The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (9-12-1-1) host the first place Nanaimo Clippers (20-4-0-0) tonight at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. The game is scheduled for 7:00 pm and is presented by Cloud City Apparel.
The Bulldogs find themselves in a tough stretch of hockey, and the schedule makers haven’t done them any favours with the Clippers coming into town on a 4 game winning streak and are 8-2-0-0 in their past 10.
If last weekend’s losses weren’t costly enough, the Bulldogs also enter this weekend without Ethan Bono and Matthew Maltais who were both injured in Saturday’s loss to Chilliwack. The duo make up two thirds of the Bulldogs top line and the pair are one-two in team scoring.
With Jules and Raoul Boilard also out of the line-up, the Bulldogs have inserted the Port Alberni Bombers leading scorer Chase Pacheco and Comox Valley Glacier King Mason Windsor into the line-up. Pacheco has 16 goals and 26 points on the season, while Windsor has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 27 games during his rookie season in the VIJHL.
Despite the Coastal Conference standings, the Bulldogs have played the Clippers tough this season. While the Clippers are 3-0-0-0 against the Bulldogs this year, the Bulldogs have OT and a shootout loss in the 3 contests.
The Bulldogs are just 5-5-0-1 at home this season, a far cry from last season when the club lost just 4 times all season at the Dog Pound. The Clippers have been nearly perfect away from Frank Crane as they enter tonight at 9-1-0-0.
Look for Hobie Hedquist to get the start tonight in goal for the Bulldogs. For Hedquist, this will be his 5th start in the Bulldogs past 6 games.
Tickets for tonight’s game can be purchased by CLICKING HERE while the Box office will be open at the Multiplex at 4:00 pm.
