The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (33-13-3-1) host the Langley Rivermen (32-15-1-2) in a battle of the two top teams in the Coastal Conference. The Bulldogs and Rivermen each have 4 games remaining and the Bulldogs hold a 3 point lead in the standings. A Bulldogs victory tonight would give them a stranglehold in the race for top spot.
The Rivermen got a dramatic come from behind 6-5 OT win over the Nanaimo Clippers last night at the Frank Crane Arena. Trailing 4-2 in the 3rd, the Rivermen exploded for 3 goals in a two and half minute span to take the lead. The Clippers forced OT before Tyler Schleppe notched the winner and set up tonight’s big match-up with the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are rolling and will look to keep the momentum building as they race to the playoffs.
With a record of 9-1-0-0 in their past 10 games, the Bulldogs are the hottest team in Coastal Conference. They’ve won 3 in a row overall, but more impressively have won 11 straight games here in Port Alberni. The Bulldogs home record of 20-3-0-2 is the 2nd best in the BCHL trailing only The Penticton Vees mark of 22-2-0-1.
Success for the Bulldogs has been well documented, but the way they’ve achieved that success is a special story. Entering action tonight, the Bulldogs don’t have a single player inside the BCHL’s Top 20 scorers. They don’t have a player inside the BCHL’s Top 20 Rookies, and they don’t have a defenceman inside the BCHL’s Top 20 Defenceman scoring. The Bulldogs have achieved this level success as a team that is simply not fun to play against.
To date, the Bulldogs have been the stingiest team in the Coastal Conference allowing 135 goals. Goaltender Hobie Hedquist has been a huge part of the success. The native of Heron Lake Minnesota has taken control of the Bulldogs crease and doesn’t show any signs of relinquishing it. Tonight will mark Hedquist’s 11th straight start in goal and he’s now 26-7-4 on the year with a 2.45 GAA and a .913 save percentage. He’s one win off the league lead, and no other goalie has played more minutes this season.
The Bulldogs are 1-0-1-0 against the Rivermen this season. In Langley’s only other visit to the Dawg Pound this season they pulled out a 2-1 OT win on November 27th. The Bulldogs handed the Rivermen a 5-4 loss at the end of February at the Lodge. Both games had a “playoff” feel and with so much on the line tonight, the expectation for that trend to continue is high. The Rivermen have to know that a loss tonight will make their goal of hanging a Coastal Conference banner a very tough task. The same could be said for the Bulldogs. A loss to the Rivermen tonight and it’s a game on for the Coastal crown.
The Bulldogs might be catching the Rivermen at the right time. Since Langley ratted off 8 wins in 9 games to finish January and start February, the Rivermen are just 7-8 in their past 15 games. They’ve also gone from being one of the top defensive teams in the entire BCHL, to a unit that is allowing over 4.5 goals against per game since the 21st of February. To put that in perspective, the Bulldogs are allowing almost 2 goals per game fewer over that same stretch.
While there is so much to be warm and fuzzy about with the Bulldogs game, the special teams remain a work in progress as the club hits the stretch drive. The power play and penalty kill both rank 10th out of the 18 BCHL clubs. The Bulldogs are also among the league leaders in the dubious category of short handed goals allowed with 8 this season. The good news for the Bulldogs is that the special teams have yet to hurt them in win / loss column. With 4 games to go heading into the playoffs, they would be a downright scary matchup if they can make strides in the special teams.
As a reminder to fans, masks are no longer required inside the Alberni Valley Multiplex, however fans who feel more comfortable to wear a mask are encouraged too.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm and tonight’s game is presented by the West Coast General Hospital Foundation.
