Sunday night was the first exhibition game for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and they put on a show. As the Bulldogs defeated the Victoria Grizzlies 6-1.
In the first, it was a feeling-out process. The players needed to get back into the swing of things and start to adjust to the speed of the game. However, the Bulldogs would open the scoring with a goal from Cole Melady a little over the halfway mark. Shots were 9-7 in favour of the Grizzlies that period, but wouldn’t get one of their own in the opening frame.
In the second period, the Buttazzoni brothers would strike. Mirko would score the second goal, followed by Diego for the third goal to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead. And this time around, the Bulldogs would outshoot the Grizzlies 17-13 in the middle frame and would make it 24-22 overall.
In the third, the Bulldogs would continue to pile on the goals, but couldn’t keep the shut-out intact as the Bulldogs would score three more goals, while the Grizzlies would get on the board for their lone goal as the Bulldogs took this one, 6-1. Shots were 19-9 in favour of the Bulldogs in the third and would add to an overall of 43-31 in total shots. The Bulldogs would also score two powerplay goals in the final frame, as they went 2/7 on the powerplay. So to did the Grizzlies and would finish with their powerplay at 1/8 overall.
The next Bulldogs game will be on Monday, September 20th as they will host the Grizzlies for a rematch.
Tickets are just $5 for adults & local youth 18 & under are no-charge when accompanied by an adult compliments of the San Group.
If you aren’t able to attend, you can catch the game live on HockeyTV as Evan Hammond has the play by play.
HockeyTV Link: https://www.hockeytv.com/
