Bulldogs top Clippers 5-4 to sweep home-and-home

Warm ups are underway here in Nanaimo - I'll post updates occasionally through the game. You can also watch the game on FastHockey.com. Nanaimo Clippers play-by-play voice Dan Marshall - three time BCHL Broadcaster of the Year award winner, has the call. 

Here's my stats guy for tonight, my son Griff

And tonight's line ups

Bulldogs take a 1-0 lead 2:26 into the first on a shot and a rebound , batted in out of midair by Willie Daignault. Jake Wilhelm picked up the assist.

As I was writing that, the Dogs go up 2-0, 4:11 in as Paul Luebke slides one home, low far-side from Tristan Bukovec.

Bulldogs go up 3-0 during four-on-four hockey as Ryan Finnegan skates in on a partial breakaway and snaps one home far-side at 17:05 of the first. The lone assist went to Tristan Bukovec.

Shots in the first favoured the Clippers 11-7. The Clippers went 0 for 1 on he power play. The Bulldogs also went 0 for 1, but only had 17 seconds to work with.

Bulldogs take a 4-0 lead on a sharp angle banker in tight 3:49 into the second by Tristan Bukovec - no assists were given on the play. 

A plethora of penalties soon followed, including three straight to the Bulldogs. They would kill off a 5 on 3 advantage of just under a minute in duration. An even up call brought about four-on-four hockey, and that saw DJ Petruzelli sneak one home five hole from in tight, with assists to Vincent Millette and Antoine Desmeules at 8:30 into the second. 

Another penalty goes against the Bulldogs - just reserving comment in preseason on the competency and comprehension displayed but Officials. Clippers make it a 4-2 game on the subsequent advantage on a rebound in the paint fired home past John Hawthorne who had relieved Claeys. Former Bulldog Adam Donnelly scored it, at 12:11 of the second. Assists went to Danny Pion and Antoine Desmeules.

Clippers awarded a phantom goal with 1:10 left in the second to make it 4-3. Officials at the net wave it off, no light from the goal judge, from my view puck clearly didn't go in. Officials go to the circle and manufacture a goal for Nanaimo and reverse their original call. Goal credited to David Silye, with no assists given, but insert tongue-in-cheek joke here? 

Shots in the period favoured Nanaimo 21-4, for a 40 minute advantage of 32-11.

Unofficially - power plays on the game... Clippers are 1 for 6 while the Bulldogs are 0 for 2.

Bulldogs go up 5-3 11:20 into the third on an unfortunate bounce for Nanaimo as a tipped puck struck one of the Officials in the face and went into a Bulldog stick. Tristan Bukovec would find Jake Wilhelm in the slot where he snapped it past the blocker of Brendan Barry. 

Clippers make it 5-4 with 16.9 seconds left with the extra attacker out as Shawn Guison sneaks one home from a sharp angle. Assists went to Jake Harris and Austin Crossley.

That's as close as the Clippers would come as the Dogs killed the clock to make it a 5-4 final. 

Third period shots favoured the Clippers 17-4 for a game total of 49-15.

I had the Clippers at 1 for 6 and the Dogs at 0 for 3.

The Dogs next see action Friday at home when they host Cowichan. 

Hammer

Bulldogs top Clippers 6-3 in preseason action

Bulldogs kill off a penalty and soon after take a 1-0 lead at 10:43 of the first on a 3 on 2 rush as Ryan Steele fires a Cayden Kraus pass through the five hole of Cedric Lesieur. Braydon Nelson also drew an assist.

Clippers tie it at 1-1 at 13:08 of the first on a second or third rebound in tight banged home by Matt Kowalski. Assists went to Ben Stolin and Jamie Collins.

Bulldogs go up 2-1 with 1:30 left in the first on a beautiful goal as Cayden Kraus carries it out of his own end before dishing off to Ryan Steele, who dishes off to Jake Wilhelm. He would walk to the net and puts a cross-crease pass onto the tape of Braydon Nelson who banged it home.

