Confirmed so far - Games 1-2 in Victoria Tuesday and Wednesday, Games 3-4 in Port Alberni Friday and Saturday.
Enjoy. Great atmosphere.
Please visit the links and support my friends and supporters!!!
Sunday, March 02, 2014
Saturday, March 01, 2014
Dogs top Kings 3-0, will defend Island Title in Playoffs
The Bulldogs would go to a power play early in the second after Luke Nogard took the extra two minutes prior to dropping the mitts with Quinton Wunder. The Dogs would connect on the power play when Justin Georgeson fed the puck to the left point for Darian Henry, who threw a shot on net that missed short-side. The end-board carom would come out at the opposite side of the net onto the tape of Hunter Stewart, who one-timed it home before Smith could get back to the post. Jake Kauppila and Darian Henry would pick up the assists at 1:07 of the second. There would be no scoring throughout the remainder of the period with both teams having their chances around the net, as the Dogs led in the shots after 40 minutes 26-23.
The third period started with a bang, as the Bulldogs raced up ice on an odd-man rush that saw Harlan Orr throw a cross-ice pass from the right wing on net where it was deflected home by Jake Kauppila to make it 2-0 at the :23 second mark, with Ryan Buse also drawing an assist on the play. It would prove to be all the offense the Dogs needed, with Connor LaCouvee coming up with a handful of huge saves most notably on a 2 on 1 rush as he went side to side to rob Jarryd Leung to protect the lead. The Kings would pull their goalie for the extra attacker but the Dogs would erase all doubt when Mitch Makin blocked a shot and chased down the loose puck to score into the empty net from centre ice, unassisted at 18:10 for the 3-0 Final.
Final shots favoured the Kings 40-32 with Connor LaCouvee picking up 1st star honours with the win, and his league leading 4th shut out while Jeff Smith took the loss. The Dogs went 1 for 3 on the power play while the Kings went 0 for 3.
With the win, coupled with the Capitals losing 5-2 in Victoria, the Bulldogs have made the Playoffs. They begin defence of their Island Championship Tuesday in Victoria for Game 1 of the Best of Seven series.
Tickets for Bulldog Home Games go on sale Monday at 9am at the Bulldogs Office.
In a word....Unreal.
Hammer
Dogs host Kings tonight to finish Regular Season
As has seemed to be the case much too often, the Dogs didn't get any help on the out of scoreboard last night as the Capitals beat the Grizzlies 6-4 in Duncan. With the win the Caps pulled a point ahead of the Dogs into 4th place, basically making the Bulldogs magic number with 1 game to go a 2. Meaning - for the Dogs to make the playoffs they need a combination of a Capital loss in Victoria and a win themselves over Powell River. Of course the Dogs only can have a hand in deciding one of those outcomes, and that is the only one they need to focus on.
The Kings were in Nanaimo last night where they beat the Clippers 3-2 for their fourth win in a row. They will come in tonight with plenty to play for as the Kings and Grizzlies are tied for tops on the Island with 78 points.
Quite the final night of hockey around the league tonight as 1st and 2nd place along with the 4th and 5th spots in the Island are up for grabs, as is 1st and 2nd in the Interior! What's also of note is that none of the teams battling for those places in the standings play head to head tonight.
I have been asked numerous times lately if the Bulldogs have ever been in this position before. The answer is....not really, but sort of - read on for a brief history lesson!
My first season in the Alberni Valley (2003-2004, the Bulldogs second season) saw a crossover exist between the Island Divsion, which had five teams, and the Mainland Division, which had four teams. Should the fifth place Island team at the end of the Regular Season have more points than the fourth placed Mainland team, the Island team would crossover to the Mainland for the Playoffs. Both the Bulldogs and the Victoria Salsa (yes, they were named Salsa, long story!) had more points than the Langley Hornets, meaning SOMEONE was going out of their division for the Playoffs. It came down to the final game of the season to find out who, with the Bulldogs going down to Victoria where they beat the Salsa in a barn-burner. The Dogs were down 4-3 with less than 10 to play before Josh Bonar tied it while shorthanded, before Mike Distefano scored the winner with two minutes to go en route to win 6-4.
Long story short, the Dogs stayed on the Island as the bottom seed and played the top-ranked Cowichan Valley Capitals. The Bulldogs would go on to upset the Capitals in six games and win their first ever Playoff series as a franchise. Anyone who was a fan then will most likely NEVER forget Curtis Tidball scoring the Game 6 winner at a sold-right-out Dog Pound.
