a trip of the Firehall the week before (Griff and I both loved that one) and it's at the Alberni Golf Club tonight so get out there Dads and Kids!

TOMORROW night it's not for the kids, as it's Men's Night!

Call the Pro Shop at 250-723-5422 to register!

Hammer

Bulldogs secure Coaching Staff

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are proud to announce they have secured coaching duo Kevin Willison and Adam Hayduk. Society member Russell Dyson says “we are proud to haveboth Kevin and Adam returning which brings added stability to our hockey operations. These coaches also bring with them a commitment to the community, ensuring a winning attitude both on and off the ice.” Head Coach Kevin Willison has signed on with the Bulldogs for the next three years, and Assistant Coach Adam Hayduk has signed on for two years with the option for a third. Kevin Willison joined the Bulldogs as Head Coach in December 2011. The successful 2012/2013 season was Willison’s first full season with the team, and resulted in the Bulldogs knocking out both the Nanaimo Clippers and Victoria Grizzlies to become Island Champions. “I’m extremely honored that the Bulldogs organization has the confidence in Adam and I to be able to lead this team for seasons to come,” says Willison. “I am looking forward to working hard and making the people of Port Alberni very proud of their hockey team on and off the ice.”

Adam Hayduk has already worked with the team for two full seasons and is excited about continuing to work with the Bulldogs. Adams says: "I am thrilled that the Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs organization continue to show faith in both Kevin and myself, enough to bring us both back for multi-year terms. This community deserves a team they can be proud of on and off the ice and I am very happy that I can be a part of a great organization that is working hard to make that happen."

Make sure you don’t miss any of the Bulldogs action. Get your season tickets before May 15th to ensure your seat is available. All purchases and renewals before May 15th will also be entered to win lunch for 4 at the Bulldogs Canada Day Parade After Party.

UPDATED - VIDEO - Bulldogs acquire Justin Georgeson from Express, good luck Eagles!

Updated to add a video of what Georgeson is capable of - a nice goal here, which was his first of two on the game. He would also add two assists in a 1st star effort.

Very exciting addition - I have always been a fan of Georgeson. An exciting player to watch, fast with good hands....welcome to the Dog Pound Justin!

Bulldogs Announce Another Deadline Deal: Acquire Coquitlam’s Leading Scorer

PRESS RELEASE
May 8, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs announced today the future considerations part of the trade that saw the Bulldogs send Lars Hepso and the rights to Adam Rossignol to the Coquitlam Express at the trade deadline.

Heading to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs is the Coquitlam Express’ leading scorer from the 2012/13 season Justin Georgeson. Georgeson is a 1993-born forward from Maple Ridge, BC. He has 164 regular season games and nine playoff games over three full seasons in the BCHL under his belt. He was the most durable player for the Express this past season as he was the only player on the team to dress in all 56 regular season games.

Prior to committing to Coquitlam, Georgeson put up some some very impressive numbers playing for the Vancouver North East Chiefs of the BC Major Midget League as a 16 year old. He registered 21 goals and 29 assists for 50 points in 40 games.

Georgeson is a competitor that will bring leadership, speed, and an ability to put up good numbers.

“The Bulldogs are thrilled to add such an exciting player to our roster for the 2013-2014 season,” said Alberni Valley Bulldogs head coach and general manager Kevin Willison. “Justin will play on one of our top lines next season and will also add great leadership off the ice.”

For more information, contact the Alberni Valley Bulldogs head coach and general manager Kevin Willison

Make sure you don’t miss any of the Bulldogs action. Get your season tickets before May 15th to ensure your seat is available. All purchases and renewals before May 15th will also be entered to win lunch for 4 at the Bulldogs’ Canada Day Parade after party. Stop by the Bulldog's Office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-5pm or call us anytime at 250-723-4412 to get your tickets.

Big congrats to the Surrey Eagles, Champions of the Inaugural Western Canada Cup.

The Eagles have done the BCHL proud - now please do it one more time and go and win the RBC Cup!

I had a great time at the tournament working with the Fast Hockey crew broadcasting a selection of the games, and we heard great feedback from the fans in the rest of Western Canada - and the World, who were watching from a distance. It's too bad more people didn't show up to watch the games but I think that was to be expected with how the crowds were in Nanaimo throughout the season. Here's hoping Dauphin, Manitoba does just a good a job of hosting the event as the people in Nanaimo did with it this year.

Hammer