(Image: Chaisson Creative)
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs mounted an impressive comeback Sunday night, rallying from an early deficit before Wyatt Blace scored the overtime winner in a thrilling 6–5 victory over the Powell River Kings on March 8.
Powell River jumped out to an early lead in the first period, scoring three times to take control of the game. The Bulldogs cut into the deficit late in the frame when Charlie Vincent scored at 17:15, with Roy Chung picking up the assist to make it 3–1 heading into the intermission.
The Kings extended their lead early in the second period, but Alberni Valley responded midway through the frame. Eduard Mishikov scored at 7:12, finishing a setup from Charlie Vincent and Wassim Rabbath to pull the Bulldogs within two.
Alberni Valley kept the pressure on and got within one later in the period when Kye Benoche scored shorthanded at 14:53, with assists from Teague McAllister and Roy Chung.
Trailing 5–3 entering the third period, the Bulldogs leaned on their special teams to complete the comeback. Brendan DeFeo scored on the power play at 5:28, assisted by Ryan George and Grady Magner, bringing Alberni Valley within one. Just over three minutes later, Brandon Gill tied the game at 5–5 with another power-play goal, finishing a play set up by Caden Tremblay and Eric Lund.
The teams remained deadlocked through the rest of regulation, sending the game to overtime.
At 2:55 of the extra frame, Wyatt Blace (9) completed the comeback, scoring the game-winning goal off a feed from Alex Payie to give the Bulldogs the 6–5 victory.
Goaltender Jack Hirshorn made 30 saves on 35 shots to earn the win for Alberni Valley, while Powell River’s Devin Peck stopped 31 shots in the overtime loss.
Powell River’s Michael Azzarone was named the FortisBC Energy Player of the Game with a goal and two assists. Bleicher (two goals, one assist) and Wiebe (three assists) earned the first two stars for the Kings, while Bulldogs forward Roy Chung was named the third star with two assists.
Alberni Valley finished the night with a 37–35 edge in shots and went 2-for-5 on the power play in the comeback win.
Next game for the Bulldogs is in Nanaimo on Friday before they had back to the Dawg Pound to face off against Prince George.
