The Alberni Valley Bulldogs defeated the Coquitlam Express 5-1 on Friday night to open the 23-24 season with a convincing win.
Hayden Stavroff, acquired in an off-season trade with Salmon Arm opened the scoring to give the Bulldogs the ice-breaker at 9:54 of the opening frame. Stavroff would go on to add 2 more including an empty-netter for the hat trick.
Lenny Greenberg and Grayson Badger would add the other markers for the Bulldogs with their 1st career BCHL goals.
Fischer O’Brien picked up a pair of assists in his Bulldogs debut.
After a spectacular preseason that saw goaltender Callum Tung stop all 65 shots he faced, Tung picked up right where he left off as he stopped 39 of the 40 shots the Express sent his way. Tung’s spectacular play earned him 2nd star honours, while Stavroff was named the games 1st star after his 3 goal effort.
The Bulldogs will head to Langley tomorrow to take on the Rivermen in the 2nd game of their weekend set on the Lower Mainland. The Bulldogs return to the Dawg Pound for their home opener on Saturday September 30th against the Nanaimo Clippers. Tickets can be purchased by CLICKING HERE
