UPDATED PLAYOFF POOL, and BULLDOGS "slideshow"

click HERE?

Hi and thanks for stopping by! The link above goes to a slideshow of Bulldogs pictures taken over the latter points of the season. Some of the pictures are mine, and the others were taken by Judy Bailey. Thanks again Judy, great pics!

PLAYOFF POOL!

Here's the updated standings after round TWO. Sadly, some of the pool participants dropped out and forgot to send in their picks. If I missed someone, or MESSED someone, please post a reply and I'll figure it out!

After 2 Rounds:
Richelle 56
Brandon C 54
gobulldogs 51
Creasemonkey 49
nandogsfan 40
HAMMER! 38
kelownadogsfan 32
pantherfan 31
danthestatsman 30
maggie 26

Richelle had the best week, picking up 32 points!
I bounced back after my opening round flop to pick up the second best total at 28 points. Maggie is the opposite of me. After having the second best total in round one she had the worst total in the second round, getting SHUT OUT! Sorry Maggie!

Another round, and the stakes get HIGHER!

RIGHT TEAM, WRONG # of GAMES 7 points
WRONG TEAM, RIGHT # of GAMES 4 points
RIGHT TEAM, RIGHT # OF GAMES 13 points

So get those picks in NOW!

I will pick:
Cowichan in 6
Penticton in 6

Thanks for stopping by, and may the best picker win!
Hammer

Season-end Awards Banquet, PLAYOFF POOL Round 1 standings, round 2 predictions needed!

Hello and thanks for stopping by the blog.

The Bulldogs held their year-end awards night last night. A nice nice, but too early for a banquet of course! I was a "surprise MC" but I think I still got the job done!

Award Winners
Coaches Award- Brad Gorham
Entrepreneur of the Year
Humanitarian of the Year- both won by Stephen Pattison
"Fan Choice" award- Jordan Kremyr
Most Sportsmanlike Player- Evan Michalchuk
Most Improved Player- Jeff Manryk
Rookie of the Year- Daniel Hope
Top Defenceman- Isaac Smeltzer
"Unsung Hero" award- Andrew Ella
Top Scorer- Tyler Ruel
Most Valuable Player- Harry Zolnierczyk

"Thanks yous" went out to:
Coaching Staff
Training Staff
Office Staff
Ownership Group
Booster Club
Billets and Coordinator
Educational Advisor and assistants
Bus Driver
Video operators/editors
Radio/Newspaper
All Volunteers in other areas

I hope I got them all....any I forgot, please post a comment.

Ok- off to the "Playoff Pool" Round 1 standings and round 2 picks. It's AWESOME, that I am getting SPANKED in my OWN pool. BUT...at least no one will say it's fixed.

I surely had the riskiest picks- the most reward, but the biggest risk.

I was the ONLY person to pick Merritt to beat Trail- and that one went 7 games. Matty and myself were the ONLY people to pick Langley, and that one went to game 7, OVERTIME. Sadly, I didn't get a bounce in either of those games to pick up some needed points.

Congrats to BRANDON C for winning round one. He had every series right except the Prince George vs. Trail match up. BUT he did pick that series to go to 7 games so he still picked up 2 points.

Here's the full standings.

Brandon C 29 pts
Maggie 26 pts
gobulldogs 25 pts

5 people with 24 points:
nandogsfan
c.ray all the way
Richelle
Matty
Creasemonkey

pantherfan 22 pts
bobg 21 pts
abigbulldogsfan 19 pts
dan the stats man 18 pts

Sprucetreesfan+KelownaDogsFan 17 pts.

HAMMER 10 pts.

OUCH!

Get those picks in by 7 tonight of they will NOT BE ACCEPTED!

Points this round- Stakes get higher, so do the points

RIGHT TEAM, WRONG GAMES 6 POINTS
WRONG TEAM, RIGHT GAMES 3 POINTS
RIGHT TEAM, RIGHT GAMES 10 points

Thanks for checking the blog....off golfing I guess!

Pictures to come from Round 1 and the end of the season from myself and fans in the future!

