Bulldogs make changes to Coaching Staff and Hockey Ops

BULLDOGS MAKE CHANGES TO HOCKEY OPERATIONS

PRESS RELEASE May 10, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs today announced upcoming changes to the coaching and hockey operations staff for the 2016/17 season.

After 5 years of dedicated service, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs regret to announce that Assistant Coach / Assistant GM Adam Hayduk’s contract will not be renewed for next season. “In hockey and in business you are forced to make tough decisions in the long-term interests of the team” says Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society President Ron Paulson. “We wish Adam all the very best as he pursues new opportunities in the hockey world.”

Adam’s knowledge of the intricacies of the BCHL, along with a keen eye for up-and-coming talent will make his departure a challenging transition for the team. “Adam has been an important member of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs coaching staff for as long as I have been here” says Head Coach and GM Kevin Willison. “We will really miss his contributions to the team, and to the community.”

The Bulldogs organization would also like to thank Damon Pugerude for his 2 years of service and wish him all the best in his future plans. Damon’s 2 year term with the team has now expired and the club has opted not to renew his contract. JT Ward will take on the Athletic Trainer and Equipment Manager role for the 2016/2017 season and will be joining the team in August to prepare for the upcoming year

Head Coach Kevin Willison and Assistant Coach Alex Evin will continue behind the bench next season.

For further information or comment on the above story please contact Alberni Valley Bulldogs’ Head Coach and General Manager Kevin Willison

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Very tough news to hear, and I feel for Adam and Damon. You can argue that it's just a part of the game, which is true, but it's a part that I don't like. Best of luck to Adam and Damon, a couple of great pros who will be missed and more importantly a couple great guys who I feel lucky to call friends. 

Hammer

Hat trick of great news items from the Bulldogs, Alberni Wrestling Awards

BULLDOGS’ CAPTAIN ERIC MARGO COMMITS TO CIS QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY GAELS

PRESS RELEASE

May 6, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are very proud to announce that Bulldogs’ captain Eric Margo has committed to the CIS Queen’s University Gaels for the 2016/17 season.

Margo played two full seasons with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, appearing in 112 regular season games over the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons. He put up 51 points in regular season play and another 3 points in 12 playoff appearances.

Margo’s hard work and physical nature, along with timely goals, gave him the ability to change the momentum of a game, as Bulldogs’ fans experienced over the last two seasons. He’s a great addition by the Queen’s University Gaels.

“We’re very excited for Eric’s next step in life and hockey at Queen’s,” said Bulldogs’ head coach and general manager Kevin Willison. “His hard work and great attitude has paid off.”

“I’m excited for the opportunity to further my hockey career and education at Queen’s University,” said Eric Margo. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Eric gave his best on the ice and in the Alberni Valley community each and every day. We wish Eric all the best at Queen’s and with all his future endeavors.

For further information or comment on the above story please contact Alberni Valley Bulldogs’ head coach and general manager Kevin Willison

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Very happy for Eric - awesome stuff! 

Moving on...

Kevin Willison and Adam Hayduk were guests at the Alberni Wrestling Awards night on Tuesday - read more from the Bulldog website HERE

While we're on the topic, here's the award winners...

            Appreciation and Announcements

Thank you to coaches - John McDonald, Jeanette Badovinac, Russ Bodnar, Ryan Dvorak, Chris Bodnar, Travis Cross,  Richelle McKenzie, Owen Coulthart, Mark Price, Erin Anker, Jen Johnson, James Messenger

Thank you to the teachers and coaches who helped make our Elementary program so successful – Jen Johnson, Erin Anker, James Messenger, Travis Cross, Chris Bodnar, Jan Davidson, Sarah Williams, Ernie Netzer, Trevor Little, Mike Mahovlic,

Congratulations ADSS Boys and Girls – Third BCSSWA Aggregate Championship 2016 plus ADSS Boys Wrestling Team Island Champions for the 29^th time in the past 33 years.

Awards:

                                                                                                           

• Comeback of the Year (Certificate) – Noah Stampeen      

• Rookie of the Year  (Certificate) – Lane Harris

• Top Grade Awards  (Certificates)

• Grade 8    - Anna Frost, Owen Spencer and Seth Price
• Grade 9    - Mackenzie Boudreau and Jayce Clayton
• Grade 10  - Isaac McDonald, Aaron Badovinac
• Grade 11  - Morgan Dagenais and Trevor Barker 

• Dark Horse  (Certificate)  -   Kyla McAuley

• Diamonds in the Rough  (Certificates) – Ethan Tramer, Mackenzie Boudreau and Scott Coulthart

• Wrestlers of the Week  (Certificates)
• November 5  - Jayce Clayton
• November 12 – Daniel Spencer
• November 19 – Isaac McDonald
• December 3 – Jayce Clayton
• December 17 – Aaron Badovinac
• December 24 - Trevor Barker
• December 31 – Owen Spencer
• January 7 – William Merry
• January 14 – Seth Price
• January 21 – Lane Harris
• January 28 – Trenton Vanderkooi
• February 18 – Mackenzie Boudreau