Don't miss a second of the action on Van Isle Ford Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM with myself, Bruce MacDonald and Dan "the stats man" Tisserand providing the play-by-play, analysis/ colour and statistics. The broadcast begins with the pregame show at 6:45 with the puck drop to follow at 7:00pm
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.fasthockey.com
Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is another alumni - Josh Mitchell, a Bulldog from 2009-10 through 2011-12, and the leading scorer of the team in 10-11 and 11-12. He's now in his second season with the RIT Tigers of the NCAA.
See you tonight, pack the shack, BE LOUD BE PROUD
Hammer
Friday, February 28, 2014
Sportsman's Dinner/Auction Fundraiser almost sold out, Recycling Program, Zolnierczyk interview
The PAJHS Dinner and Auction tonight is almost SOLD OUT. Outstanding support as always Port Alberni! For last minute ticket sales - call Bob Cole at 250-720-7720 ASAP
Bulldogs and ACRD Spreading
the Recycling Message and Helping Reduce Waste
PRESS RELEASE
February 26,
2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Port Alberni, BC – For the second straight year, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and the
Alberni Clayoquot Regional District have partnered to promote the importance of
recycling and the need to reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill.
Earlier this
week, thirteen Bulldogs players took part in an orientation session with Janice
Hill and Andy Daniel from the ACRD to prepare for delivering the recycling
message to select local elementary and middle schools. In presentations that
began today, the Bulldogs and the ACRD are encouraging students to take part in
a Waste-Free Lunch Challenge.
Every day school
lunches are a major source of waste in British Columbia – the average student’s
lunch generates a total of 30 kilograms of waste per school per year, or an
average of 8,500 kilograms of waste per school per year. Students and their
parents/guardians can make a significant contribution every day to reduce the
amount of waste and keep it out of our landfill.
Also earlier
in the season, Tryg Strand, Darian Henry, Justin Georgeson, Hunter Stewart, and
Bernie The Bulldog recorded several recycling tips segments that are airing
locally on Shaw.
"The
Bulldogs bring to the program many great qualities, they are exceptional
speakers and are seen as leaders by youth within the community. The Bulldogs
players and organization are genuinely interested in the environment and making
a difference within the community", stated Andy Daniel, the Regional
District's Manager of Environmental Services.
“It is our
goal once again to reach out to 25 different elementary and middle school classrooms,”
said Bulldogs assistant coach and assistant general manager Adam Hayduk. “There
are so many great local initiatives already in play to reduce, reuse, and
recycle. However, the Waste-Free Lunch Challenge will give students an
opportunity every week to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in our local
landfill. It’s a great way to make a positive impact,” added Hayduk.
“As players,
we understand the importance of being role models for the community and for
younger kids,” said Bulldogs second-year defenseman Kurt Gosselin. “We like to
get involved as much as we can to make a difference in the community that has
given us so much.”
Information
about the waste-free lunch and the video that will be showed in the classrooms
will be posted on the Bulldogs website at www.albernivalleybulldogs.ca.
For more
information please contact Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Environmental
Services Coordinator Janice Hill at (250) 720-2714 or janice.hill@acrd.bc.ca or Alberni Valley Bulldogs Assistant
Coach/Assistant GM Adam Hayduk at 250-723-4412 ext 226 or
adam@albernivalleybulldogs.ca.
I have received lots of requests for this one already - to hear the interview with Harry Zolnierczyk from Tuesday night's game in Powell River CLICK HERE
All Audio as always, is courtesy and copyright 93.3 The Peak FM and the Jim Pattison Broadcasts Group, LP.
Hammer
Thursday, February 27, 2014
PAJHS Fundraising Dinner tomorrow, ADSS Armada host Island Basketball Championships TODAY
Some pictures from last year...
Fans are reminded that they need to enter through the front/main doors as the back gym doors will be locked.
The Championship game goes at 8pm Saturday, with the top two teams advancing to the provincials.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Dogs fall 2-1 in double OT, pick up huge point to take over 4th place
The Bulldogs got off to a good start despite the long travel day, taking an early lead in shots. The Kings would get their feet under the and carry the play through the middle part of the first, taking a 1-0 lead when Kurt Keats picked up the puck off a draw in the Dogs end and threw a shot on goal that went off Connor LaCouvee's stick and under the bar to make it 1-0, unassisted, 5:41 into the game. The Kings would have several opportunities to build the lead, but LaCouvee came up big in tight to keep it 1-0. The Kings would go to the power play where they had a goal disallowed as a point shot was deflected home by Luke Nogard, but it was waved off due to a high-stick. The Bulldogs would push back and get some good chances later in the period but they couldn't beat Smith as it was 1-0 Kings after one with the Kings leading the shots 18-11.
