The Alberni Valley Bulldogs have a crazy week ahead of them with four games in five days beginning Wednesday night in Victoria as they visit the Grizzlies for the third time on the season.
Friday the Dogs host the Nanaimo Clippers for the third time this season, before they head back down Island Saturday for their first visit of the year to the Island Savings Centre in Duncan. The Dogs then return home to host the Merritt Centennials for the only time this season Sunday afternoon.
The Dogs enter play Wednesday on a five game winning streak, with a record of 15-7-1 and 1, good for 32 points and second place in the Coastal Conference. The Bulldogs are just a point up on Langley and Powell River, but they have played fewer games than both clubs. The Surrey Eagles have a seven point lead on the Dogs for tops in the Conference, but the Bulldogs have games in hand on them as well.
The Grizzlies sport a record of 11-9-1 and 2 for 25 points and sixth in the Conference. They have played the least amount of games on the Coast, with already having two postponed games. They were last in action Friday night in Surrey where they lost 5-2 to the Eagles. Trailing 1-0 after one the Grizzlies tied it up in the second on a Derek Bacon goal just past the seven minute mark of the second. The Eagles would take their lead back before the period was out to lead 2-1 after two. They would then score three times in the first seven minutes of the third to take a commanding 5-1 lead before the Grizzlies got one back from Alex Allan on the power play in the game?s final minute to make it a 5-2 final.
Final shots favoured the Eagles 41-36 with Richie Virtanen taking the loss in net. The Grizzlies were 1 for 8 on the power play while the Eagles were 1 for 7.
The Grizzlies were supposed to play Sunday in Powell River, but that game was postponed due to Ferry Cancellations.
The last time these teams met was also after a postponed Grizzlies game as the Dogs opened November and their current five game win streak with a 4-2 win at the Bear Mountain Arena on November 6tt building up a 3-0 first period lead and never looking back. The season series favours the Dogs, as they have taken five out of six points with two wins and a tie.
The Broadcast begins with the pregame show on 93.3 The Peak FM at 7:00, with the puck dropping at 7:15pm. Listen live on 93.3 The Peak or www.933thepeak.com and watch live through the Pay Per View Broadcast through BCHL Web TV
Friday night will be the fourth meeting of the season between the Clippers and Bulldogs, and the third at the Dog Pound. The last time these teams met was on October 23rd, as the Bulldogs pulled out a 2-1 double overtime victory at the Frank Crane Arena. The last time the Clips and Dogs met at the Pound was a week earlier, as the Clippers won 4-3 in overtime. The season series also favours the Dogs as they have won two of three games for five out of six points. With the Clippers losing once in overtime they have taken three out of six points.
The Clippers also begin play this week on Wednesday, as they host the Merritt Centennials. The Clippers are streaking just like the Dogs, as they are unbeaten in seven with their only blemish being a tie in Salmon Arm last Tuesday. They won three in a row before that game, and they have won three in a row since, most recently topping the Cowichan Valley Capitals 7-1 at home on Sunday afternoon.
The Clippers enter play Wednesday with a record of 11-8-1 and 4 for 27 points and 5th in the Coastal Conference just four points behind the Bulldogs and just two points up on Victoria.
Catch the pregame show Friday starting at 6:45 with all the play-by-play of the action to follow at 7:00 on 93.3 The Peak FM or through the BCHL website
When the Dogs travel to the Island Savings Centre to visit the Capitals Saturday, they will be playing in the final Coastal Conference rink that they haven?t seen yet this season.
Before the Dogs visit Saturday, the Capitals will play host to the Merritt Centennials Friday night. The Capitals have a record of 7-17-0 and 1, good for 15 points and 8th in the Coastal Conference. They should be motivated at the prospect of getting out of the basement though, as they are only two points behind the Burnaby Express for 7th spot after they beat them 3-0 last Saturday at home. The Bulldogs and Capitals have met twice so far this season, with the Dogs taking them both at the Pound 4-3 in overtime way back on September 19th, and 8-3 last Tuesday.
Saturday?s pregame show kicks off at 7:15 with the puck drop at 7:30. Get it all on 93.3 The Peak FM or through our website at www.933thepeak.com
The Merritt Centennials will no doubt be road weary when they get to the Pound on Sunday to play their fourth game in five days. Their trip as mentioned above – starts in Nanaimo Wednesday, moves to Cowichan Friday, and then to Victoria on Saturday.
The Cents open their road trip with a record of 8-15-0 and 1, good for 6th in the Interior Conference. They are just three points behind the fifth place Prince George Spruce Kings, and just three points ahead of the 7th placed Trail Smoke Eaters so this is a big roadie for them. The Centennials are 2 and 2 in their last four going in, with losses to Langley and Vernon, and wins over Westside and Langley.
The Dogs trounced the Cents in the only other meeting this season October 9th at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena where the Dogs scored a season high nine goals in a 9-3 win.
Sunday?s pregame show is on the air at 2:15 with the play-by-play at 2:30 from the Dog Pound on 93.3 The Peak FM or through the BCHL website.
