The Alberni Valley Bulldogs weekend of action begins tonight in Victoria and ends tomorrow night at home with a visit from the Surrey Eagles. After two straight weekends of three games in three days, just two games might seem like a welcome break. The Grizzlies and Eagles will be anything but a break though.
Friday will be the second time this season that the Dogs have visited the Bear Mountain Arena, and the third head to head game between the two teams. Game one was a 3-1 Bulldogs win on home opener night on September 18th. The most recent meeting was a thrilling 5-5 tie here at the Bear Mountain on October 6th.
The Grizzlies were last in action a week ago today where they beat the Cowichan Valley Capitals 5-2 in Duncan. This was the Alex Allan show early, as he scored a rare power play natural hat trick ? yes three goals in a row, all on the power play, for a 3-0 Victoria lead before the game was even nine minutes old. The Caps would get one back to make it 3-1 Victoria after one before Jimmy Carter scored the only goal of the second for a 4-1 Victoria lead after 40 minutes. The Capitals would get one back to make a game of it early in the third but they would get no closer. Dustin Mowrey added an empty netter in the late stages for the 5-2 final.
The Grizzlies were actually out shot in this one 35-28, with Richard Virtanen picking up the win and third star honours in net. Power plays were huge. The Grizzlies went 100% on the night on their power play, going 3 for 3 with the Alex Allan goals. They were also 100% on the penalty kill, as the Caps went 0 for 5 on the man advantage.
The Grizzlies were supposed to play on Halloween night at home against the Clippers, but that game was cancelled due to the Grizzlies roster being decimated by the flu.
The Broadcast begins with the pregame show on 93.3 The Peak FM at 7:00, with the puck dropping at 7:15pm. Listen live on 93.3 The Peak or www.933thepeak.com and watch live through the Pay Per View Broadcast through BCHL Web TV
It will also be the third head to head meeting of the season Saturday night when the Coastal Conference leading Surrey Eagles pay a visit to the Pound to finish a three game road trip. The Dogs took game one September 26th in come from behind fashion at the Dog Pound, with a game tying goal with 10 seconds left in the third, and then an overtime win for a 4-3 final. The most recent head to head matchup of course was last Friday in Surrey, a 3-0 Bulldogs win. Matt Hatch, Trent Dorais (shorthanded) and Johnny Rogic (on the power play) scored the Dogs goals. Frank Slubowski stopped 28 shots for the shutout and first star honours.
The Eagles bounced back from that loss with a 5-2 win in Merritt on Sunday. They opened their current road trip with a 4-1 win in Powell River on Thursday night. They then woke up early this morning to get over to the Island for a Friday night match up in Duncan against the Capitals before they finish their trip Saturday night at the Pound.
It will be the second meeting between the teams in just eight days so expect tensions to maybe a bit high at times, and expect the Eagles to try and exact some revenge for the two losses the Dogs have handed them in two tries this season. While the Dogs are 2 and 0 against the Eagles, they certainly won?t be taking them lightly as the Eagles don?t lead the Coastal Conference by accident.
Saturday?s pregame show kicks off at 6:45 with the puck dropping at 7:00 on 93.3 The Peak FM and online at www.933thepeak.com as the Bulldogs return to the friendly confines of The Dog Pound after four straight away from home.