Cheers,
Hammer

Dog Pound, 360 degrees

Wanted to post this video I took from the centre ice circle this morning for anyone who hasn't actually been in the Mulitplex themselves, so they have an idea what it looks like. For those that have been in the rink but haven't been on the ice, it might give a different perspective what it looks like from the players point of view.

Go Dogs!
Hammer

New Lids! (sort of)

Bulldogs lids, now sporting "playoff stripes" Also note the "M" in memory and in honour of Harry Zolnierczyk's billett mom Mona.

Go Dogs.
Hammer

OH RIGHT! I HAVE A BLOG! .....PLAYOFFS + HAMMERS PLAYOFF POOL!!!

Hello all, thanks for stopping by the blog. My apologies for not posting recently. Been very busy with the stretch drive and getting ready for playoffs. Also had a major computer issue- It wouldn't work anymore! But that is since fixed. Bulldogs go into round one of the playoffs a walking wounded, with no less than 5 players out, most of them on the back end. It will truly take a FULL TEAM effort if they have hopes of advancing past the favored Grizzlies. As long as the bus doesn't break down on the way to Victoria things will already be better than Saturday!

PLAYOFF POOL!!

This will be fun! It's open to anyone and everyone that's a fan of the BCHL. The prize for the winner- NOTHING! Except bragging rights. What else do you need though?

This is NOT your average playoff pool. Instead of picking PLAYERS, this one is about picking TEAMS. It's better this way as after every round you get to make new picks. Plus, you won't be out of the pool after the first round if there is an upset and you happen to pick 5 or 6 players from a favorite who ends up eliminated.

Here's how it works- for every single playoff series you need to indicate which team you think will win, and how many games you think it will take. For the first round of playoffs, the scoring will go like this:

Correct team, but wrong number of games: 3 points
Wrong team, but correct number of games: 2 points
Correct team, correct number of games: 5 points


So you get a bonus for picking it exactly, and you get more points for picking the winning team. But you still aren't out of it if you at least pick the number of games the series will go.

You have until 7PM TUESDAY, TOMORROW, the first day of playoffs, to post your picks here on the blog. Do so in the comments section. That way they are all out there for everyone to see.

I know I will take some heat for it, but I will play along too.

A disclaimer- I DO NOT PREDICT. Why? Because I know how unpredictable the playoffs are and how many variables can play into the end results. For the sake of fun though, HERE GOES. And please play along!

Coastal Conference
1 vs 8 Nanaimo vs Surrey Nanaimo in 6
2 vs 7 Victoria vs Alberni Alberni in 6 (yes, I believe)
3 vs 6 Powell River vs Cowichan Powell River in 6
4 vs 5 Burnaby vs Langley Langley in 5

Interior Conference
1 vs 8 Penticton vs Williams Lake Penticton in 4
2 vs 7 Vernon vs Westside Westside in 7
3 vs 6 Trail vs Merritt Merritt in 6
4 vs 5 Salmon Arm vs Prince George Prince George in 5

Don't you dare bash my picks, unless you make your own too!

Please spread the word on the pool- email it to friends, get it on the message board, etc. The more the merrier!

Thanks for stopping by!
Go Dogs!

VOTE FOR ME VOTE FOR ME VOTE FOR ME VOTE FOR ME!!! Pretty please!

Hi, and thanks for stopping by! Vote for me? For what? Let me explain. Over the Christmas holidays I was surfing the best website in the NHL- www.edmontonoilers.com and I saw a contest they were taking entries for- "Celebrate Hockey Moments" Here's the gist from the Oilers website

"Celebrate Hockey with the Oilers. We want to see your hockey memories. From ages one to one hundred, show us all the on-ice action you’ve caught on video. Submit your video memories for the chance to see them online, at Oilers games and on Oilers telecasts and become the star of Oil Country. Find your hockey memory. Whether it's a hockey blooper, a great goal, or a great hockey moment you've captured on video, we want to see it! The sky is the limit, from basements, to backyard rinks to Rexall Place, we want to celebrate hockey memories."

This REALLY caught my attention. The prize is certainly nice, a 42" TV if I remember correctly. However, I didn't enter this contest to win the TV. Yes, I will be honest, I entered to "become the star of Oil Country"

I have long been honest about my goals in broadcasting- to make it to the next level. I read about this contest and it hit me like a jolt of electricity. "Why not enter a video of some great Bulldog moments with me doing the play-by-play?"