Shots after one: 12-11 Clippers

Power play opportunities: Clippers 0 for 2. Bulldogs no opportunities.

________________________

Still 2-1 Bulldogs, 8:00 left in the 2nd, shots 16-14 Nanaimo. 

3-1 Bulldogs at 13:33 of the second as Tristan Bukovec speeds down the left wing and throws a pass to the top of the crease where Jake Witkowski fires it home five-hole.

Shots in the second 9-8 Nanaimo, for a two-period total favouring Nanaimo of 21-19.

Power plays after two periods:
Bulldogs 0 for 1
Clippers 0 for 2

__________________________

4-1 Bulldogs 1:44 into the third as Tristan Bulovec slides home a Jake Witkowski pass on a 2 on 1 rush

Clippers trim the gap to 4-2 at 3:26 into the third with Brady Lynn scoring from Will Koop.

Bulldogs restore the two goal lead on the power play on a misplay by Cedric Lesieur that sees Kyle Kaufmann fire a gift into the open net at 9:43 into the third.

At 18:30 into the third the Clippers score a pretty goal to make it 5-3 as David Silye  converts a cross-ice pass from DJ Petruzelli.

The Bulldogs respond and seal the deal into the empty net as Trevor Cosgrove made a good outlet pass from behind the net that was chipped out of the zone by Tristan Bukovec. Auggie Moore would chase it down and beat the final Clipper defender to fire it home at 19:46 of the third for the 6-3 final.
Shots in the third favoured Nanaimo 12-6 for a game total of 33-25.
The Clippers went 0 for 2 on the power play while the Bulldogs went 1 for 2.

Hammer

Bulldogs host Clippers tonight, UPDATING....1-1 6:52 left 1st

The Bulldogs play their third preseason game tonight, as they host the Nanaimo Clippers at the Dog Pound for a 7:00pm start. There will be no live broadcast tonight, however - I will be posting running updates here on the blog so be sure to check back tonight and follow along.

Bulldogs kill off a penalty and soon after take a 1-0 lead at 10:43 of the first on a 3 on 2 rush as Ryan Steele fires a Cayden Kraus pass through the five hole of Cedric Lesieur. Braydon Nelson also picked up an assist.

Clippers tie it at 1-1 at 13:08 of the first on a second or third rebound in tight banged home by Matt Kowalski. Assists went to Ben Stolin and Jamie Collins.

Hammer

Bulldogs add three, host/visit Clippers Tuesday/Wednesday

After an amazing four days on a Houseboat on Sproat Lake for a last-chance family vacation before all the madness starts, I'm excited to be getting back into the swing of things to get the hockey season underway....I'm certainly not as excited to be on the air on 93.3 The Peak FM at 6:00am tomorrow morning though! 

About the "madness" - it's not JUST the start of the hockey season and the monumental task of getting the broadcasts ready...it's also about the Port Alberni Salmon Fest that comes up this weekend and all the hours I'll spend broadcasting from the festival grounds on THE PEAK...plus the Fall Fair the following weekend....plus the Port Alberni Toy Run the weekend following that. Better to be busy than bored, right?

The Bulldogs are 0 and 2 in the preseason so far, dropping a 6-4 decision to the Victoria Grizzlies Wednesday night, before falling 5-0 at home on Saturday night. It's right back at it Tuesday and Wednesday, with the Dogs hosting the Clippers before returning the favour and making a trip down to the Frank Crane Arena the next night. Preseason action wraps up Friday and Sunday, as the Dogs host the Cowichan Valley Capitals before taking on the Powell River Kings in a neutral site game as Oceanside Arena Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs announced three new signings Friday...read below for more details. Welcome to the team and the community Braydon, Kyle and Jake! 

Hammer

BULLDOGS ANNOUNCE NEW SIGNINGS

PRESS RELEASE

August 26, 2016

 Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are please to announce the signings of Braydon Nelson, Kyle Kaufmann, and Jake Wilhelm for the 2016-17 season.

