Bulldogs host Grizzlies tonight at the Dog Pound, Casey Bailey interview

It's a lighter than usual schedule this weekend for the Bulldogs (8-5-1-0, 2nd Island) as they return to home ice tonight to host the Victoria Grizzlies (6-6-0-2, 3rd Island) for the third meeting between the teams this season. The Dogs are in Duncan tomorrow to visit the Capitals for a 2pm start time.

These teams last met to start October when they split a home-and-home set, with the Bulldogs winning 4-3 in OT in Victoria on Friday, October 3rd. The Grizzlies responded the next night in Port Alberni with a 4-3 win of their own, scoring two third period shorthanded goals just four minutes apart (the only two the Bulldogs have allowed all season) to erase a 3-2 Bullldog lead after 40 minutes.

The Bulldogs enter play tonight unbeaten in three after a 2-2 tie in Langley on Sunday afternoon. The Grizzlies were also last in action on Sunday afternoon, when they lost 6-5 to the West Kelowna Warriors in a game where the Grizzlies jumped out to a 3-0 lead just five minutes into the game. The Grizzlies have lost four of their last five games, but have been in every one of them, losing 2-1 in Penticton, 4-3 in overtime in Merritt, 5-4 in Nanaimo, and winning 5-4 at home against Surrey last Saturday night. 

 We'll have all the action for you on 93.3 The Peak FM's Bulldogs Hockey brought to you by Van Isle Ford  with the pregame show getting underway at 6:45 and the play-by-play/colour+analysis to follow with myself and Bruce MacDonald. Dan "the statsman" Tisserand is a game-time decision! 

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is former Bulldog Casey Bailey, now a Junior with the NCAA's Penn State Lions

How about this beauty from way back when!

Hammer

Bulldogs trade Funk, release Smith, sign Marreck

The Bulldogs completed a series of moves today, trading Zach Funk to the Nipawin Hawks of the SJHL, while releasing Josh Smith and signing Justin Merrack.

Full details in the Press Release on the Bulldogs website HERE

Best of luck to Zach and Josh, and welcome to the club Justin!

Couldn't agree more with the team's sentiments regarding Zack - a great guy for the team both on the ice and in the community. It's the part of the business I don't like at all!   

Hammer

Dylan Haugen gets Player of the Week mention...

Following up Honorable Mentions last week for Evan Tironese and Scott Clark in the BCHL's Player of the Week award - given this week to West Kelowna Warriors Forward Jonathan Desbiens, Bulldogs Forward Dylan Haugen received a mention this week after scoring three goals in three games, two of them Game Winners, while also picking up 1st star honours on Friday night.

Here's his game winner from Friday!

Dogs unbeaten in three after 2-2 tie in Langley

It was a spirited start to this one with not much in the way of whistles over the first three minutes as everyone got into the game. The Rivermen would get the games first power play near the midway point of the first, but the Bulldogs penalty kill was solid to not give up any chances. The Dogs would earn a power play chance of their own shortly afterwards, a welcomed opportunity after the Dogs couldn't earn a chance the night before in Chilliwack, but they would take themselves off the opportunity after a misplay at the line saw the partial breakaway by the Rivermen. With the teams playing four-on-four, Evan Tironese failed to draw a penalty when he went forward on a faceoff and was dumped trying to chase the loose puck down on what would have been a possible breakaway. Seconds later, Josh Adkins went to the box, resulting in a long 5 on 3 for the Rivermen. Again the Bulldogs penalty kill was pretty to watch, as they won battles and cleared pucks to keep it scoreless after 20 minutes, with the Dogs leading the shots 7-6.

The Bulldogs would carry the better of the play to start the second, and earned several power play chances. They would appear to take a 1-0 lead just past the midway point of the game on the power play as Brett Stewart put a shot on net that was stopped by Darren Martin, but the rebound fell out of his body beside him on the goal line. Josh Adkins would jam the puck home and the Bulldogs celebrated, and the Referee standing directly behind the net made no signal to either count the goal, or wave off the goal, and instead just stood there. A four-official conference afterwards would wave the goal off, the reason given being incidental contact with the goalie. The Bulldogs would continue to push, and would take a 1-0 lead while shorthanded as Brett Stewart stepped up at centre ice and intercepted a pass before skating over the Rivermen line up the right wing and blowing a slap shot from the top of the right circle top corner, far-side over the glove of Martin for the unassisted mark at the 11:57 mark of the period. The Rivermen would have several good chances to tie the game as the period wore on in tight but Nathan Warren was solid to keep it 1-0 Dogs after 40 minutes, with the Dogs outshooting the Rivermen 14-7 on the period for a two period advantage of 21-13. 

