Dogs open up Mo'vember, host Express at Dog Pound

The Bulldogs (7-8-0-3, 3rd Island) return to home ice tonight as they try to snap a six game losing streak when they host the Coquitlam Express (10-5-1-0, 3rd Mainland) for the first time this season, for the second meeting between the teams this season after the Express picked up a 6-2 win over the Dogs on their home ice on September 21st.

The Bulldogs will be debuting their special "Movember" jerseys tonight, and 93.3 The Peak will be selling Moustaches for a $2.00 donation in various styles, shapes and sizes such as a "scoundrel" you see above. To encourage you to get on board, THE PEAK is sweetening the pot...purchase a moustache, and you'll get a ticket to win $100.00 CASH! They rest, we will donate to Movember!

Catch all the action with myself and Bruce MacDonald on 93.3 The Peak FM with the pregame show at 6:45 with the puck dropping at 7:00.

Bruce is now on twitter, which is quite the development - follow him by CLICKING HERE

Bulldog alum Matt Hatch is our 2nd intermission guest!


That's it for now, off to the rink and off to hang with my little guy!


Hammer

Tironese makes Team West, Movember, vote Angel, Hospitality Inn today!

Congrats to Bulldogs forward Evan Tironese, who has made Team Canada West for the World Junior A Challenge starting Monday! Do us proud Tiro and bring back the gold!

More from the league website HERE

The Bulldogs are doing their best to support Movember...even Bernie the Bulldog has a Moustache! The Bulldogs were the first team in the BCHL to wear special jerseys to support Breast Cancer Awareness - they are now the first BCHL team (as far as I am aware) to commission special Movember jerseys that they will wear all month, starting tomorrow when they host Coquitlam.

YES, I'm trying to grow a moustache for the cause...I've been told I will have to remain at least 300 feet from any schools for the duration of the month!

Here's my "Batstache" which I'm told looks alot like the Batman symbol haha!

The BCHL is also doing their best to jump on the Movember train! Read more HERE

VOTE ANGEL! Here's the details, and here's how! From Angel's Facebook page

 Update: Angel has been chosen as the BC Lions National Game Changer Finalist! Vote every day until November 20th to help her win $100,000 for Variety - The Children's Charity in the Scotiabank Game Changers Competition!

To vote, just click on this link and enter your email address. You can cast multiple votes if you have multiple emails. Remember to vote everyday until November 20th!

To read more about Angel and all of the amazing work she's done, check out her entry page by clicking this link

What else can you do to help Angel win?

1. Use this event page as a daily reminder - every time you see "Vote Angel" next to your news feed, click on it and vote!

2. Remember that you also have an @facebook.com email address. You can use it to double your votes!

3. Too busy to vote every day? Send a private message to Cheryl Magnussen with your email address and she'll use it to vote on your behalf.

Thanks for all of your help!

It's a rare Friday night off from Hockey, but I will still be busy today as I will be LIVE ON LOCATION for 93.3 The Peak at the Hospitality Inn Liquor Store from 2pm to 6pm as they are having a HUGE SALE! Free samples, free stuff, great deals! Hope to see you there!

Hammer

Dogs acquire Bo Pellah

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs announce today that the team has acquired 1995-born defenseman Bo Pellah from the Langley Rivermen.

Pellah is a smooth skating, puck moving, competitive player that will bring a new element to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.


In the deal, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs send 1994-born defenseman Turner Popoff and 1995-born forward Evan Anderson to the Langley Rivermen.

“The organization is very excited to get a player of Bo’s skill set. He is going to bring another level of play to our roster,” said Alberni Valley Bulldogs General Manager and Head Coach Kevin Willison.

“Bo will make us better on and off the ice with his hard work and dedication that he brings to the game of hockey,” added Willison.


Pellah has a full season under his belt in the BCHL as he was the Langley Rivermen’s 16-year old player in 2011/12.

Pellah is committed to the NCAA Division 1 program at Penn State for 2014/15 and is one of only six BCHL players on the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary 2013 North American Rankings for skaters for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.


By making a two-for-one deal, the Bulldogs, in turn, free up roster space for injured players Marlon Sabo and Hunter Stewart as they are set to come off the IR later this week.

