The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (28-19-1-0) face the Penticton Vees (37-7-3-2) tonight at the SOEC. It’s the first match-up between the two clubs since the Vees swept the Bulldogs in last seasons BCHL Championship Series.
While the jersey’s are the same, it’s hard to call this a re-match. Gone are the superstar Nadeau brothers, and virtually all of the supporting cast from last year’s Vees juggernaut. Only Callum Arnott and Thomas Pichette returned to try and help the Vees attempt a three-peat. Despite the turnover, the beat goes on for Fred Harbinson and the Vees. With their OT win in West Kelowna last night, the Vees clinched yet another Interior Conference pennant.
The Bulldogs return 9 members of the team that was swept aside by the Vees during last year’s memorable run to the league finals. Add Hayden Stavroff and Ryan Buckley to the mix, both from Salmon Arm who lost to the Vees in the Conference final last year, and motivation shouldn’t be too hard to come by for the Bulldogs.
Callum Tung will draw the start in goal for the Bulldogs as he looks for win number 20 on the campaign. Entering action tonight, Tung leads all BCHL goalies in saves, and you would have to think he will add to that total tonight with a Vees offence that ranks near the top of the BCHL in goals for. The Bulldogs are right there with them, no slouches themselves in the offensive zone. The Vees announced that rookie Sharky Nowek will make his BCHL debut tonight against the Bulldogs.
Tonight’s contest features the BCHL’s least penalized club, against the most penalized team. Alberni Valley has spent 741 minutes in the sin-bin this year compared to just 364 for Penticton. While the Bulldogs PK has been rock solid, it will be tested tonight against the BCHL’s top power play unit.
Much like last year, the Vees are a tough nut to crack at the SOEC. Penticton enters action with a record of 20-2-0-0 on home ice, while the Bulldogs are just 13-12-0-0 away from the Dawg Pound.
Add it all up and it should be a heck of game tonight at the SOEC. Puck drop is set for 6pm.