The Bulldogs came out flying in the second, parlaying their solid play into a power play chance where they got a bunch of pucks on net, but not past Smith as they ran up an early 7-0 lead in shots in the period. The Kings would go to the power play twice to try and build the lead, but again LaCouvee and the penalty killers held to keep it a one-goal game. The Bulldogs would battle back to tie it up in the late stages of the period as Josh Adkins found Dylan Haugen at the top of the crease where he jammed one home up and over Smith to make it 1-1, with Zach Funk also drawing an assist on the play at 16:14 of the second. A soft after the whistle penalty to Zak Bowles shortly afterwards saw the Kings again go to the power play, but an even-up call came in short order as the period ended with the teams playing four-aside hockey, with the Kings leading the shots 33-24.
The third period was played at a high pace with great end to end hockey. The Bulldogs would go to a power play with just over ten minutes to play in regulation looking for the go-ahead goal and looked great on it generating a handful of chances, but they couldn't capitalize. The Kings would get a power play immediately afterwards, but again the Dogs held the fort. Neither teams would hit the net through the third period, with the Kings leading in the shots 41-36 after 60 minutes.
The first OT was played at a high intensity, but there was little in the way of pucks on net with each team just putting one shot on goal. The game would end early in the second overtime period with a pretty play as they won possession of the opening draw and regrouped in their own zone and caught the Dogs puck watching as Kyle Chatham took off up the left wing and accepted a pass before gaining the Dogs zone and feeding a cross-ice pass onto the tape of Drew Dorantes who drove the net and slid it home 15 seconds into 3-on-3 double OT with Chatham picking up the only assist for the 2-1 Final.
Shots favoured the Kings 43-37 with Connor LaCouvee taking the loss while earning 3rd star honours while Jeff Smith picked up 2nd star honours with the win. The Dogs went 0 for 4 on the power play while the Kings went 0 for 6.
With the single point earned, the Dogs take over 4th place and the final Island Division Playoff spot. They are next in action Saturday night at the Dog Pound when they host the Kings to conclude the Regular Season.
Dogs visit Kings, chance to take over 4th place
The Bulldogs were last in action Saturday at home where they beat the Grizzlies 6-2. They enter play tonight tied with the Cowichan Valley Capitals for the final Playoff spot on the Island with two games left for both clubs. The Dogs host Powell River to end their regular season Saturday night, while the Capitals have a Home-and-Home with the Grizzlies that starts in Duncan Friday and ends in Victoria on Saturday.
The Bulldogs of course need to only focus on what they CAN control, and not what they CAN'T. They have a big task ahead of them in the Kings, who have won two in a row, most recently seeing action Saturday night at home where they beat the Capitals 5-2. The Bulldogs have won the last two games head to head, most recently by a 4-0 score at the Dog Pound on February 12th. The last game between the clubs in Powell River was way back in mid November.
There are so many scenarios that could play out over the next couple of days... a single point tonight COULD be enough to secure a playoff spot for the Bulldogs, should the Caps lose their final two games this weekend. A win tonight, and a win on Saturday, could be not enough to secure a playoff spot should the Capitals win their final two games.
Just win baby.
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.fasthockey.com
Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is former Bulldog Harry Zolnierczyk, now with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. Harry
scored for the Penguins earlier this month, set up by some guy you
might have heard of named Sidney Crosby. It seems like just yesterday
that Harry scored his first career BCHL goal, for the Bulldogs in where
else but Powell River.
And now a Major nostalgia warning for long-time Bulldog fans! Video of Harry's first goal. The six degrees of separation here is something else...in net for Powell River for Harry's first BCHL goal...Bulldog Goalie Coach Alex Evin!
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Dogs beat Grizzlies 6-2, tied for 4th
Great pace from the get go in this one with a good crowd on hand at the Dog Pound and both teams coming out of the gate ready to play. The Grizzlies would have a great chance in the first half minute on a give-and-go on the rush, where Connor LaCouvee made a great glove save on a Jaden Schmeisser tip-in attempt. The Bulldogs would take an early penalty, but again LaCouvee was solid and so were his penalty killers as it stayed 0-0. The Bulldogs would open the scoring on the power play in the back half of the first when Kurt Gosselin found Harlan Orr at the top of the left circle, where he put a low wrist shot on net that was stopped by Nic Renyard. A scramble would ensue on the rebound, and Craig Martin found it and roofed it under the bar for a 1-0 lead at 12:48 with the assists going to Scottie Clark and Tryg Strand. It was 3-0 Dogs three minutes later when Mitch Owsley fought the puck out of his own end to centre ice for Craig Martin, who found Owsley in the Grizzlies zone. He would walk up the right wing towards the point before finding Kurt Gosselin in the high slot where he ripped one top corner, past the blocker of Renyard to make it 2-0 at 15:57 of the first. The Grizzlies had a great chance to get on the board late in the frame when Jay Mackie raced in on a breakaway after a Bulldog turn over at their own line. Mackie would be able to get a shot away while being bugged by a defender from behind, but LaCouvee came up with the stop to preserve the lead, with the Dogs up in the shots 16-9 after 20 minutes.