In Popoff and Anderson, the Langley Rivermen get two players in return that were great role models in the Alberni Valley.

They made significant contributions to the team during their tenure and the organization wishes Turner and Evan all the best with their new team.


For more information please contact General Manager and Head Coach Kevin Willison

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! My goalie mask pumpkin I carved last year! Be safe, be smart, have fun!

LOCKOUT TICKET OFFER EXPIRING! Canada West Camp continues...

Time is running out to take advantage of the Bulldogs NHL LOCKOUT ticket drive with the deal expiring tomorrow!  Tell your friends and family and enemies and heck even let randon strangers know they need to get on this ASAP...doesn't look like the NHL is coming back any time soon...or EVER.

Keep tabs on Bulldogs Forward Evan Tironese and the rest of the Team Canada West hopefuls by checking out Hockey Canada's team page HERE

Good luck Evan!

Hammer

Cents 3 Dogs 0

Tough loss, good effort through 40 minutes spoiled in the third by too many penalties and an inability to bury chances....read my Recap from the Bulldogs website here

Quite the occasion to try and broadcast a game solo while also fielding 10000 messages regarding the earthquake and subsequent Tsunami fears....now for a long ride home.

Hammer

View from Merritt

Dogs @ cents line up

On the road again...Bulldogs off to face Centennials tonight....

It's an early morning wake up for the team today, a quick breakfast and then on the bus to make the five-or-so hour trip from Quesnel to Merritt.

It's the second meeting between the teams already this season after the Dogs (7-7-0-3, 2nd Island Division) snapped the Centennials winning streak with a 5-1 win at the Dog Pound on October 6th.

The Centennials (9-3-1-1, 2nd Interior) lost the final game of that road trip the next afternoon in Surrey by a score of 5-1, but they have just kept winning since then, as they are unbeaten in regulation in their last five games with a record of 4-0-0-1 so the Dogs had best be ready to go from start to finish tonight if they hope to snap their own streak at five straight losses. The Dogs have shown flashes of brilliance in most games of the five game streak, but they haven't put forth a full effort.

It won't be easy tonight as things happen very fast in the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena and it's smaller than regulation ice surface. It's never easy though!

Catch the pregame show on Boston Pizza Bulldogs Hockey tonight at 7:15 with the play-by-play to follow at 7:30 on 93.3 The Peak FM

Bulldog Alumni Kevin Ross will join me after two periods, don't miss it!

Time for breakfast and straight on the bus afterwards, I gotta fly!

Don't forget GUNS N HOSES tonight at the Multiplex!!

2.    Guns and Hoses Community Living Fundraiser

Port Alberni Association for Community Living Charity Hockey Game

·          Gun’s n Hoses: Battle of the Badges 2012

·         Port Alberni RCMP vs Port Alberni Fire Department

·          Special Guests Minor Hockey Timbits

·         Play by Play: Jolie McMullan

·         Saturday October 27th 7:30pm at AV Multiplex

·         Admission by donation

      Raffle baskets; Raffle for two Westjet tix to anywhere Westjet regularly flies; Chuck-a-puck for an original signed photo of Canuck David Booth; 50/50All proceeds go to the Port Alberni ACL Foundation for supports and services for adults with developmental disabilities and children with special needs.

Hammer

Spruce Kings 6 Dogs 3, streak hits five

Tough one, as the Dogs battled back from a early 4-1 hole in the third period to make it 4-3 only to give up a bad one to let the Spruce Kings go up 5-3....full recap from the Bulldogs website HERE

The BCHL is alive and well in Prince George, or it at least was tonight with great atmosphere and 1300 plus in the barn.

I wish I could call more games there, even if renovations in the broadcast booth have taken away some of the view in what used to be one of my favorite vantage points. Lots of great people involved with the team, they run things very well.

Hammer

Anastas to the AHL...Willison named GM

Sad to see Spiros leave so soon, very happy for him moving on to the AHL...it's the highest level of pro hockey going in North America right now. Best of luck to Spiros!