The Dogs took an early penalty in the third period, and it would immediately change the game as the Rivermen made it a 1-1 game on a broken play off a centering pass that ended up on the tape of Jordan Schneider in the slot where he one-timed it low past the blocker side of Nathan Warren to make it 1-1 at 7:45 of the third with assists going to Erik Udhal and Jacob Kearley. Just 10 seconds later it was 2-1 Rivermen as they attacked the zone off the centre ice faceoff and Dante Hahn found the puck in the right circle and ripped a wrist shot through a maze of bodies low past the blocker side of Warren again at 7:55, again from Udhal and Kearley as all of a sudden the Bulldogs were trailing the game. They Dogs didn't deflate though, as they battled back to tie the game three minutes later after great work in the attacking zone to hem the Rivermen in saw Drew Blackmun walk to the goal and fake out Martin before pulling the puck behind the net and wrapping it around out front where it went to the slot to Jeff Rose who one-timed home his first career goal to make it 2-2 at 10:49 with Mitch Makin also drawing an assist on the play. The Dogs did a good job over the remainder of regulation to not give up much to the Rivermen, while they were also visibly tired at the end of another long weekend. However, they would allow a breakaway with less than a minute left that saw Hunter Anderson skate in alone on Nathan Warren who out-waited him and came up with a game saver with his right pad to preserve the tie and earn the Dogs a point. Third period shots favoured the Rivermen 10-6 for a Bulldog advantage after 60 minutes of 27-23. Both teams would have their chances in OT, but both Nathan Warren and Darren Martin were unbeatable as the game ended in a rare tie.

Final shots favoured the Bulldogs 33-28, with Nathan Warren picking up first star honours while Darren Martin earned second star honours in the Rivermen net. The Dogs went 0 for 5 on the power play while also scoring once shorthanded, while Langley went 1 for 5.

A great weekend for the Dogs, just a play or two away from perfect as they return home with five out of six points, now unbeaten in three games. They next see action Saturday at home against Victoria.

Hammer

Line up Dogs @ Rivermen

Bulldogs visit Rivermen today for 2pm start, Mark MacMillan interview

It's another quick turnaround as consecutive three-in-three weekends conclude this afternoon for the Bulldogs (8-5-0-0, 2nd Island) as they visit the Rivermen (5-4-0-3, 3rd Mainland) at the Langley Events Centre for the first of two meetings between the teams this season.

The Dogs won their second in a row last night, 4-2 over the Chiefs in Chilliwack, while the Rivermen picked up a 6-1 win at home over the Coquitlam Express. I expect the Rivermen to be a very tough test for the Dogs, and I don't think their record does them justice as they have played just four of their 12 games this season on Home Ice.

I'll by flying solo again this afternoon on Pacific Chevrolet Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with the pregame show from the Langley Events Centre getting underway at 1:45 with the play-by-play to follow at 2:00pm.

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

Today's 2nd Intermission guest is former Bulldog Mark MacMillan, now a Senior with the NCAA's University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

Mark played with the Dogs in the very memorable 2009-2010 season when the team were the Regular Season Coastal Conference Champs, and Mark was named the Coastal Conference Rookie of the Year. He set and still holds the team record for rookie points, as he played on a line with brother Mitch (who scored 60 goals in 60 games) and David Dziurzynski, who went straight from the Bulldogs to the Ottawa Senators.

Hammer

Bulldogs vs Chiefs Video Highlights

Great job by the Chiefs to throw these together!

Dogs top Chiefs 4-2 for second straight win

A fantastic start for the Bulldogs on the road as they raced out to an early 10-2 lead in shots just six minutes into the game. Despite peppering Aidan Pelino, they couldn't find the net. The Chiefs would all of a sudden get two great chances on partial breakaways by Tanner Campbell and Jordan Kawaguchi that saw Billy Christopolous come up big. The Chiefs would get the games first power play on a bench minor penalty against the Dogs for too-many-men, but the Dogs killed it off. They would get right back on the offense and continued to throw pucks at the goal, finally finding the net when Troy Dobbs kept the puck in at the right point by knocking the puck down out of mid-air. He would then find Evan Tironese in the right circle, where he made a beautiful pass cross-ice through his own legs and onto the tape of Chris Schutz in the left circle where he made no mistake and wasted no time, blasting a one-timer top corner, far-side over the glove of Pelino to make it 1-0 at the 14:10 mark of the first. The Dogs had several glorious chances in tight to build the lead, but Kurt Gosselin, Zak Bowles and Drew Blackmun were all stopped in tight by Pelino as the Dogs out shot the Chiefs 21-12 over the first 20 minutes.

