After five straight games at home the Bulldogs hit the road this week for three games in four days. The trip starts Wednesday in Penticton before shifting to Westside Friday and then finishing in Trail Saturday before a long haul home to the Island.
The Bulldogs enter this week with a record of 40-11-1 and 2 which is good for 83 points and first in the Coastal Conference. The Dogs have virtually clinched the Banner, as they lead the 2nd place Powell River Kings by 16 points. The Kings have eight games remaining.
The Vees enter this week with a record of 42-6-0 and 3, good for 87 points and second in the Interior Conference. They are just one point behind the Vernon Vipers for the Conference lead. You can already see how big Wednesday?s game is from the Vees perspective.
The Vees were last in action Saturday night at home where they ran their win streak to six with a 4-1 win over the Quesnel Millionaires. The game was scoreless until the late stages of the first when Andrew Pickering gave the Vees a 1-0 lead after one on a power play goal. The man power advantage continued to be just that for the Vees, as they built their lead to 2-0 before the second period was a minute old on a Beau Bennett power play goal. Later in the period it was 3-0 on another power play goal, this one from Joey Holka. The Vees would add their fourth power play goal of the game halfway through the third from Matt Paltridge to make it 4-0 before the Mills ruined Sean Bonar?s shutout bid with a power play goal in the final minutes of regulation for the 4-1 final.
The Vees outshot the Mills 39-15 with Sean Bonar picking up the win and second star honours in net. The Vees were 4 for 12 on the power play while the Millionaires were 1 for 4.
These teams last met October 24th at the Dog Pound, a 4-3 Vees win. Expect the Dogs to be a little extra motivated for this one. Not only is it their final chance to beat one of the big two in the Interior, it?s also a homecoming of sorts for Brody Lynott, Tyler Berkholtz, Mitch and Mark MacMillan, Trent Dorais and Josh and Sam Mitchell ? all from the Okanagan. One thing is for certain ? if the Dogs want to walk out of Penticton with two points, it will take a full team effort for a full 60 minutes, and maybe more.
Catch the pregame show from the South Okanagan Event Centre on 93.3 The Peak FM at 6:45 with the puck dropping at 7:00pm. Listen live on 93.3 The Peak FM or online www.933thepeak.com
It?s the second and final meeting of the season between the Warriors and Bulldogs in Westside Friday night. The Warriors enter this week with a record of 36-15-1 and 1, good for 74 points and third in the Interior Conference. It looks like the Warriors are firmly cemented in 3rd place in the Interior, as they are 13 points behind the second place Vees. At the same time, they are 13 points up on the fourth placed Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
The Warriors were last in action Saturday night at home where they lost 5-2 to the Powell River Kings. Before they host the Dogs on Friday they will be in action on Wednesday night when the Victoria Grizzlies are in town.
The Warriors will certainly have revenge on their minds Friday night, as the Bulldogs took the only previous game this season 8-1 at the Dog Pound on October 24th. The Dogs would be best served to forget that win, as it was obvious what could?ve gone wrong for the Warriors DID on that night and it won?t be anywhere near easy this go around. With the Warriors being in a position where they can?t go or down in the standings, they are most likely really looking forward to the test the Dogs will bring to Royal Lepage Place.
Catch the pregame at 6:45 and the puck drop at 7:00pm on 93.3 The Peak FM.
It?s the second and final meeting between the teams Saturday night when the Dogs make their only visit of the season to the Cominco Memorial Arena in Trail to face the Smoke Eaters.
The Smoke Eaters are in the middle of a battle for the final Interior Conference playoff spot. If the playoffs started today they would be in them, as they hold down 7th in the Conference with a record of 16-30-1 and 4, good for 37 points. They are four points up on the Prince George Spruce Kings, and they are just three points behind the 6th placed Quesnel Millionaires. Since opening their Coastal Conference road trip with a big win in Powell River the Smokies have struggled as they have dropped 5 straight games – all to Coastal Conference opponents. Before they face the Dogs on Saturday the Smokies 7 game home stand continues Friday night when the Salmon Arm Silverbacks are in town.
These teams last met just a couple weeks back as the Dogs picked up a 4-2 win on January 23rd at the Pound so they should be pretty familiar with each other. It?s the first game in Trail for Tye Lewis since the Dogs acquired him from the Smoke Eaters, so expect him to have a little extra jump in his step.
Catch the pregame show Saturday night from the Cominco Memorial Arena at 7:15 with the puck drop at 7:30pm on 93.3 The Peak FM
It?s another big week for the Dogs with a challenging road trip ahead of them ? the #3 team in the Country in the Penticton Vees Wednesday, the #13 team in the Country in the Westside Warriors Friday, and the Trail Smoke Eaters Saturday, a team hungry for points that the Dogs can ill afford to take lightly if they don?t want the long bus ride home to seem even a little longer.