Oct 26. 2012
For immediate release

It is with regret that the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Hockey Club announces the resignation of General Manager Spiros Anastas.


Anastas has accepted a position in the Detroit Red Wings organization as Analytics Coach and Advanced Scouting Director for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.


Anastas noted that while his time in the Alberni organization was much shorter than planned, he is a believer in the program being developed. "I would like to thank the sponsors, season- ticket holders, billets, volunteers, and fans for their ongoing support of the team” said Anastas “I believe that this community deserves the absolute best and I believe the young men in locker room are a great group with a bright future ahead of them. However, when an opportunity like this comes along, you have to jump at it."


“It is unfortunate that Spiros is leaving after such a short time with the organization but we fully recognize that this league is about moving personnel and players forward, to the highest level possible. We wish Spiros continued success as he advances his hockey career,” said Port Alberni Junior Hockey Society President and Alberni Valley Bulldogs Director Ron Paulson.


Head Coach Kevin Willison will take on the added role of General Manager, effective immediately.

Hammer

Dogs in Quesnel this morning, face Spruce Kings in PG tonight...

Hello from the Quesnel Twin Rinks, former home of the Millionaires!

Nice but LONG travel day yesterday as the team left the Multiplex at 8am and got into Quesnel somewhere around 10:00pm.

Three new faces were on the bus - Matt Hansen - who will wear #12, Eric Walker who will wear #14 and Dylan Schellenberg, who will wear sweater #23

The players are currently on the ice for their Game Day Skate to work the kinks out from the bus trip and get final preparations and fine tuning done for tonight. Notice the small ice sheet in the foreground...I have always loved the concept of a :"kids and families" ice sheet/mini rink like this, just one of the unique things you see when you visit countless rinks

Catch the broadcast tonight from the Coliseum in Prince George with the pregame show at 6:45 and the puck drop to follow at 7:00 on 93.3 The Peak FM

Newly acquired Matt Hansen is my 1st intermission guest while Merritt Centennials voice Graham Turnbull joins me after 40 minutes.

It won't be the same without Bruce and Dan - I will miss you guys, myself and the listeners have been spoiled as of late to have you as a part of the broadcasts....but I will do my best!


More later...


Hammer

Nice day for a roadie...

Beautiful boat ride, complimented by a school of Dolphins chasing us! Super. Natural. BC!

More NEWS - Eric Walker joins Bulldogs

Just received word that Eric Walker - 93 defenceman is on his way to the Valley and will join the Bulldogs....

Walker, a former Smoke Eater was acquired in the trade last fall that saw Tanner Hicks/Marley Keca/Tanner House head to the Smoke Eaters

Hammer

Tironese to Canada West Camp, Sabo to Princeton, Crossan to injury rehab

Congrats to Bulldogs Forward Evan Tironese, named to the Team Canada West tryout camp roster yesterday by Hockey Canada...full roster HERE Now go make the team and LIGHT IT UP!

It's as good an excuse as any to relive his hatty last year....

Sabo Commits to Princeton
PRESS RELEASE


The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are very proud to announce that 94 D Marlon Sabo has committed to the Princeton University Tigers NCAA Division 1 program. The Princeton Tigers men’s hockey team plays out of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).


Sabo is entering his second season with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The 6’4”, 214lbs and has been limited to only two games in the 2012/13 season due to an injury sustained in practice.


“We are extremely pleased to hear that Marlon has committed to Princeton,” said Alberni Valley Bulldogs head coach Kevin Willison. “Knowing Marlon for the time I have, I certainly know that Princeton will be very happy with the person and the hockey player they will receive,” added Willison.


Sabo will follow in the footsteps of two Alberni Valley Bulldogs alumni: Kevin Ross and James Kerr. Ross played for the Bulldogs from 2007 to 2010 and this season he is in his third season with the Princeton Tigers and Kerr, the brother of current Bulldog Nicholas Kerr, is entering his
senior year at Princeton.






The Alberni Valley Bulldogs organization would like to congratulate Marlon for committing to the Princeton University Tigers. The team and the community look forward to great things from Marlon for the remainder of the 2012/13 season.