The Bulldogs had a fantastic chance to open the second as Brett Stewart set up Mitch Makin on the rush in the deep slot, but Pelino made a ridiculous glove save. The Dogs kept pushing, and went up 2-0 on an Everett Putz faceoff win in the zone that was found by Josh Adkins who ripped one home low far-side past the glove of Pelino at 3:54. Just 10 seconds later it was 3-0 as the Dogs attacked off the centre ice faceoff win again by Putz as Josh Adkins sent Dylan Haugen up the right wing where he let a wrister go on the fly that again beat Pelino, far-side past the blocker to make it 3-0 at 4:04. It didn't stay that way for very long though, as the Chiefs woke up and/or the Dogs fell asleep as just 36 seconds later it was a 3-1 game when Evan MacEachern put a wrister on goal from the right half-wall that had eyes as Christopolous never saw it and it went high over his shoulder. Jake Larson picked up the only assist on the play at 4:40 of the second. Just 27 seconds later the Chiefs made it 3-2, turning a faceoff just outside their blue line into a 2 on 0 breakaway that was finished off by Jake Hand as he banked it off Christopolous and in, with assists going to Tipper Higgins and Vincent Desharnais at 5:07. The game would settle down for a spell, with neither team hitting the net throughout the remainder of the period. A couple of VERY INTERESTING calls went against the Dogs in the period. First it was Evan Tironese, getting tied it up front by a Chief defender as he had a partially open net. A delayed penalty went to the Chiefs, but Tironese was also given a penalty for roughing, as he was fighting to get free of the obstruction. As bad as that one was, later in the period saw an even weirder one as Eric Margo was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing a Chiefs stick - a stick that he had to remove from his armpit after he was hooked by a Chief. Granted, he threw the stick, but I guess it's expected that you are supposed to gentlemanly remove the stick and hand it back to the player that lost it in your paraphanalia? At the very least, make it an even up call and put two and two together and realize why he stick was there. At any length, the Dogs would kill it, and kill off another penalty immediately afterwards thanks to an amazing save by Christopolous on a wide-open Craig Puffer in front to keep it 3-2 Dogs after two, with the Chiefs outshooting the Dogs 10-9 on the period for a Bulldog lead of 30-22 after 40 minutes.

The third period was great back-and-forth end to end hockey, with the score remaining 3-2 until past the midway mark of the frame when Troy Dobbs put an oulet pass up the right wing for Scott Clark. He would sent Kurt Gosselin up the right wing where he drove wide with fantastic speed before cutting across the crease and driving the net where he snuck it under the toe of Pelino to make it 4-2 with 11:02 gone in the third period from Dobbs and Clark. The Dogs would do a good job to kill the remainder of the clock, not giving up much in the way of chances. After back-to-back-to-back icings with less than a minute to go the Chiefs would generate a great chance on a cross-crease set up for Craig Puffer, who was absolutely robbed by Christopolous not once, but twice on the doorstep to protect the two goal lead. The Dogs would FINALLY get their first power play chance of the game, with just 20 seconds to go in it. While they wouldn't score, they did generate three good chances as time expired. You can't blame the Bulldogs for having their season-opening power play goals in a game streak snapped at 12 as they didn't earn any chances tonight, and it wasn't for a lack of effort.

Final shots favoured the Bulldogs 43-31, with Billy Christopolous picking up third star honours with the win while Aidan Pelino took the loss. The Dogs went 0 for 1 (on 20 seconds) on the power play while the Chiefs went 0 for 3.

With the win, the Dogs have lost two in a row while also snapping the Chiefs winning streak at four, and their season-opening Home Ice unbeaten streak at six. The Dogs are next in action tomorrow afternoon in Langley, a 2pm start.

Line ups Bulldogs @ Chiefs

Bulldogs visit Chiefs tonight in Chilliwack

It's on the bus, on the boat, and over to the Lower Mainland today for the Bulldogs (7-5-0-0, 2nd Island) as they visit the Chiefs (10-1-0-1, 1st Mainland) in Chilliwack for the first meeting between the teams this season.

The Bulldogs picked up a last minute 3-2 win last night at home over the Capitals, while the Chiefs were also in action on home ice where they won their fourth in a row, 5-4 over the Powell River Kings in overtime. 

It's a reality of the new BCHL schedule and the later start to the season, as I can't remember in my 12 years here the Dogs ever starting the weekend at home on a Friday and playing anywhere on the Mainland the next day. The travel isn't a big deal, but it's certainly a factor. This is why body maintenance, stretching, diet, sleep etc are all so important and why these guys have to be so committed.

While it's the first time these teams have seen each other, it's of course not the Dogs first trip into this rink as they return to the scene of the season opening Bauer BCHL Showcase. While in the grand scheme of things it wasn't that long ago - just over a month. Yet when it comes to hockey time that's a significant spell as some players will no doubt reflect on their first game of their career or their season here on September 20th and possibly think of where they are at now.

 As you can see from the above picture, it's one of the best vantage points in the entire league to call a game from. I just love the view from up top and how you can see the game unfold. Like I did before the Showcase, take a look below at the picture from the bench/ice level for the difference in perspective.

The Chiefs have had some great crowds as of late - 2283, 1966, 2459 fans over their last three home games. While that's still about half-full for a building that can hold 5000, it's sure to be a great atmosphere and for some guys on the Bulldogs it will be the biggest crowd they have ever played in front of so it should be a lot of fun.

I'll have the call for you on Pacific Chevrolet Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with the pregame show on the air at 6:45 with the puck drop and play-by-play to follow at 7:00pm.

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is Jake Elliott, voice of the Langley Rivermen, who the Dogs visit tomorrow afternoon to conclude their weekend.