I don't care if I win the TV, I just want my name and my abilities noticed. If even one Oiler fan, or one member of the Oilers staff looks at my video and says "this guy is not bad" then I have gotten somewhere. I've heard it a thousand times- "you're the best play-by-play guy I've heard" "listening to you do a game is like listening to the NHL" or my personal favorite "you are the next Jim Robson" That one is especially interesting because Jim Robson, the former voice of the Canucks got his start here in Port Alberni where I work now, CJAV radio. I can't say how much I appreciate it when I hear comments like this. It motivates me and stokes the fire within to keep working hard, to keep pushing to get better. For the fans, the parents, the players, and LASTLY for myself. I don't let comments like this go to my head. I don't even agree with them. But I sure do appreciate them and it really tells me that I am on the right path and I am doing what I should be doing. No, I'm not in the NHL. I'm in junior A hockey. But I'm working hard to advance. I love being where I am and where I work, but my goals are higher.

Back to the contest- Entrants were asked to submit a 60 second video, and a description of what the video was, why it was a "special moment"

Here's the jist of my description of my "celebrate hockey moment" story.

How does one celebrate hockey? I believe what we celebrate hockey by LIVING in the moment. We celebrate by feeling the thrill of victory when OUR team wins. And what makes victory even better? Simple- when it's SUDDEN VICTORY, and when it's over your biggest rival. The team you love to hate. You love to beat them, you hate to lose to them. My celebrate hockey moment video is of two sudden victory moments "golden goals" for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs over the Nanaimo Clippers, their biggest rivals. Think "Battle of Alberta" and Edmonton and Calgary, but instead this is the "Battle of Vancouver Island" The second game winning goal is for the Bulldogs 18th, yes 18th!!! win in a row. When you watch the video and see, hear, and FEEL the emotion from the fans, the players, and the broadcaster, it's all about CELEBRATING HOCKEY. The broadcaster that you hear is ME. I am truly blessed to be able to live the game and be a part of it. This is me and my moments, CELEBRATING HOCKEY.

Well, wouldn't you know it, I checked the Oilers website today and I MADE THE CUT!!!!! But I'm not happy just getting to the final 24. I'd rather win the whole darn thing. That's where you people come in. I don't imagine that I will get too many votes out of the die hard Oiler fans as my video isn't dripping blue and copper like alot of the other ones. But it is CELEBRATING HOCKEY right?

To any Nanaimo Clipper fans- I'm sure you don't enjoy the video too much. I know I wouldn't if it were the reversal, Clippers beating Dogs. If anything, I hope Clipper fans don't take offense to this but actually take this as a compliment- It says something about your team and your program and what you have accomplished when someone's best moments are when they manage to beat your team.

If you think I'm deserving, if you think the Bulldogs, their fans, or the BCHL are deserving of some recognition, I urge you, no, BEG you, to click on the link below, and then "click here to view recent submissions and vote for your favorite entry" MY VIDEO IS VIDEO #21.

http://www.edmontonoilers.com/contests/hockeymoments/index.php#

It doesn't appear that there is a limit on how many times you can vote, so go crazy! If anything, if I get alot of votes the Oilers and their fans might give me a second look as opposed to the other ones.

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.

I have also uploaded the video onto youtube, and have explained the story behind the video, in the hopes that Edmonton fans will see what we are about and how these are great moments.

Here is my video!



Wish me luck, and PLEASE VOTE, and even more importantly SPREAD the word! Inlaws, outlaws, friends, family, enemies, pets, the more the better!

Thanks,
Hammer

Dogs take 5 of 6, final pics.

Great 5 out of 6 point road trip, finished with a 6-3 win in Trial. Final roadie pictures below.


Banners in TrailFLIN FLON, MAN, and TRAIL BC, only places left with the Queen at the end of the rink, as far as I know
MEMORIAL means something, ladies and gents, boys and girls.
Mural outside the rink in Trail
Jumbo tron and the operation centre, quite the set up!


Views out of the press box- left, right centre.
Cool trees on the way up to Trail


Special treat for "Melly" at the pregame meal for his 21st birthday. Bradyn later went out and got a goal, and the team got a win. Great birthday!

