The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (22-16-3-1) finally return home as they host the Powell River Kings (13-22-3-3) at the Alberni Valley Multiplex tonight at 7:00 pm.
The Bulldogs are fresh off a 6 game, 21 day road trip that saw them go an impressive 4-1-1 away from the friendly confines of the Dawg Pound. The lone blemish on the streak was a disappointing 7-5 loss to these same Kings last Saturday in Powell River. It was one of those “burn the tape and move on” sort of games for the Bulldogs, and move on they did.
Last night in Nanaimo against the conference leading Clippers, the Bulldogs won their 2nd straight game at the Frank Crane Arena with a 3-1 victory. Hobie Hedquist was the games first star, and the usual suspects in Dakota MacIntosh and Nicholas Beneteau supplied the offence. It was the perfect response to the lacklustre effort their previous game out.
Returning home, where the Bulldogs have won 6 straight, is an opportunity to seek some revenge on the Kings for ending the Bulldogs lengthy point streak. The loss to Powell River was the Bulldogs first regulation loss in 56 days. Now they have a chance to deliver some pay back in front of an expected raucous crowd at the Dawg Pound.
Powell River can score with the best of them, they just struggle to keep the puck out of the net with a conference leading 176 goals against heading into action tonight. The Bulldogs would be well served to avoid another run-and-gun shootout like they experienced last Saturday.
Beneteau and MacIntosh, along with line-mate Will Elger continue to be the straw that stirs the proverbial drink for the Bulldogs. Beneteau extended his league leading point streak to 12 straight games with his 2 goals and 1 assist effort vs the Clippers last night. During the impressive 12 game run, Beneteau has 23 points, 19 of them assists. MacIntosh extended his goal scoring streak to 8 straight games last night, the longest such streak in the BCHL this year. Since joining the Bulldogs in November, MacIntosh has 31 points in 24 games. His 1.29 points per game pace is 6th best in the entire BCHL.
Bulldog Bites:
- Beneteau now has 42 points in 41 games to lead the Bulldogs.
- Last night was Hobie Hedquist’s 19th win of the year, giving him 47 in his Bulldogs career. Hedquist is just 6 wins behind Frank Slubowski’s total of 53 for the franchise lead in wins for a goalie.
- Last night was Joe Martin’s 200th career win as a BCHL head coach.
- Hot on the heels of their 6 game road trip, the Bulldogs will now spend the next 6 straight here at home.
Tickets for tonight’s game are available at the Bulldogs box office which opens at 2:00 pm, or online by CLICKING HERE