Hammer

Dogs score late to top Caps 3-2

In an extreme reversal of fortune from the last two games when the Bulldogs scored within the first minute on back-to-back nights it was the Capitals coming out flying in this one, drawing a penalty just nine seconds into the game. They would find the net just eight seconds into the power play when newly aquired Darien Craighead chipped a rebound off the post and in from in tight after a first save by Nathan Warren. Assists on the goal went to Rylan Bechtel and Brayden Gelsinger at the 17 second mark of the first. Despite the horrific start, the Dogs would battle back to control the play and get some chances around Lane Michasiw. They would eventually earn a power play chance of their own that they capitalized on where they worked the puck around the attacking zone for close to the full two minutes before finally finding the net with six seconds left in the man advantage as Evan Tironese took a pass from Scott Clark at the right point where he put a puck wide of the net - it looked intentionally wide to me - and off the end boards and out the opposite side of the net where Chris Schutz fired it home into the open side before Michasiw could get over to make it 1-1 at the 9:24 mark of the first. The Dogs would have several good looks on the rush to build the lead throughout the period, but they couldn't connect. The Capitals would have a great chance to take a lead to the room on a last second breakaway chance for Jesse Neher, but Nathan Warren read the play perfectly and knocked it away with a poke-check to preserve the 1-1 score after one, with the Dogs leading the shots 15-11.

The Bulldogs got off to a better start in the second, and once again carried the better of the play through the midway point of the frame but again they couldn't find the net despite coming painfully close as both Scott Clark and Brett Stewart rang shots off the post that stayed out. The Bulldogs would take the lead for the first time in the game just after the media time out when Josh Adkins picked up a stretch pass at the Capitals line and made a nifty move to make a defender miss to create an odd-man rush. Adkins would drive the net and put a cross-ice pass onto the tape of Everett Putz that he deflected on goal, only to have Lane Michasiw come up with a circus save to somehow keep it out. He couldn't find the rebound though, as Dylan Haugen drove the net and poked it home to make it 2-1 at 11:08 of the second. The Dogs would continue to put lots of puck on net, but couldn't beat Michasiw. The Capitals would push back hard in the last two minutes of the period trying for the equalizer, but Nathan Warren was solid to protect the lead as the Dogs led 2-1 after two, and outshot the Capitals 20-11 on the period for a 35-22 advantage after 40 minutes.

The third period saw the Dogs again continue to get plenty of pucks on net, but they didn't generate many second chances and there wasn't much emotion in the game. The Capitals would change that just short of seven minutes into the period when Darien Craighead snuck past the Dogs defence and raced in on a breakaway where he went backhand and banked it off the pads of Warren and in to make it 2-2 from Brayden Gelsinger and Skylar Pacheco at 6:48 of the third period. The game would tighten up after that, with not much in the way of glorious offensive chances for either side. With overtime looming, the Dogs would get the game winner on a somewhat broken play as Evan Tironese kept the puck in at the Caps line where it was found by Josh Adkins. He would fire a shot at the net from the slot that deflected off a Capital and on net, where it was stopped by Michasiw. He couldn't control the rebound as Dylan Haugen scored his second of the game, somewhat similar to his first, cleaning up the crease to make it 3-2 Dogs with 1:24 to play. The Dogs had a glorious chance to put the game away just seconds later, as Kurt Gosselin picked up a pass and raced in on a breakaway, only to have Michasiw make the save. To make matters worse, Gosselin would be ruled to have carried into Michasiw resulting in a Capitals power play with less than a minute to play. The Caps would pull their goalie to make it a 6 on 4 advantage, but the Dogs killed off the clock and didn't give up any chances as time ran out for the 3-2 Final.

Shots favoured the Bulldogs 50-27 with Nathan Warren picking up the win while Lane Michasiw took the loss. The Dogs went 1 for 2 on the power play, while the Capitals went 1 for 3.

The Dogs are on the road tomorrow as they visit the Chiefs in Chilliwack.

Hammer

Line up Caps at Dogs

Bulldogs host Capitals tonight to kick off another three game weekend

Another busy weekend begins tonight for the Bulldogs (6-5-0-0, 2nd Island) as they host the Cowichan Valley Capitals (2-11-0-0, 5th Island) for the second Friday in a row, and third meeting between the teams in the last eight days, after the Bulldogs swept last weekends home-and-home set 7-3 and 8-1.  The Bulldogs will head over to the Lower Mainland tomorrow to visit the Chiefs in Chilliwack before they visit the Langley Rivermen Sunday afternoon.

The Dogs were last in action Sunday afternoon where they saw their win streak snapped at four with a 5-4 loss to the Prince George Spruce Kings, while the Capitals haven't played since they hosted the Bulldogs last Saturday.

The Bulldogs have had a week now to think about an afternoon of missed opportunities and being so close yet so far in the loss to Prince George in a game that they never led, while the Caps have had a week to stew about the two tough losses the Dogs handed them last weekend.