• Service  - Keiyana Sterling

• Most Improved Junior  (Plaque plus Bursary)   - Jayce Clayton

·         Most Improved Senior  (Plaque plus Bursary) – Kiarra Fong         

• Coaches Recognition    - Darien Van Ingen, Duncan McLeod, Jarod Gagnon

• Gold Pin Awards  (Plaques and Buraries)  (Team171) – Kiarra Fong (11) and Isaac McDonald (20)

• Western Canada Summer Games Gold Medal Team BC -  (Certificates)         

              Seth Price – Individual Silver Medal

             Aaron Badovinac – Individual Gold Medal

• BCSSWA Placers 2016  (Certificates)        

• Aaron Badovoinac  - 2^nd at 70 kg
• Isaac McDonald      – 3^rd at 54 kg
• Ravi Manhas           - 3^rd at 41 kg
• Kyla McAuley         - 3^rd at 110 kg
• Kiarra Fong              - 5^th at 54 kg
• Morgan Dagenais     - 5^th at 57 kg
• Seth Price                 - 5^th at 45 kg
• Trevor Barker           - 5^th at 48 kg
• Kylea Anderson       - 6^th at 90 kg
• Owen Spencer          - 6^th at 51 kg                                                                             

• National Placers 2016 (Certificates)

• Cadet         -  Isaac McDonald   - 2^nd 54 kg Cadet Men’s Freestyle
• Aaron Badovinac  - 2^nd 69 kg Cadet Men’s Greco
• Isaac McDonald   –  2^nd 54 kg FILA Cadet Men
• Ravi Manhas        -  3^rd  42 kg Cadet Men’s Greco
• Daniel Spencer     - 5^th 76 kg Cadet Men’s Greco
• Kiarra Fong           - 5^th 52 kg FILA Cadet Women’s Freestyle

• Juvenile      - Morgan Dagenais  - 3^rd 56 kg Juvenile Women’s Greco           

• Junior       - Nolan Badovinac   - 2^nd at 84 kg Junior Men’s Freestyle                                      

• Attendance  (Certificates) 

          Aaron Badovinac, Daniel Spencer, Isaac McDonald, Trevor Barker, Jayce Clayton,

                      Ravi Manhas, Owen Spencer

• Aaron Keitlah Attendance Award  (Plaque and Bursary) – Aaron Badovinac

• International Honour Roll (Certificate) – Aaron Badovinac - Bronze US Northwest Regionals

• Junior Honor Roll  (Certificates)

                   Anna Frost, Circe Campbell, Duncan McLeod, Jarod Gagnon, Jayce Clayton, Kyla McAuley

                               Kylea Anderson, Mackenzie Boudreau, Madeline Duperron, Owen Spencer, Prateesh Giri,

                              Scott Coulthart, Seth Price, William Merry, Jayden Iverson (Principals)

• Junior Academics/Athletics  (Plaque plus Bursary)     -  Jayden Iverson                         

• Senior Honor Roll  (Certificates)                                                                            

                     Isaac McDonald (Principals), Aaron Badovinac (Principals), Ravi Manhas, Kiarra Fong,

                                Trevor Barker, Morgan Dagenais, Lane Harris, Trenton Vanderkooi

• Senior Academics/Athletics  (Plaques plus Bursaries) – Aaron Badovinac, Isaac McDonald

• Junior Sportsmanship  (Plaque plus Bursary)     -  William Merry

• Character  (Plaque plus Bursary)     -   Trenton Vanderkooi

•  True Grit  (Certificates) – Daniel Spencer, Kylea Anderson, Mackenzie Boudreau, Seth Price

•  Special Appreciation  (Plaques) – Patrick McEvay, Mike Roberts and Darral Clark

• Leadership  - Entire ADSS Team

• Unsung Dedication (Certificates) – Prateesh Giri and Miranda Barker

• Most Outstanding Juniors  (Plaques plus Bursaries) – Mckenzie Boudreau and Owen Spencer

• Most Outstanding Senior Female  (Plaque plus Bursary) – Morgan Dagenais

• Most Outstanding Senior Males  (Plaques plus Bursaries) – Aaron Badovinac and Isaac McDonald  

Last but certainly not least, huge congrats to Bulldogs Assistant Coach/Assistant GM Adam Hayduk for leading his team to victory at the U16 BC Cup, on short notice no less. Read more HERE

Way to go Adam, Eric, and all the Alberni Wrestlers!

Hammer

Drive One 4 UR Community, Drive One 4 Fort McMurray, this Saturday

If you are touched by what's happened in Fort Mac this week, or if you are a supporter of our local kids at John Howitt Elementary and their involvement in WE Day - a celebration of youth making a difference in their local and global communities - then you absolutely must try your best to make time to take a quick test drive on Saturday. 