One last picture from Penticton I missed.
Alright, thats it. Bed time. Early wake up and on the long bus home tomorrow morning.

Hammer

Dogs break streak, more great pictures from the road!

What a poetic finish last night, with Marcello Renallo scoring the game winning goal against his old team for the Dogs to break the losing streak. The boys made it interesting until the end, and even at times appeared to be trying their best to lose the game. But they held on, and they now have 3 out of 4 points so far. Tonight it's the Trail Smoke Eaters as the Bulldogs face the only team in the league they haven't seen yet, 52 games in!

Some pictures from the road- More to add later but here's what I have for now. This is one block from the rink in Kelowna. I fought the urge to go in there and host the morning show, LOL

Former Bulldog Volunteers Roy and Howard Stevens. They used to be the "net guys" during the intermissions taking care of the nets during the ice clean. They now live in Lake Country, but came to Kelowna sporting lots of Bulldog gear. You can take the boys out of the valley but you can't take the valley out of the boys!


Three shots of Memorial Arena in Penticton, "the museum"

Looking back into Kelowna heading to Penticton.

Hello from chilly Kelowna, Dogs hit interior again

Greetings from Kelowna Memorial Arena. Certainly a nip in the air up here in the pressbox as the Bulldogs gameday skate goes on below me. After leaving Port Alberni 830am yesterday the team travelled all the way to Kelowna, checked into our hotel, and headed right downtown to Prospera Place to watch the Kelowna Rockets host the Prince Albert Raiders in Western Hockey League action. A couple of former BCHL'ers on the ice last night- 2002-2003 Alberni Valley Bulldog Chris Ray is now the captain of the Rockets, and coming into relief in goal after the Rockets fell down 3-0 early in the second was Torrie Jung, last year's back up standout for the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Jung played well, but the Rockets were never really in this one as PA won 4-1. Hopefully another PA can get a win tonight!

This morning it was a 730am breakfast at the Hotel and then right here to the Kelowna Memorial Arena for the skate. Beauty old barn this one! A couple of good news items. It looks like Anthony Gorenszach has been given the green light to play so hopefully we will see him tonight or this weekend. "Tony" was aquired by the Dogs at the trade deadline but has not yet played. From all "on the record" comments I've received, Gorenszach arrived ALOT more hurt than "day to day" as the Bulldog were told his condition was. I really like him as a player so here's hoping he can boost the back end defensively and offensively, special teams and 5 on 5. Also the Bulldogs have picked up an affiliate player from Kimberly of the KIJHL, d-man Jordan Forman. Not sure on the spelling. Looking foward to see what he can do this weekend as well.

Lastly- here's the "feature guest" interviews for the second intermissions of the 93.3 The Peak FM Bulldog broadcasts this weekend. Tonight from Penticton my guest will be Westside Warriors play-by-play voice Kevin Parnell. Friday here in Kelowna Tim Kehler, Trail Smoke Eaters coach and GM will by my guest. Finally, Saturday in Trail I will be joined by former Bulldog Joe Scali, now at Cornell University. Tune in, enjoy, and hopefully I will have a win or two or three to bring back home to you in the Valley and on the Fanzone. Send those emails HERE

The Bulldogs have won four in a row in the Interior- Quesnel, Vernon, Salmon Arm, and Merritt, in that order. It will take a monumental effort to get off the 8 game losing streak, and an even bigger effort to win all three, but these guys have done it before and I know they can do it again. SIXTY MINUTES. PHYSICAL. UNSELFISH. DESPERATE. GOALTENDING. SPECIAL TEAMS. My buzz words/keys I guess. Keys to any team....

Before I go get my coach and player interviews as game day skate has ended below me, here's some pictures.

After returning down to the bus after the ferry crossing, Harrison May points out the damage on the windows and says "Hey BC Ferries, don't park us next to a CATTLE TRUCK next time, PLEASE!"
Kelowna Memorial Arena, press box. Always thinking about the press last. Who put that beam there!


End view.
Outside.
Memorial means- FOR THE VETS, boys and girls.
Rink and Museum all in one!

Thats all for today, thanks for viewing!

