NANAIMO B.C – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs battled hard on Wednesday night in Nanaimo to pick up a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Clippers.
The Clippers who currently lead the Island Division got on the board first at the 17:16 mark of the opening period.
Mitch Deelstra would tie it up for the Bulldogs with just 26 seconds to go in the period to make it 1–1. It was Deelstra’s team leading 12 goal of the season.
In the second period the Clippers would start to pull away finding the back of the net three times. The Bulldogs would trial 4-1 after 40 minutes.
However the Bulldogs would come out of the gate flying in the third. Grayson Valente would score his first of the season just 38 seconds into the period to make it 4-2.
The scoring would continue for the Bulldogs in the third with a pair of goals from Ryan Doolin, including the game tying goal with 50 seconds remaining to make it 4-4.
Five minutes of overtime would solve nothing so the teams headed to the shootout.
Deelstra and Stephen Castagna
scored in the shootout and Luke Pearson made some terrific saves but the Clippers would eventually win the game in the 10th round.
Deelstra led the way for Bulldogs with 4 points on the night (1G,3A).
The Bulldogs who are now 11-9-0-2 on the season, are back on the ice Sunday afternoon against the Trail Smoke Eaters. The game will be played in Campbell River at the Rod Brind’Amour Arena. Game time
is 2 PM.