While the scores were indeed lopsided, I was impressed with how hard the Capitals battled despite how tough things have been for them and how things went in both those games - conceding goals less than a minute in and just over a minute in on both nights, falling into 3-0 holes both nights. On both nights they answered quickly to make it a 3-1 game, and kept it that way for a spell as well. I sure hope the Dogs don't take the Capitals lightly, because if they do they will most certainly end up on the wrong end of the score. It's natural to expect or prepare for less when it was easy last game, or when a team is at the bottom of the standings, but at this level of hockey that's not a good recipe for success. Look at Sunday afternoon for example. Prince George was playing their fourth game in five days and had been on the road since Wednesday. Yet they knew how tough it would be and fought to take two points home. Here's hoping that stung the Dogs and they learned a bit of a lesson.

It should be another good one on Van Isle Ford Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with our pregame show getting on the air at 6:45 and the puck hitting the ice at 7:00 with Bruce MacDonald providing the colour and analysis and Dan Tisserand compiling team and player stats while I will call the play-by-play.

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is Jacob Bestebroer, Colour Commentator and Director of Scouting for the Chilliwack Chiefs, who the Dogs visit tomorrow.

Hammer

First goals.....

A couple of firsts from the game in Duncan on Saturday, as Troy Dobbs and Josh Harvey scored their first goals!

Dogs win streak stopped at four, Spruce Kings pick up 5-4 win

It was once again a great start to the game for the Bulldogs, as they almost scored on the opening shift. They would draw a penalty shortly afterwards after a great hit by Garrett Halls resulted in a Spruce Kings retaliation. The Dogs came close again on the power play with a delayed penalty coming but they couldn't connect. They had several good looks on the short 5 on 3 and ensuing power play, but the Spruce Kings did a good job to block shots to keep it scoreless despite the Dogs running up an early 5-0 lead in shots. Prince George would get a power play opportunity of their own shortly afterwards, and they looked everything like the 3rd ranked power play in the league as they worked the puck around the Dogs zone for a full two minutes. Billy Christopolous would make a ridiculous save on a backdoor one-timer chance for Chad Staley but the Dogs couldn't get the puck out as the Spruce Kings continued to work it around. A split-second after the power play elapsed they would find the net to make it 1-0 on a beautiful set up to the slot that was finished off by Chad Staley with top corner, blocker-side shot. Assists on the play went to Jake Lebrun and Jeremiah Luedtke at the 8:40 mark of the first. The Dogs would get the equalizer with just over five minutes to play in the period when Brett Stewart carried the puck out of his own zone and through centre into Prince George territory before dishing off to Evan Tironese. He would get the puck behind the goal line for Scott Clark who won a battle and centered it to Chris Schutz who fired a quick wrister far-side past the blocker of Alex Brooks-Potts to make it 1-1 at the 14:47 mark of the first. The Spruce Kings would have back-to-back power plays to end the period looking to take the lead back, but the Dogs penalty killers came up big to keep it tied. Shots favoured the Dogs 11-10 after one.

The Spruce Kings would take the lead back again for the second time in the game on another power play early in the second as Chad Staley threw a cross-crease pass that hit Jake LeBrun and went in past Christopolous. Adam Clements also drew a helper on the play at 2:58 of the second. The Dogs would answer back five minutes later to tie it up at 2-2 when Scott Clark just plain threw the puck on net from the left wing boards at a sharp angle and it bounced off the skates of Brooks-Potts and in. Assists went to Chris Schutz and Brett Stewart at 7:12. The Dogs couldn't build on the momentum though as the Spruce Kings took the lead back for the third time on the rush as Cooper Leitch drove the net and found a loose puck on a net drive by Marco Ballarin that he slid into the open side. Rider Stoglin also drew an assist on the play at the 11:29 mark. The Dogs would get a great chance to try and find the equalizer late in the period when they were awarded a two-man advantage for just under two minutes in duration but they couldn't connect as the buzzer sounded to end the period. Darian Henry would be penalized at the buzzer, resulting in a 4 on 3 advantage for 35 seconds to start the third period. Shots in the period favoured Prince George 14-11 for a two period advantage for the Spruce Kings of 24-22.  

The Bulldogs would fail to score on the short 4 on 3 power play to open the third, but they got the equalizer just seconds later while down two men as both Spruce Kings exited the box but couldn't get into the zone in time as Brett Stewart ripped one home top corner, short-side bar down past the glove of Brooks-Potts from the left face off dot. Evan Tironese and Josh Adkins picked up the assists :43 seconds into the third. What could have been a big turning point and momentum swing was snuffed out less than a minute later as the Spruce Kings took the lead right back on the power play after consecutive huge saves by Christopolous as Jeremiah Luedtke jammed a rebound home to make it 4-3 at the 1:37 mark with the assists going to Justin Rai and Chad Staley. They would control the play and push for the insurance marker and eventually got it when Brent Lashuk converted a cross-ice one-timer just squeezing it past the left toe of Christopolous to make it 5-3 with Taylor Allan drawing the only assist at 8:28 of the third. The Bulldogs would be again given a glorious chance to get back into it just over two minutes later as they went to a 5 on 3 power play as Zak Bowles was drilled from behind with the Dogs already on the power play. They would convert on the advantage on a net mouth scramble with Chris Schutz getting credit for his second of the game to make it 5-4 with Mitch Makin and Brett Stewart picking up the assists at the 10:07 mark of the third. The Bulldogs would have their opportunities the rest of the way to get the equalizer, but the Spruce Kings also did a very good job at the end of a long road trip to win battles and hem the Dogs in their end to kill the clock. The best chance might have been when Dylan Haugen walked into the high slot with just under 30 seconds to play where he drove a slap shot on net that Brooks-Potts made a great save on turning the puck up and out of play as the Kings killed the remaining 22 seconds to take the win.

