The Alberni Valley Bulldogs pushed hard to the final horn but came up just short in a 4–3 loss to the Prince George Spruce Kings on Saturday night, January 24, at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
Prince George opened the scoring just 48 seconds into the game and led 1–0 after the first, despite Alberni Valley holding a 14–10 edge in shots. The Bulldogs got on the board early in the second period as Jackson Lackas scored his first of the season at 3:01, assisted by Ryan George and Teague McAllister. Prince George answered with two goals to regain control, but Wyatt Blace pulled the Bulldogs back within one late in the period, scoring at 19:43 with assists from Luc Schaefer and Hugo Daniel to make it 3–2 after two.
Prince George extended the lead with a power-play goal 1:22 into the third. The Bulldogs mounted a late push and cut the deficit to one at 19:26, as Brandon Gill scored with assists from Kye Benoche and Wyatt Blace, but Alberni Valley couldn’t find the equalizer before time expired.
The Bulldogs outshot the Spruce Kings 43–39 on the night. Wyatt Blace was named the FortisBC Energy Player of the Game with a goal and an assist, while Owen Lunneborg stopped 35 shots in goal. Teague McAllister added an assist and earned Bulldogs Three Star honours.
The loss marked the Bulldogs’ second setback of the weekend. They will look to bounce back as they head to Nanaimo on Friday January 30th, before returning to the Dawg Pound on Saturday January 31st, for a rematch with Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Alberni currently sits third in the Coastal West Division, just two points back of the second-place Clippers.
