Bulldogs host Silverbacks, honour Emergency Responders

It's down to the final three regular season home games, as the Bulldogs (16-26-7-2, 5th Island) host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (18-26-3-3, 6th Interior) for the first meeting between the teams this season.

The Bulldogs were in Nanaimo last night, where they lost a 3-1 decision to the Clippers.

The Silverbacks meanwhile were supposed to play in Duncan last night, but that game had to be postponed as the Silverbacks were unable to make the Island due to road closures in the Interior. They last played on Tuesday night at home, where they snapped a two game losing streak, but saw their winless streak reach three as they played to a 1-1 tie with the Trail Smoke Eaters.

After a disheartening loss in what was a "must win" game last night, the Bulldogs can ill afford to be just that - disheartened. As much as they failed to help their chances of moving up in the standings and securing a playoff spot, they most certainly aren't out of it yet. Having said that, their margin of error is becoming smaller and smaller. They have seven games left, that's 14 possible points. They are both 6 and 7 points back of the teams they are chasing and they have games in hand on both of them and two absolutely HUGE head to head meetings with the Capitals remaining. They failed to get it done last night, and that hurts, without question. Dwelling serves no other purpose other than taking away from the task at hand, and that's winning games to extend their season. They have nothing to hang their head about in regards to their effort last night. They played hard, they had umpteen chances to score - the breaks don't go your way sometimes, as unfair and as hollow as that sounds. Just keep working to earn them, is all you can do.

The Bulldogs will be donning special one-night-only jerseys tonight to honour the Alberni Valley's Emergency Responders - real life heroes, if you ask me - that they will be auctioning off immediately following the game. Pretty sharp if you ask me!

Van Isle Ford Bulldogs Hockey goes live from the Multiplex on 93.3 The Peak FM for the pregame show at 6:45, with the puck drop and play-by-play to follow at 7:00. I will handle the hosting and play-by-play duties, while Bruce MacDonald provides the colour commentary and analysis and Dan Tisserand covers team and player stats.

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is former Bulldog Captain Ryan Lough, now playing his Junior Season with the NCAA's St. Lawrence Saints

Along with scoring the game winning goal in the first round of the 2012-2013 playoffs against the Nanaimo Clippers in the fifth and deciding game of the series, Ryan also assisted on the overtime game winner in the fifth and deciding game of the Island Championship series over the Grizzlies. 

If you aren't in 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.hockeytv.com

Thanks as always for checking the blog! 

Hammer