Shots favoured the Dogs 43-36 with Billy Christopolous taking the loss while Alex Brooks-Potts picked up the win. The Dogs went 1 for 8 on the power play, while also scoring once shorthanded. The Spruce Kings went 2 for 7.

With the loss, the Dogs win streak is stopped at four. They are next in action Friday at home against the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

Hammer

Line ups Spruce Kings @ Bulldogs

Bulldogs host Spruce Kings this afternoon, Josh Mitchell interview

It's the end of a busy weekend this afternoon for the Bulldogs (6-4-0-0, 2nd Island) as they host the Prince George Spruce Kings (7-4-0-1, 2nd Mainland) who are at the end of a busy week as they have been on the road since a Wednesday night contest in Chilliwack. 

After back-to-back wins over the Capitals this weekend, the Dogs have won four in a row to enter play today in second place in the Island Division. The Spruce Kings fell 5-1 last night to the Clippers in Nanaimo to see their record on this road trip fall to 1 and 2. They fell 3-2 to the Chiefs in Chilliwack on Wednesday before picking up a 5-4 OT win over the Kings in Powell River on Friday night.

It's the second meeting of the season between the teams after the Spruce Kings won a wild and crazy affair on the second day of the season at the BCHL Showcase by a 6-5 score

Myself, Bruce MacDonald and Dan Tisserand will bring all the action to you on Van Isle Ford Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM today with the pregame show kicking off at 1:45 with the play-by-play/colour+analysis/team+player stats to follow.

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

Today's 2nd Intermission marks the beginning of this year's series of what will be MANY Bulldog alumni interviews. It is just so much fun to catch up with all these guys, even if it's only for a short conversation. I get a lot of feedback from fans in regards to these interviews, as they bring back plenty of good memories from games in the past.

Getting the season going today is former Bulldog Josh Mitchell, now in his Junior year with the NCAA's RIT Tigers

Hammer

Dogs win fourth straight, 8-1 over Caps, sweep home and home

Another fantastic start for the Bulldogs, as they took a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the game as Dylan Haugen took an outlet pass at centre and raced over the Capitals line down the right wing. Josh Adkins would catch up and find the puck off Haugen's stick, where he blasted a one-timer top corner, far-side past the blocker of Michasiw off the crossbar and in. Brett Stewart also picked up an assist on the play at the 1:14 mark of the first. The Dogs would go the power play just a minute later, and they connected to make it 2-0 as Scott Clark dished the puck from the right half boards back to the right point for Evan Tironese. He would move laterally and dish the puck back to the top of the point for Darian Henry who blew a one-time slap shot through the legs of Michasiw at the 3:41 mark, with the shots at the time 4-0 Bulldogs. The Capitals would get several opportunities immediately afterwards on a power play of their own, but Nathan Warren held the fort and came up with a great desperation rebound save to protect the lead. The Dogs built their lead late in the period when the line of Zak Bowles Zach Funk and Eric Margo was left on the ice for another chance after a great shift where they hemmed the Capitals in their zone for an extended period. The move paid off in mere seconds as Zach Funk won the draw to Zak Bowles on the left wing wall where he threw a quick cross-ice pass to the top of the point for Troy Dobbs, who threw an odd-speed wrister on goal that beat Michasiw low, far-side to make it 3-0 Dogs at the 17:37 of the first. Shots favoured the Dogs 11-7 after 20 minutes, although Dan Tisserand actually had them credited with 14.

The Capitals would come out inspired to start the second, while the Dogs looked a little bit like they were enjoying their lead. After consecutive good shifts the Caps were awarded a power play that they would connect on just seconds into the advantage when Kyle Horsman deflected a Skylar Pacheco point shot from the slot past Nathan Warren. Brayden Gelsinger also drew an assist on the play at 4:15 of the period. The Capitals would continue to push and were awarded two more power play opportunities. Instead of getting back into the game, the Bulldogs penalty kill came up big to protect the lead and take momentum right back. Chris Schutz would have a great chance on a breakaway, but Matthew Zentner - who entered the game in relief to start the second - came up with a big save to keep it 3-1. The Dogs would push and push and were finally rewarded at the end of a relentless shift in the attacking zone as Darian Henry threw a shot on net that was stopped by Zentner, but Josh Adkins fought off the defence to one-hand it home to make it 4-1. Mitch Makin also drew an assist on the play at 16:15 of the second. The Dogs would continue to push the pace and found the net again just under two minutes later when Evan Tironese kept the puck in twice before Garrett Halls then knocked it down at the left point and blew a slap shot past the blocker of Zentner to make it 5-1 from Tironese and Clark at 18:09. On the next shift the Dogs would draw a penalty, and less than a minute later drew another as Zak Bowles was high-sticked, resulting in the Dogs starting the third period on a two-man advantage for just over a minute in duration. The Dogs out shot the Caps 14-10 for a two period advantage of 26-17.