Sabo committed for the 2013/14 season. For more information please contact Head Coach Kevin Willison

With the good news unfortunately comes sad and bad news - Jared Crossan is being forced to step away from the game due to injury....I could see it on Jared's face when I interviewed him in Victoria, ice packs on both knees. I am SO SO SO happy he buried that goal in Nanaimo in the 7-2 Dogs win.

Sometimes the Hockey Gods work in weird ways. Or that's at least how I like to believe things in this magical game happen. Why did that weird/odd/flukey goal by Luke Gordon somehow find it's way into the net with just seconds left on the clock in the third period? To make Crossan's goal the Game Winner of course!

Best of luck Jared, you will be missed.

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs regret to announce that 93 D Jared Crossan is leaving hockey for a short while to rehabilitate a reoccurring injury to his knee.

Immediately upon joining the Bulldogs this season, everyone felt the strong leadership and character that Crossan brought to the team. The players internally voted Crossan the team's "rookie captain" and he would always go above-and-beyond to ensure he was prepared for upcoming games.

"The Bulldogs organization, fans, players, and community would like to wish Jared all the best with his decision that he made. For him I'm sure it was not an easy one," said Bulldogs head coach Kevin Willison. "The Bulldogs would like to thank Jared for all he has done in the community and on the ice in the short period of time that he was here in the Valley," remarked Willison.

In 13 games, Crossan contributed with 1 goal and 3 assists. His one goal was the game winner against Nanaimo on October 12th.

Jared will be missed around the rink and in the community. The Alberni Valley Bulldogs family wishes Jared all the best with his rehabilitation and all future endeavours.

Video - Timby retirement, RAPID FIRE

It's video Tuesday! Enjoy the great footage of the Timberlake retirement and SHAW's Rapid Fire!

Man these make me laugh. Great job by Shaw and Jose. Wow at Nick Kerr, what a beauty! Man is Jose getting his show ran in Paper/Rock/Scissors

Chiefs 3 Dogs 2, OT

The Chiefs ran their win streak to four and stretched their unbeaten streak to eight with a 3-2 OT win while sending the Dogs to their fourth straight loss in a thrilling game on Devin Timberlake jersey retirement night at the Dog Pound.

Read my recap from the Dogs website here

It's too bad the home fans couldn't go home happy celebrating a win but I certainly hope they were entertained as that was BCHL Hockey at it's finest, lockout schmockout!

Hammer

Dogs host Chiefs, retire Timberlake's #18 (UPDATED)

Boston Pizza Bulldogs Hockey is back on 93.3 The Peak FM tonight as the Bulldogs (7-6-0-2, 3rd Island) try to snap their three-game losing streak as they host the red hot (maybe even white hot) Chilliwack Chiefs (8-2-1-1, T-1st Mainland) who have won three in a row. They are also unbeaten in SEVEN with a tie and six wins. Their last loss was back in September.

Catch the pregame show with Bruce and I at 6:45 with the puck dropping at 7:00 or shortly afterwards due to the Devin Timberlake jersey retirement.

We will have Devin live in the booth during our 1st intermission show so be sure to tune in for that - also don't miss Ron Gallo, the Play-by-Play voice of the Prince George Spruce Kings who will join me in the 2nd intermission.
 
The Bulldogs have also called up 15 year old local product Josh Harvey from the Midget Bulldogs. Quite the day for him today...he will wear sweater #14

You can also WATCH the game through the Pay-Per-View Broadcast on Fast Hockey

Also don't forget that it's "Parents Weekend" and if you see someone wearing a jersey for one of the current players there is a good chance it is Mom/Dad/Grandpa/Grandma/Sister etc etc etc of the player in question so don't hesitate to strike up a conversation and thank them for trusting the Valley with their boys!


Off to the rink, more later!

Hammer

Bulldogs add Matt Hansen

This has been out there for a while on message boards and in the twitter-verse already. Unfortunately things end up in the public realm now a days before they are confirmed, waivers are cleared, etc etc.


I'm not a fan of adding any fuel to a fire that might just be smoke, just for the sake of all the kids/familes/players involved. In this instance, there was fire with the smoke!