The situation in Fort McMurray hits home for me on a couple of fronts. The images from the devastation reminded me of when I was around 9 or 10 years old living in Flin Flon and a very bad fire situation hit several communities around us. While we were very lucky in our city and on the lake I grew up on, I saw first hand what happens to people in these situations as we ended up taking in several evacuated families at our house and at my grandparents cabin next door. The other way that this hit me was when I checked Facebook on Tuesday night after being disconnected from the news for a couple of hours. I couldn't believe how many friends I had from Port Alberni to Manitoba that were marking themselves "safe". While it's great and nothing short of a miracle that they and everyone else are safe, so many have lost literally EVERYTHING. 

The Drive One 4UR Communities are great events that I've broadcasted live on The Peak several times over the last couple of years. Previous events supported Kidsport, Alberni Valley Minor Hockey, the revitalization of Weaver Park and the Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society. 

The prevailing sentiment from the events I was at was that these are NOT sales events. They will not try and sell you a car, they do not care about you being interested in buying a vehicle. They just want to raise as much money as possible. 

The event this Saturday - (9am to 5pm at John Howitt) is extra special as the money raised from your test drive will be QUADRUPLED due to the Federal Government matching donations AND Wil Pulford matching the donations. Read more below, and consider taking a quick cruise Saturday to support Fort Mac, and Port Alberni. 

Hammer

Van Isle Ford has partnered up with John Howatt Elementary School for the national We Day' 

Just like every other Drive One 4 UR community Ford Motor Company will donate $20 per qualified test Drive. As an added reason to come and help Ford Motor Company also just announced that it will donate an ADDITIONAL $20 per test drive to Canadian Red Cross to help the fire relief efforts and residents of Fort McMurray, which will be matched by the Federal Government.

As a final reason - not that you need more, Van Isle Ford Dealer Principal Will Pulford has committed to also donate $20 to the Red Cross for each test drive that will also be matched by the Federal Government for relief efforts in Fort McMurray.

Fort McMurray holds a special place in Wills heart "this was the very community that my automotive career got started and where I was fortunate enough to get opportunities to grow and learn and ultimately help me get to where I am today. I have a bunch of incredible friends who still live there and I can only imagine the horror they are going through"

All totalled each Test Drive taken on Saturday as part of the Drive One 4 UR community will be worth $100 all tallied, we are excited to generate as much money as possible.

Bulldogs announce trio of 2016-2017 recruits

(image: Albernialleybulldogs.ca)

May 3, 2016

Port Alberni, BC – Coming off two very successful spring identification camps, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs announce the first round of committed players for the 2016/17 campaign.

Henry Marshall, a 6’1, 175lbs, forward from New Canaan, CT, had a breakout season at Choate Rosemary Hall this season with 29 points in 28 games. Marshall is committed to the NCAA Division I program at Colgate for 2017/18.

Trevor Cosgrove, a 6’1, 182lbs, defenseman, comes to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH. Cosgrove spent the last four seasons at Exeter. The SB*Nation College Hockey blog describes Cosgrove as a steady defenseman with good mobility. The solid defenseman helped lead Exeter to a 26-4-1 record in 2015/16. After being recruited by several NCAA Division I programs, Cosgrove, too, committed to Colgate for the 2017/18 season.

Last but not least, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs have also committed to 1998-born standout forward Augustine “Auggie” Moore from Edina, MN. Moore had a breakout season with Benilde-St. Margaret’s School in the United States High School (USHS) league, putting up 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 25 games. Moore followed that performance up with an additional 4 points in 2 playoff games. Moore was the captain of Benilde-St. Margaret this season.

“I am extremely excited to become a part of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs organization,” said Auggie Moore. “I look forward to coming to Port Alberni and being a Bulldog next year.”

“These three players are great additions to an already strong and exciting group of returning players from the 2015/16 season,” said Alberni Valley Bulldogs head coach and general manager Kevin Willison. “We are as excited about adding Henry, Trevor, and Auggie to our program as our fans will be watching them next season.”

These are the first three commitments the Bulldogs have announced. The team will announce additional commitments within the next week.

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are very excited to welcome Henry, Trevor, and Auggie to the Bulldogs family. Fans had a chance to see Marshall and Cosgrove at the Bulldogs Port Alberni spring identification camp. All three players will be reporting to the team in mid-August.

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Sounds like a couple of solid additions to the club - welcome to the team and the community Auggie, Trevor and Henry. Trivia question - name the former Bulldog, now playing Pro hockey, who is also an alumnus of Phillips Exeter.

Matt Hatch (2009-2010)

Here's a cool video on Auggie Moore - I haven't been able to dig anything up on Cosgrove or Marshall yet but I'll keep digging. 

Hammer