Bulldogs visit Grizzlies tonight to open 2018 Playoffs, Provincial Wrestling Championships at Multiplex today/tomorrow

After being absent from the dance last year the Bulldogs (17-32-5-4, 4th Island) make their return to the post season tonight as they visit the Grizzlies (32-18-4-4, 1st Island) at the Q Centre in Victoria for Game one of this best-of-seven series.


The Bulldogs finished the regular season winning two in a row, most recently 4-2 over the Powell River Kings at home on Sunday afternoon, while the Grizzlies also won two in a row, also last seeing action Sunday afternoon at home where they beat the Surrey Eagles 4-3 in double ot. 


The Grizzlies won the final head-to-head meeting between these teams, last Thursday in Victoria by a score of 4-2. The Grizzlies took the season series with a record of 7-0-1-0 for 15 points, while the Bulldogs went 1-6-1-0 for 3 points. The Grizzlies out scored the Bulldogs 29-17, and went 9 for 36 on the power play while also scoring once while shorthanded. The Bulldogs went 5 for 37, and out shot the Grizzlies in the season series 289-256. 



You can forget about ALLLLL of the above though, as it all means absolutely nothing now as the slate is wiped clean and the teams and players all have a stat line of zero. Have an average season and want to atone for it? Have a good season, and want to prove you can have the same success when it REALLY matters? Well this is what it's all about. 

Here's a quick look at the standings as of today.....

I have been very lucky in my career to witness some fantastic playoff runs, going to five league championships and two Royal Bank Cup tournaments, and two semi final series in the BCHL. I'm hoping the Dogs can make this run a long one was well. Playoffs are everything, it's why we are involved in the game. They are about passion, intensity, drive and sacrifice. At the same time, they are about the opposite - composure, discipline, playing smart.  Mostly, they are about having a short memory. What happened last game/period/play doesn't matter, it's only about what's up next. One night you can be sky high off a huge win, the next you can be so low after a tough loss that you are lower than a snakes belly in a tire rut. PARK IT and look to the next play/period/game.  

I'm sure that they'll be a sizable contingent of Bulldog fans making the trip down tonight, but for those that can't it's always our goal to make it feel like you're there. Be sure to tune in to Pacific Chevrolet Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM, with our pregame show on the air starting at 6:45 with the puck drop and play-by-play to follow at 7:00. Dan Tisserand tabulates team and player stats, Bruce MacDonald provides analysis and adds colour commentary and I'll call the play-by-play.

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is former Bulldog David Dziurzynski, who's currently with the AHL's Utica Comets - the Vancouver Canucks affiliate. David's an incredible story, as he joined the Bulldogs for his 20 year old season unsure of his hockey future. One unforgettable season later, and he was signed straight out of Junior A by the Ottawa Senators. It was incredibly hard to believe at the time, and pretty awesome to watch over the next couple of years as David got called up and scored a couple goals in the NHL. Pretty surreal stuff.

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

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The BC Secondary Schools Provincial Wrestling Championships are underway today at the Multiplex. I ran in quick with my son last night to check out the set up - it's pretty cool to see the MULTIPLEX living up to it's name and not just being a rink! 

Read below for the schedule today and tomorrow. 

Hammer

Friday, March 2^nd (all at the Alberni Valley Multiplex)

      7:30 am - Alberni Valley Multiplex opens

        8:30 am – 9:00 pm - BCSSWA Championships (Preliminary rounds including semi-finals)

     12:00 pm – Coaches/Officials lunch available

     5:00 pm – Coaches/Officials dinner available

     9:00-11:30 pm - Coaches and Officials social at Chances Rim Rock Casino

Saturday, March 3^rd (all at the Alberni Valley Multiplex)

     7:30 am – Alberni Valley Multiplex opens

     8:30 am – Continuation of the preliminary rounds 

   10:00 am - Consolation Finals 5/6 and 3/4 (approx. time)

   11:30 am – LUNCH BREAK – Advance book for team lunches at the Athletic Hall

    1:15 pm - Doors open back at the Multiplex 

    2:00 pm – FINALS  * we anticipate a finish time about 5 pm