Nelson, a 5’9, 160lb, forward from Duncan, BC is coming off an excellent campaign with the Pacific Coast Hockey Academy where he scored 34 points (13 goals and 21 assists) in 35 games. Nelson was an affiliate player during the 2015-16 season and played 4 games for the Bulldogs.

Kaufmann, a 6’1, 175lb, forward from West Vancouver, BC played last season for the North Vancouver Giants of the British Columbia Major Midget League where he scored 41 points (12 goals and 29 assists) in 37 games. Kaufmann was also an affiliate player during the 2015-16 season and scored 1 goal in 7 games with the Bulldogs.

Wilhelm, a 5’10, 165lb, defenseman from Victoria, BC was the captain last season for the South Island Royals of the BCMML where he scored 24 points (8 goals, 16 assists) in 38 games. Wilhelm was another affiliate player during the 2015-16 and played 2 games for the Bulldogs.

“We are very excited to welcome Braydon, Kyle, and Jake to our family,” says Head Coach & GM Kevin Willison. “All of these players were with us at some point last season and gained valuable experience as affiliate players. We are very excited to work with this group over the next few seasons and help them grow into elite players.”

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

Bulldogs Training Camp underway, Exhibition opener Wednesday!

It's the kick off to the 2016-2017 training camp today as the Bulldogs and all BCHL teams hit the ice to officially begin the process of preparing for puck drop on opening night. 

After tryouts and training camp, the next step in the process is of course exhibition games - the Bulldogs play their preseason opener Wednesday night when they visit the Grizzlies at Juan De Fuca Arena for a 7:00pm puck drop. The Dogs return home to host Victoria on Saturday night, before they renew acquaintances with the Nanaimo Clippers for a home-and-home set next Tuesday and Wednesday at the Dog Pound and the Frank Crane Arena respectively. The preseason wraps up September 2nd and 4th when the Bulldogs host the Capitals Friday night and visit the Powell River Kings Sunday afternoon at Oceanside Arena for a 2:00pm puck drop. 

Points are up for grabs and it's the real deal when the Bulldogs visit the Clippers for the season opener September 9th. They visit the Grizzlies the next night before hosting the Clippers for their home opener September 16th.   

Find the full training camp sked below. 

As for coverage of the proceedings on the blog for fans parents and families alike - I'm going to be unavailable to update on Wednesday night as I'm going to be in the middle of squeezing in one last family vacation before the mayhem that is the 58 game regular season! I'll will be back and providing some updates Saturday night so be sure to check the blog, my twitter, etc!

Hammer

2016-2017 AUGUST MAIN CAMP SCHEDULE

Monday AUG 22^th

            8:30am              Check In

             9:00am            Welcome and Introduction (Upstairs Lounge)

             9:30am            Base Line and Fitness Testing (JT Ward)

             12:00-1pm        Practice      Team Black

             1:15-2:15pm     Practice      Team Gold

             2:30-4:00pm     Practice      Team  Green  

             7:00-9:30pm     Game Black vs Gold

             3/20minute stop time periods. Flood after each period

Tuesday AUG 23^th

              8:00am-9:00am         Goalie Session

              9:30am-10:30am       Practice     Team Black   

              11:00am-12:00pm     Practice     Team Gold

              12:15-1:30pm            Practice     Team Green

              6:00pm–8:30pm        Game        Gold vs Black

             3/20minute stop time periods. Flood after each period

Wednesday AUG 24^TH  

               8:00-9:15am              Practice   Team Green 

               2:00-3:15pm              Practice    Team Green

   Thursday AUG 25^TH   

               9:00am - 10:30am     Practice    Team Green

               6:00 – 8:30pm          RED & WHITE Game

               3/20minute stop time periods. Flood after each period

 Friday AUG 26^th         Practice 2:30-4:15pm