The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (26-16-1-0) host the Victoria Grizzlies (24-18-0-1) tonight at the Dawg Pound. Tonight’s game is presented by Double R Meats and one lucky fan is going home with free bacon for a year.
The Bulldogs and Grizzlies haven’t seen each other since December 29th when the Grizzlies knocked off the Bulldogs 2-0 at the Q Centre. For the Bulldogs, it was a frustrating night as they did lots of the little things right, they just couldn’t win the game. The win was also important for the Grizzlies as it pulled them even in the season series with the Bulldogs at 3-3. Win tonight, and you win the best of 7 season series between the two rivals.
The Bulldogs and Grizzlies are both coming off weekend splits, though they might be feeling a little different about themselves heading into tonight.
The Bulldogs are fresh off a split in Powell River. The two game set sometimes appeared to be more focused on physicality than scoring goals, but the Bulldogs found a way to win on Saturday and escaped with the split. The Grizzlies meanwhile opened the weekend with a 6-4 win over top-seeded Surrey, only to be trounced 10-3 on home ice the next afternoon by those same Eagles. Owen Bresson gave up 5 goals on 21 shots before giving way to Jack Fialkoff who also gave up 5 goals.
Despite the Sunday afternoon that Bresson would like to forget, he’s done a tremendous job for the Grizzlies since they lost starter Oliver Auyeung-Ashton to injury. Auyeung-Ashton hasn’t played since January 6th, but is back on the ice and getting closer to a return. For his part, Bresson is 11-8-0-0 with a 2.56 GAA and a .915 save %.
It remains to be seen who Joe Martin will give the nod to in goal this evening. Callum Tung is coming off a night in Powell River where he allowed 6 goals on 25 shots, while Vladislav Bryzgalov is coming off his 1st BCHL win as he stopped 31 of 32 shots and looked good in the process. Bryzgalov has a sparkling 1.82 GAA and a .935 save %, albeit in a small sample size.
The Bulldogs remain without the BCHL’s leading goal scorer Hayden Stavroff who is serving the 2nd of a two game suspension he was hit with after Friday’s game in Powell River. Stavroff leads all snipers with 28 goals on the season. The Bulldogs will get Stavroff back just in time for their trip to visit the Surrey Eagles on Friday night. The Bulldogs will also be without hometown favourite Caden Tremblay who was hit with a 3-game suspension along with a $1500 fine for his part in an altercation at the end of the game in Powell River. Tremblay is eligible to return on Saturday night when the Bulldogs are in Chilliwack.
The Box office is open at 10am today for all your ticket needs, or you can skip the trip and purchase your tickets for tonight online by CLICKING HERE.
BULLDOGS GAME NOTES:
- Head Coach & GM Joe Martin enters tonight’s game tied with Kevin Willison for top spot among the Bulldogs franchise wins list for coaches. Both Martin and Willison have 128 victories with the Bulldogs.
- Expect Lucas Buzziol to make his return to the lineup for the Bulldogs. Buzziol has been sidelined with an injury since February 2nd. Buzziol has 8 goals and 16 assists for 24 points on the year.