The Dogs made quick work of the 5 on 3 to start the third period, making it a 6-1 game when Chris Schutz retrieved the puck on the right wing and found Evan Tironese at the right point. In a play similar to the Dogs second goal of the night Tironese slid to the wall while Darian Henry slid to the middle where Tironese found him with a perfect pass that he absolutely demolished into the top corner past the glove of Zentner at :25 seconds of the third period. Just three minutes later it was a 7-1 lead as Eric Margo chopped a pass at centre ice to a speeding Zak Bowles who blew around the Capitals defence and in on the breakaway where he wristed one home at the 3:34 mark of the period. The game remained pretty much in control through the remainder of the period but things got testy late resulting in a 5 on 3 power play for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs would put their fourth line out for the first half of the power play, not wanting to rub the Capitals nose in it. The back-half of the power play saw the Bulldogs put out their top line, but also 17 year old defenceman Josh Harvey. After Darian Henry narrowly missed the net on a hat trick bid Evan Tironese picked the puck up and dished it off to the top of the right circle for Josh Harvey who blasted a slap shot home through Zentner for his first career goal and the 8-1 final score from Tironese and Schutz at the 17:45 mark of the third period.

Final shots favoured the Dogs 39-25 with Nathan Warren picking up the win while Lane Michasiw took the loss. The Dogs went 3 for 7 on the power play while the Capitals went 1 for 6.

With the win the Dogs have now won four in a row for the first time this season, and for the second night in a row they scored a season high in goals with eight.

The Dogs return home to host the Prince George Spruce Kings tomorrow afternoon at the Dog Pound at 2pm.

Line ups Dogs at Caps

Bulldogs visit Capitals tonight at the BIG STICK to conclude home andhome

It's the first trip of the season to the "Big Stick" (not just big, but actually the biggest in the world) for the Bulldogs (5-4-0-0, 4th Island) as they visit the Capitals (2-10-0-0, 5th Island) at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan for the back half of this home and home set.

After last night saw a wild and crazy affair end in a 7-3 Dogs win, who knows what to expect tonight. That's why I always say to expect the unexpected as this game never fails to surprise me. It's hard to win on the road, period, and one would think it's even tougher when the opposition is a team you defeated the night before in your building, for the simple fact that the Capitals will want to answer back and defend their own ice. The Bulldogs did plenty of things right last night, but last night is just that, LAST night.

The Caps did plenty of things wrong - giving up a goal a minute in, failing to generate offense but instead losing momentum on their power play, etc. When things go wrong, they can sure go wrong. It rains and it pours, so to speak. The Caps will no doubt be frustrated, motivated for revenge and desperate to turn their season around so the Dogs had best be ready. 

Our Broadcast begins with the pregame show at 6:45 on Pacific Chevrolet Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with the game beginning at 7pm with the full complement of myself providing the play-by-play, Bruce MacDonald on colour and analysis and Dan Tisserand compiling team and player stats throughout the contest.

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is Adam Donnelly from the CKPG News team in Prince George, temporary play-by-play voice of the Prince George Spruce Kings who visit the Dog Pound tomorrow afternoon.

Hammer 

Dogs top Caps 7-3 for third straight win in a wild one at the Dog Pound

It was the best start to a game for the Dogs this season, results-wise at the very least, as they scored before the game was a minute old to go up 1-0 when Troy Dobbs pinched in to keep the puck in the zone on the right side. He would feed it below the goal line for Scott Clark who put a perfect pass into the deep slot for Evan Tironese who ripped one top corner over the glove of Matthew Zentner to make it 1-0 at the 39 second mark. The Dogs had a great chance to go up 2-0 on a 2 on 1 rush where Evan Tironese sent Scott Clark in alone but Zentner came up with a big breakaway stop with his right pad. The Dogs would build the lead to 2-0 on another odd-man rush as Brett Stewart put a pass up the right wing onto the tape of Chris Schutz on the red line. He would relay a quick backhand pass ahead to Evan Tironese who walked in all alone down the right wing where he ripped a shot low, far-side past the blocker of Zentner to make it 2-0 at 10:50 immediately after the media time out. The Dogs kept the pressure up, taking a 3-0 lead when Zak Bowles set up Eric Margo in the deep slot where he threw a puck at the net that was deflected downwards and through the five-hole of Zentner by Zach Funk at 15:48. The lead wasn't three for long though, as the Capitals pushed right back and got on the board as the Dogs broke down in their zone as Kyle Horsman drove the net through the right circle where he snapped one top corner, short-side over the glove of Christopolous to make it 3-1 at 17:11 from Luke Novak and Julien LePage for a 3-1 Dogs lead after one, with the Caps leading the shots 13-12.