The Bulldogs have bolstered their forward ranks by adding 1993 born forward Matt Hansen from the Omaha Lancers of the USHL


Expect him to be a Top 6 forward who will give the team additional depth. He is committed to Colorado College for 2013-2014.


Stats for Matt can be found HERE


Welcome to the team Matt, sounds like a great addition!

Hammer

Kings 2 Dogs 0

Full credit to the Kings on a hard work effort from start to finish to snap their losing streak at two while stretching the Dogs losing streak to three.

The Kings held off the early Bulldog pressure and killed off a penalty and shortly thereafter scored on a mad battle on a scramble to lead 1-0 after one. They stretched it to 2-0 at the midway point of the game on the power play and never looked back as they never let the Dogs get much going in the way of sustained pressure.

It never ceases to amaze me how crazy this game can swing from one way to another so quickly, as predictable as it may be in some instances. One moment you have won four in a row and goals come in bunches, the next you have lost tree and goals are hard to come by.


I can't remember the team ever being shutout on back-to-back games on home ice before...but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened! I can hear Bruce shuffling record books right now. Here's hoping the players and their families enjoy some much needed time together before the Chiefs come in on Saturday as Devin Timberlake's #18 gets retired.

Hammer

Kings @ Bulldogs Line Up

Bulldogs host Kings tonight, begin "Parents Weekend"

The Bulldogs (7-5-0-2, 2nd Island) have a chance to take over first place in the Island Division tonight when they host the Powell River Kings (4-8-0-2, 4th Island) for the second time this season after the Bulldogs won the previous meeting 4-3 in OT at the Dog Pound in September

The Dogs are coming off a 3-2 OT loss in Victoria on Sunday in a first place showdown with the Grizzlies where they let a 2-0 lead after two periods slip, the first time this season they failed to win while leading after 40 minutes. The Kings have lost two straight, most recently in action in Merritt on Saturday night where they fell 4-2 to the Cents.

It's the start of "Parents Weekend" as the Bulldogs Organization has invited the parents of the players from all over North America to Port Alberni for the weekend to catch a couple of games while spending some time with their kids!

Catch the pregame show tonight on 93.3 The Peak with myself and Bruce MacDonald at 6:45 with the puck drop and play-by-play to follow at 7:00

Tonight's 2nd intermission guest is Mark Fitzgerald, play-by-play voice of the Chilliwack Chiefs, here for Devin Timberlake jersey retirement night on Saturday.

Don't forget you can WATCH the game on FastHockey!

Hammer

Adam Todd to Trail, GAME TOMORROW - not on pocket sked - "Dizzy" leads Senators, Vees vs Clippers penalty....

The Bulldogs have found a place for Adam Todd to play, as they announced yesterday that he has been moved to the Trail Smoke Eaters for Future Considerations....they quite simply couldn't find him a spot to play here as they already had two goalies they were very happy with, and there is only one net of course. Best of luck to Adam with the Smokies!



More from the Bulldogs website here

I can confirm 100% without a shadow of a doubt that there is indeed a Bulldogs game TOMORROW/THURSDAY as they host Powell River. I say this tongue in cheek as The Peak's own David Wiwchar has spotted that it has been omitted from his Bulldogs Pocket Schedule! Spread the word, the Dogs host Powell River TOMORROW!

Nice to see that at least he AHL is playing hockey...even more nice to see former Bulldog David Dziurzynski doing well, currently leading the team after scoring twice in a 3-1 win for the B-Sens last night!

One of my favorite Dizzy highlights...

I must say I was more than a little surprised at the fallout and buzz coming out of Penticton after their 4-2 loss in Nanaimo Sunday. I was even more surprised when I actually went and looked at the play in question on Fasthockey.com which occured with about four minutes left in the third. I would have thought with all the hubbub it was a last-minute penalty.

As Vees Coach Fred Harbinson says in the below story, anyone can draw their own conclusion...my conclusion would not be either "mysterious" or "mistake" - two of the words used in the below story. Controversial? I can't say if the call was against the Bulldogs that I wouldn't call it that. I probably wouldn't like it either just like Fred and the Vees. However, it was at the very least, by the letter of the law, a penalty. 