Hammer

Great pics vs Victoria, HUGE weekend.

Hello and thanks for stopping by. Just banging out a quick post here before a nap and then down to the bus to go to Nanaimo. Huge home and home this weekend, no small test for the dogs playing the divisional leaders and their biggest rival. Should be entertaining and the dogs should have a chance is they bring their work ethic and play SIXTY MINUTES. Anything less, and it'll be a long trip home and a long weekend. It's been so long since these teams have played, that the goalies of record the previous two games for the Dogs were Ryan Lafferty and Matt Korchmar. The season series is tied 1-1. The Dogs have won- no kidding- TWO regular season games in a row in Frank Crane Arena, including last years last regular season game there. On the other side- including this year and the end of last year, The Clippers have won two straight in the Dog Pound. Odd. Should be two great games. Bring your NOISE with you if you are attending, it will be needed for sure, and boost helps. Now to the pictures! Thanks again to Judy Bailey for taking these and sending them in. OUTSTANDING pictures! Drop me a line HERE if you have anything to submit or anything to say! OH YEAH- one more thing.


SHOOT THE PUCK!!!!!!!!!

1st Star. hat trick goal.
Jamie Amos, biggest beauty in the league.
Chuckie doing what I love to see- PROTECTING the goalie!
hat trick celebration
Ruel's top shelf beauty?
Former Bulldog teammates- Ella and MacIntyre

Hello from Langley! Matt Auerbach and Jim Hiller interviews!

Hello all and thanks for stopping by the blog. The Bulldogs look to snap a four game winless streak tonight after dropping a 6-5 decision last night in Burnaby to the Express. The Dogs came out and layed an egg- down 5-0 after one period. They didn't play BAD, but they didn't play GREAT. Moral of the story? Don't play great and sometimes you don't get the bounces, or you don't deserve the bounces. It won't be easy tonight in Langley. Harvey Smyl and crew are doing what they do best, simply out working the opposition and winning. The Dogs are 0 and 2 in Langley this year. The season series is in favour of the Chiefs 3-2, after they won in Port Alberni last Thursday 4-2. That was another game where the Dogs played WELL, but not WELL ENOUGH. They got caught flat coming into period two, and Langley killed them with 3 goals in the first five minutes. After that it was all over. SIXTY MINUTES! How long has that been the number one problem for the Dogs?

Tonight in Langley my second intermission guest will be Ross Beebe AKA "Rosco" the educational advisor for the Langley Chiefs. Rosco is a walking encyclopedia of NCAA rules and regulations, so you don't want to miss this interview. We will talk about the BCHL All-Star game Wednesday in Surrey, and we'll also get some tips from Rosco on what young players out there should be doing if they hope to go the BCHL/NCAA route. Rosco's efforts can be seen throughout NCAA and professional hockey in North America (and I'm sure beyond) with the number of Chilliwack Chiefs he has helped get to the next level with their education. Rosco also works with the BCHL and Global Sports Camp in an educational advisor role. If you miss the interivew in the second intermission tonight I will be sure to podcast it here on the blog in the future.

Now, to some great interviews from "alumni" of the Bulldog program. Over the last couple of games I managed to catch up with former Bulldog trainer/equipment manager/athletic therapist Matt Auerbach, now with the Chilliwack Bruins of the WHL. Certianly miss Matt's friendship and comraderie on the road and at home, but at the same time I know myself and the rest of the Bulldogs fanbase and family are proud of him getting to the next level. The same must be said for former Bulldog coach and now Chilliwack Bruin head coach Jim Hiller. From us to you gentlemen, GET THOSE BRUINS IN THE PLAYOFFS!

Click the links below to listen to the Auerbach/Hiller interviews.

All audio courtsey and copyright 2007, 93.3 The Peak FM.

MATT AUERBACH

JIM HILLER


Thanks to Matty and Jim or their time, and again, good luck!

If you know any former Bulldogs out there and their contact information, please pass that along to me or get them to email me HERE

Also, please submit any pictures, questions, comments, complaints and so on and so forth to the above email address!

I will upload a couple more pictures in the future and add the pictures that didn't work from my last post. My apologies that I messed something up there. I would fix it now but here I am on the road, on my laptop, without the pictures.

