The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (24-14-0-0) host the 1st place Surrey Eagles (29-5-2-0) in a matchup of the Coastal Conferences two top teams tonight at the Multiplex. Puck drop is set for 7pm.
Surrey enters action tonight as the hottest team in the BCHL with a record of 9-1-0-0 in their past 10 games. The Bulldogs are hot on their heels with a record of 8-2-0-0, but the Dogs find themselves 12 points back in the Coastal Conference standings.
The Eagles are the leagues stingiest team on defence, allowing a league low 76 goals against. Last night in Nanaimo, they shutout one of the BCHL’s most potent offensive attacks 1-0. Surrey will face another tough test tonight as the Bulldogs enter action tied with West Kelowna with the most goals scored in the BCHL at 153.
While the Bulldogs hold the team edge in offence, the Eagles bring the top two scorers in the entire BCHL to action tonight. Caden Cranston sits atop the BCHL points derby with 58, while Aaron Schwartz is 2nd with 50. The Bulldogs Nicholas Beneteau is 3rd with 48. Cranston also leads the BCHL in goals with 23, one ahead of the Bulldogs Hayden Stavroff.
A week ago, the Bulldogs played one of their most complete games against a very good West Kelowna squad, they will likely need to be even better tonight if they’re going to hold off the 1st place Eagles.
These clubs are meeting for just the 2nd time this season. Back on November 17th the Eagles edged the Bulldogs 5-4 at the South Surrey Arena. It was a rare off night for the Eagles Ajeet Gundarah as the Bulldogs scored 4 times on 27 shots. In 29 of their 36 games, the Eagles have allowed 3 goals or less.
Surrey also puts the special in special teams. The Eagles enter action with the BCHL’s number one penalty kill and the league’s number 2 power play. There isn’t much the Eagles don’t do well, so the Bulldogs will need to bring their A game tonight if they hope to push their winning streak to 7 games.
The last time the Eagles were in the Dawg Pound was during the epic 7 game series in the Coastal Conference Semi-finals last year. Safe to say if the Bulldogs are hoping to have more success in the post season this year, chances are another date with the Eagles looms ahead of them.
The Box office is open at 10 am, or you can skip the trip and buy your tickets online by CLICKING HERE
The doors open at 6pm for Dog Mountain Brewing Happy Hour. All Dog Mountain products are just $5.00 until puck drop at 7pm. Tickets for adults are just $18, while all local youth 18 & under are no-charge when accompanied by an adult thanks to the San Group.