The second period started absolutely wacky, with Scott Clark chasing a dump in up the right wing that hit the skate of the Referee, with goalie Nic Renyard out of his net to play the puck. Clark would score into the open net to make it 3-0, just 14 seconds into the period. There was no assist on the play, but I believe Harlan Orr played it ahead. The Bulldogs would almost IMMEDIATELY pay for the honest mistake by the Official, as wouldn't you know it, they found themselves down two men less than a minute later. The Grizzlies would connect early on the two man advantage as Garrett Forster walked into the high slot where he beat LaCouvee under the glove, with assists to Leo Fitzgerald and Brandon Egli at 1:27. The Grizzlies would remain on the power play, and get another 5 on 3 on another penalty, but the Dogs killed it off to protect the 3-1 lead. They would make it 4-1 shortly after their parade to the penalty box ended as Darian Henry let a bullet of a slap shot go from the blue line on the rush that resulted in a big rebound to the slot that was one-timed home by Justin Georgeson through the legs of Renyard. Tryg Strand also drew an assist on the play at 5:11 of the second, as Renyard's night ended with 4 goals allowed on 19 shots as Alec Dillon entered the game in relief. The Dogs would get their turn on the power play three minutes later and they connected to make it 5-1 on a pretty set up as Hunter Stewart fed the puck back to the right point for Darian Henry who walked in and put a perfect back-door pass onto the tape of Mitch Owsley who made no mistake one-timing it home at 8:40 of the second. The Grizzlies would make it 5-2 in controversial fashion late in the period when Myles Fitzgerald lept off his feet and elbowed Garrett Halls in the head at the attacking blue line, with neither of the two Referees electing to call a penalty. The Grizzlies would score on the rush just seconds later as Jaden Schmeisser took a cross-ice pass from Cole Pickup in the right circle where he scored top corner, short-side on LaCouvee with Myles Fitzgerald also drawing an assist at 14:40 of the second to make it 5-2 after 40 minutes, with the Dogs outshooting the Grizz 30-20.
The third period saw another plethora of penalties both ways. The Bulldogs would initially be down a man for four minutes on a high sticking double minor but they drew a penalty after outstanding work by Dylan Haugen and Zach Funk. The Grizzlies Bench would then pick up a minor penalty, bringing about a 4 on 3 advantage. They would connect on it when Kurt Gosselin put the puck into the left corner for Justin Georgeson, who set up Darian Henry in the slot where he fired one net that was stopped by Dillon, only to see the rebound his his defence and go in to make it a 6-2 final, with assists going to Jake Kauppila and Justin Georgeson at 9:26 of the third period. There were several nasty instances throughout the remainder of the game, most notably with just under four minutes to play as Darian Henry and Leo Fitzgerald exchanged slashes at centre ice, before Henry dropped Leo, who layed motionless on the ice before popping up as the remaining players on the ice engaged in a drawn out skirmish in the Dogs zone that appeared to be over several times, before erupting again by what appeared to be cheap shots. In the end, the Dogs would be down a man once again for four minutes with a handful of ejections coming to Darian Henry, Kurt Gosselin, Myles Fitzgerald, Gerry Fitzgerald, and after the fact, Chris Albertini, with the Dogs holding the fort and killing off the rest of the clock to preserve the 6-2 lead.
Final shots favoured the Dogs 37-35 with Connor LaCouvee picking up the win while Nic Renyard took the loss, being replaced by Alec Dillon after the 4th Dogs goal. I had the Dogs at 3 for 5 on the power play while the Grizzlies went 1 for 10.
The win - the first for the Dogs over the Grizzlies this season, coupled with a 5-2 Cowichan loss in Powell River, sees the two teams tied for the final Island Division Playoff spot with two games remaining. The Dogs next see action Tuesday night in Powell River, before hosting the Kings Saturday night at the Dog Pound.
Dogs host Grizzlies tonight to conclude Home-and-Home set
It's the back-half of this Home-and-Home set tonight as the Bulldogs (19-28-2-6, 5th Island) return home to host the Victoria Grizzlies (35-13-3-3,1st Island) at the Dog Pound, after the Grizzlies took the opener last night 3-1 in Victoria.
