The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (6-6-1-0) host the Trail Smoke Eaters (6-6-1-0) as the Bulldogs look to stay hot on home ice tonight at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. After dropping their home opener, the Bulldogs have rattled off 4 straight wins at the Dawg Pound.
This weekend also marks the return of Parents Weekend. Players families from all across North America have arrived in Port Alberni to see the community their sons now call home for the hockey season.
“Parents weekend is always a special time on the schedule.” said Bulldogs President David Michaud. “It’s exciting for our players who have now been here for a couple of months to show off their new homes or favourite spots around town. It’s always a great weekend, but I know our players feel some added pressure to perform on the ice as well. Two wins always helps make a successful parents weekend.”
On the ice, the match-up features two teams with identical records, the the Bulldogs enter action a little hotter than the Smokies who have dropped 3 of their last 4 games. Trail is 1-4-0-0 away from Trail this year, and the trip to the Island is one of the longer road trips both Trail, and tomorrows opponent Cranbrook will face this season. The Bulldogs will hope to take advantage of being well rested.
Hobie Hedquist will get the start in goal tonight, coming off a pair of wins that seen him stop 63 of his last 68 shots, good for a .926 save percentage. Hedquist finding his form has been a big part of the Bulldogs recent wins.
The Bulldogs will be without forward Matthew Maltais who was on the wrong side of a nasty knee on knee collision last Saturday against Chilliwack. The news for the Bulldogs co-leading scorer was better than feared, however Maltais will still miss some time in the Bulldogs line-up.
Tonight’s game starts a very tough month of November for the Bulldogs. It’s the kind of month that if navigated well could set the Bulldogs up for success. After this weekend, the Bulldogs face the red-hot Nanaimo Clippers in a home and home set before the Bulldogs hit the road for 3 very tough matchups against top seeded team in the Interior conference. The Bulldogs will finish the month against the currently undefeated Penticton Vees at the Dawg Pound on November 25th.
As the saying goes, there is no sense looking too far ahead. Focusing on Trail tonight is what’s in front of the Bulldogs.
The Box Office is open now at the Multiplex or you can purchase online by CLICKING HERE