GO DOGS
Hammer

Trade deadline nears, Dogs add Gorenszach, PICTURES, and congrats to Jamie Amos

Hello and thanks for surfing on over to the blog. Down to business. The trade deadline is coming up soon. All trades need to be submitted to the BCHL office by 6pm Wednesday night. I ranted about this on the morning show abit today, and I'll do the same here. What would I do if I were GM? Well, first off, I must say that I would be a BAD GM. Bad, because I would never be able to give up on a team, and think more about the future than the present...as in "next season" I have been with 5 championship teams at this level, so that may skew my outlook some. I am a big believer in the "you just never know" outlook. Raise your hands, ANYONE, who predicted Burnaby and Victoria in the Coastal Final? No hands, exactly as I thought. Lets further that- hands up, anyone who predicted Burnaby to win the BCHL. No hands. Alberta? Exactly. And finally the whole thing, the Royal Bank Cup? NEXT!... So, as I said, you just never know! The perfect scenario every year would be able to "build for the future, compete in the present" so that is what I hope the Dogs can do this trade deadline.

I really like the Anthony Gorenszach addition. I liked this guy all last season as a rookie, and again this year. He moves the puck well out of his own end, he can move the puck and shoot he puck well on the power play, and he can make a hit. I still remember phoning his parents last September to ask "help me out with a pronounciation please" Welcome to the team Anthony.

Some pictures of the end of 2006 roadie to Surrey and Langley

Front of the South Surrey Arena

All star game, and former player Bryce Hollweg

former Eagle now New Jersey Devil Scott Gomez, current Eagle captain Tyson Angus

New Eagles third uni- pretty sweet!

the walk to the pregame meal in Langley...no, not going to a movie

Harry Zolnierczyk, crushed after I secured the last meat sauce pasta

Harry, thrilled after the girls at Boston Pizza rounded up another meat sauce!

pre game water for Jeff Manryk

Assistant trainer/equipment manager Jamie Amos, with trainer Preston Charles. The 4-0-0 is to recognize Jamie's 400th game working in Junior Hockey, starting first with the Junior B. Port Alberni Bandits, and then the Bulldogs. In an odd occurance, the game was in Langley, a rink Jamie hadn't been to since 1980 something, a rink where he also worked a hockey game for the first time, as a penalty box attendant. Jamie said that back then the penalty boxes had no glass in Langley. Congrats to Jamie and thanks for all that you do for the team! They couldn't do it without you!

a picture to show the closeness of the "broadcast location" to the benches. Note the "road mascot" picture watching over us, a gift from the Pitts family last year. He's tuned in as always to 93.3 The Peak FM on his radio!

A picture to show why I said "broadcast location" and not "pressbox" or "broadcast booth" Dan "the stats man" looks on, ready to go as always. We broadcast from a table underneath the broadcast booth, tight quarters.

Thanks to Judy B for submitting these pictures, trying out her new camera. Great pics! I ask often for people to submit stuff, pictures, etc, but not many do. Thanks Judy!

Scott McNaughton vs Mike Switzer

Former teammates, now enemies (on the ice at least) Andrew Ella, Jordan MacIntyre

Final score!

crease celebration

salute to the fans, as is the tradition on home ice after a win

Thanks again to Judy Bailey for the pictures, and thanks to the Bailey family for the nice little gift they dropped off to the pressbox last Thursday, for my "blog anniversary" Yup, 1 year and counting! It almost looked like an IPOD before I opened it....have I mentioned how much I want an ipod? lol. Maybe if I update more this year Santa will be good to me next year! In all seriousness, thanks to everyone that keeps checking this, it keeps me going! Thanks for the gift as well, I certainly wasn't expecting anything.

Three more biggies for the Dogs, all against divisional opponents ahead of them in the standings. Langley at home Thursday, then down to Duncan Friday (for the first time since SEPTEMBER 15!!), and then back home against Cowichan Saturday. The Dogs are 2 and 2 against the Chiefs. Neither team has won on the road in that series yet. The Dogs are 1 and 3 against Cowichan, but they won the last time out, in November.

See you at the pound, and thanks for stopping by the blog!

I will update with any trade information!

Hammer