Watching the video I saw: Brendan Forbes steals (with a quick stick lift) the puck in the slot from the Vee defender. He then turns to face the net to shoot or pass, and he has a stick from a Vee defender placed horizontally amongst his stick/legs/arms/hands that impedes him from making a play. 

IF - the play was at the other end and the Vees player that stole it and wasn't able to make a play, would their bench be up in arms at NO CALL on the play? 

I've always enjoyed my interactions with Fred, always has time for me, is always a pleasure to talk to. He is a passionate guy and from one fired up gent to another, I appreciate his fire. In this instance I don't agree, but opinions are like you-know-whats, right? Everyone has one.

I'm saying it's not worth trashing a lap top over. Having said that I'm sorry it wrecked Fred's birthday. I had to call Clippers Voice Dan Marshall once I read everything coming from the Vees and the Media just to make sure I wasn't missing something. Dan said he was "surprised at the uproar" 

Score one for the BACK referee as the ref in the attacking zone 9 times out of 10 doesn't make that call, in my humble opinion.

Maybe I'm just disagreeing because I'm a contrarian and they made such a big deal out of it. Maybe it's because they are the defending National Champs and they could stand a loss or two. Maybe it's because I was cheering for their Friday in Vic and Sunday in Nanaimo and they let me down. Maybe it's because my cousin and his family are die-hard Vees supporters and season ticket holders and I'm tired of them chirping me about the Vees. Yah, it's probably that!

Whatever you do, remember it's just a game and don't choke or punch someone like this Minnesota Hockey Dad, who is off to serve 6 months in jail 


-------

Coach steamed about penalty 

Tuesday, 16 October 2012 02:00 DAVID CROMPTON 

 

A controversial penalty in the last four minutes turned a good road trip into just a decent one for the Penticton Vees. Vees GM and head coach Fred Harbinson tried to be diplomatic about the mysterious hooking infraction that sent D Noah Henry to the penalty box with 4:14 to play in a game tied at 2-2 on Sunday afternoon. Just 14 seconds into the ensuing power play, the Nanaimo Clippers scored the tiebreaking goal on a fluky bounce off the glass, added an empty-netter and went on to win 4-2.

"Anyone can go on to (fasthockey.com) and look at that sequence and draw their own conclusion," said Harbinson. "Everyone makes mistakes, and unfortunately it cost us a point and possibly two. We would have come home with four points and maybe five. With four minutes left, I didn't see any way they were going to score 5-on-5 against us." The coach admitted he was particularly flustered after watching the replay on the way back to Penticton on the bus. "Not going to lie, I felt like throwing the computer off the bus," said Harbinson, whose birthday was on Sunday.

Grizzlies 3, Dogs 2 ,OT

OUCH is a good way to describe it as the Dogs let a 2-0 lead slip away after 40 minutes and for the second time in as many games this season fell to the Grizzlies in a game that they never trailed, 3-2 in overtime.


The Bulldogs also lost to the Grizzlies at the BCHL Showcase in OT in a game that they never trailed. Going by my stats, it's the first time this season that the Dogs lost a game that they led after two periods.


Full Recap to come on www.albernivalleybulldogs.ca


Hammer

Line up card Dogs @ Grizzlies

Three streaks snapped, Clippers 5 Bulldogs 0

One night after the Bulldogs went into Nanaimo and beat the Clippers by five goals the Clippers returned the favor with a 5-0 win at the Dog Pound.

The clippers looked very much like a team out to avenge a 7-2 loss the night before while no matter what the Bulldogs just couldn't get going offensively after the Clippers took a lead early in the game.

The loss stops the Dogs win streak at four while the win stops the Clippers streak at the same number while the Dogs also suffer their first home loss.

Read the Recap from the Dogs site here

The Dogs are up early tomorrow and on the road down the Island for a showdown for first place with the Grizzlies with a 1:15 pregame show and a 1:30 puck drop.

Hammer

Live at Bosley's Pet Food Plus!

Come down to Bosley's for their GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION this weekend! I'm here today until 3pm...then home for a quick bite and down to the rink for the Dogs vs Clippers game tonight!