It's as close as it gets to a must win for the Dogs, as they now trail the Capitals for the fourth and final Playoff spot after the Caps topped the Clippers in Duncan last night 7-2. The Caps are in Powell River tonight to face the Kings.
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.fasthockey.com
Mitch was the Coastal Conference MVP in 2009-2010 when he had a magical season, setting the Franchise Record for goals with 61. As Bruce mentioned to me recently, he also set the BCHL Record for Power Play goals in a season with 33.
Here's a memorable highlight, an OT winner from the 2009-2010 Coastal Conference Finals.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Grizzlies edge Dogs 3-1, rematch tomorrow at the Dog Pound
A spirited start to the game, with both teams appearing ready to play from the out set. An early scrap brought some excitement to the game as Mitch Makin challenged Jesse Schwartz, no doubt due to Schwartz running over Bulldogs Goalie Nathan Warren the last time these teams met. The teams would trade chances early, with each side having good opportunities. The Grizzlies would open the scoring on the rush just short of the midway mark of the first as Gerry Fitzgerald carried the puck over the Dogs line up the right wing and back of the net before walking out front and scoring top corner, far-side on LaCouvee at 9:07 of the first. The Bulldogs would push hard to tie it up having several scrambles around the Grizzlies net but they were unable to connect as the Grizzlies led 1-0 after one, with the Dogs up 11-10 in the shots.
The score remained 1-0 through the midway mark of the second, with the Bulldogs having a great chance early in the frame when Justin Georgeson skated in on a breakaway, only to be stopped by Alec Dillon while fighting off a defender. That would pretty much do it for their offence throughout the period though, as the Grizzlies carried the bulk of the play throughout, hemming the Dogs in for extended periods in their own end. They would build their lead to 2-0 at the 13:04 mark as Storm Wahlrab knocked down a shot at the side of the net and pulled it around a fallen LaCouvee, with assists going to Jaden Schmeisser and Jay Mackie. Connor LaCouvee would keep the Dogs in it throughout the period, with the Grizzlies outshooting the Dogs 17-4.
The Grizzlies continued to dictate the play through the first half of the third period, with the Dogs unable to generate much in the way of good scoring chances, with Connor LaCouvee again coming up time and again to keep his team in it. They would reward him by getting on the board to make it a whole new game with just under nine minutes to play when Garrett Halls carried the puck over the Grizzlies line up the left wing where he got it on the stick of Tryg Strand, who threw a cross-ice pass onto the tape of Justin Georgeson, who one-timed it home to make it 2-1 at 11:39 of the third. The Dogs weren't able to get the equalizer despite several good chances, including a great look at the side of the net with a minute to go and the goalie pulled for the extra attacker. The Grizzlies would seal the deal when they stole the puck at centre, as Myles Fitzgerald scored from the left wing wall, unassisted, with :52 seconds to play for the 3-1 Final score.
Edit - an assist was added after the game to Gerry Fitzgerald on the empty netter.
Shots favoured the Grizzlies 38-23 with Connor LaCouvee picking up 2nd star honours while taking the loss, with Alec Dillon picking up the win. The Grizzlies went 0 for 3 on the power play, while the Dogs couldn't buy a call and didn't earn a power play chance.
The two teams go at it tomorrow night at the Dog Pound, with the Dogs now in what's pretty close to a must win as they sit two points back of the Capitals who topped the Clippers 7-2 in Duncan tonight.
Hammer.
Dogs visit Grizzlies tonight to kick off Home and Home set
I'm taking nominations now for a catchy nickname for the rink...maybe it's just me but 100.3 The Q Centre doesn't necessarily roll off the tongue, but maybe that's just me.
The Bulldogs enter play tonight winners of two in a row, most recently in action Sunday afternoon at home where they topped the Merritt Centennials 2-1. The Grizzlies were last in action Sunday afternoon in Surrey where they won their sixth in a row, 5-2 over the Eagles. The current streak the Grizzlies are on was kick-started with a 9-5 win at the Dog Pound on February 1st. Prior to that, they had lost four in a row, so it's been either feast of famine for the Grizz.
The Bulldogs enter play tonight tied with the Cowichan Valley Capitals for the fourth and final Island Division Playoff spot, with both teams having four games left heading into play tonight. The Grizzlies enter play tonight in 1st place on the Island, four points up on the second place Powell River Kings. They are just a point behind Langley for the overall league lead, with a game in hand.
Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.fasthockey.com
Sabo of course scored one of the most memorable goals in Bulldog history last year in the Playoffs, scoring the OT winner in Game Four of the Island Finals to force a fifth and deciding game in Victoria.
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