The Bulldogs would end up in the penalty box early - and throughout the second on four different occasions, but their penalty kill was beyond inspiring as it at times carried the play in the Capitals zone and out shot the power play. Despite carrying the bulk of the play, the Dogs couldn't build their lead as Zentner held the fort in the Capitals net. A late period flurry saw the Dogs attack and hem the Caps in their zone for what felt like three minutes, with countless near misses in scrambles around the goal. The Dogs would out shoot the Caps 24-16 for a two period total of 36-29 Bulldogs. 

The Bulldogs would blow the game open with back-to-back power play goals less than a minute apart early in the third period as Josh Adkins was cut on a high stick by Mitchell Stapley. It was 4-1 at 4:27 of the period when Darian Henry put a shot on net that was stopped by Zentner. He was unable to control the rebound though, and didn't get any help as Scott Clark scored while falling from behind the goal line. In the back-half of the double minor less than a minute later as Everett Putz went to the net after winning a draw in the zone and potted a rebound at the side of the net for his first career goal, with assists going to Josh Smith and Drew Blackmun at 5:06 of the third. On the next shift Brodie Smith would drop the gloves with Putz, and when the dust settled it was ruled that Smith was the instigator. The Capitals would quiet the crowd in short order, as they trimmed the gap to 5-2 as Jesse Neher walked into the Dogs zone during four-aside hockey and backed the defence in on Christopolous before ripping one top corner, far-side. Skylar Pacheco picked up the only assist at 6:03 of the third. The building would get loud again immediately afterwards as Eric Margo made a big hit on Sean Harrison at the Dogs blue line and raced away on a 3 on 1 rush where he drove the net and one-timed home a perfect centering pass from Zak Bowles to make it 6-2. The Capitals would pull back within three on an odd play that saw a puck contacted by a high stick but no signal made by the officials. A moment later, and it was in the back of the Dogs net with Luke Novak getting credit for the marker with Alex Bechtold getting credit for the lone assist at 12:49 to make it 6-3. The only goal the rest of the way was a bit bizarre, as the Dogs worked the puck around on a 5 on 3 with Darian Henry blowing a one-timer past Zentner from the left cirle on a beautiful cross-ice pass by Evan Tironese. The Referee would initially signal goal then emphatically wave it off and say no goal. After a conference between the officials the goal would stand. My best guess is that a goal was intially allowed before incidental contact made it waved off, which was then in turn also overturned when it was instead off setting minor penalties. Scott Clark would pick up an assist, and a penalty - at the 17:07 mark for the 7-3 lead and the eventual final score.

Shots favoured the Dogs 59-37 with Billy Christopolous picking up the win in net while Matthew Zentner took the loss. The Dogs went unofficially 3 for 9 on the power play while the Capitals went 0 for 6.

Lots of season highs in this one - most goals for, fastest goal to start a game, most power play goals for, most shots on net and largest margin of victory. In the end it was certainly a lot of fun to watch and no doubt a bunch of fun to play in if you are on the Dogs side of the puck. In the end, it means absolutely nothing come puck drop tomorrow and you can bet that the Caps will not have a spirited ride home and they will come out ready for payback when the teams meet tomorrow night at the Big Stick. 

Line ups Dogs vs Caps

Dogs host Caps tonight to kick off home and home, three game weekend

It's a big home and home set as the "Battle of the Valleys" heats up with the Bulldogs (4-4-0-0, 4th Island) and Cowichan Valley Capitals (2-9-0-0, 5th Island) meeting for two straight games starting tonight at the Dog Pound.

It's pretty simple - these are two HUGE four point games. A Bulldog sweep, and the Capitals are firmly planted in the basement - for the time being at least. A Capitals sweep, and the teams are instead tied in the standings, although the Dogs have three games in hand.

The most dangerous thing about the Capitals is that it would be easy for the Dogs to take them lightly if they look at their record. However, at this level of hockey if you take an opponent lightly and if you aren't prepared to play - you have lost already.

Consider that the last five Capitals losses have come by a combined six goals (four one-goal losses, and the other with a late empty netter to make it a two-goal spread) and a pretty good case could be made that the Capitals are a much better team than their record would indicate.

Any of the Bulldogs that were a part of last year's disastrous start (1-7-2-0 through 10 games) know full well how hard it is to go through what the Caps have to start the year off, and how hard they fought to dig out of it. Here's hoping they can relay that experience to their teammates so everyone is ready to face a hungry, desperate team. 

The regular broadcast team will be back together this weekend with Bruce MacDonald providing the colour and analysis, Dan Tisserand compiling team and player stats while I will call the play-by-play. Everything gets going with the pregame show at 6:45 with the play-by-play to follow at 7:00pm on Van Isle Ford Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM

If you aren't in radio listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com


Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is Jeff Sargeant, play-by-play voice of the Capitals - check out his great blog HERE


Hammer