For the first time in franchise history, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs are off to the BCHL Championship Series
The Bulldogs defeated the Chilliwack Chiefs on Wednesday night to sweep the Best-of-7 series.
The Bulldogs and Chilliwack Chiefs looked like they were headed to overtime with the score tied 2-2, but Bulldogs forward Ethan Bono had other ideas as he deflected home a point shot with just 29 seconds to play in regulation to give his team a 3-2 win and help Alberni Valley advance to the Fred Page Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.
The first two periods of this game were low scoring as Bulldogs forward Cam VanSickle scored the only goal to give his team a 1-0 lead heading into the third, but Chilliwack got going in the final frame and took the lead on goals by Dalton MacGillivray and Duncan Ramsay less than five minutes in. Jax Wismer tied the game for Alberni shortly after before Bono won it late. Bulldogs goalie Campbell Arnold stopped 31 of 33 shots in the game.
The Bulldogs will now wait for the winner of the Interior Conference Final between the Penticton Vees and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The Vees currently lead that series 3-1 with Game 5 scheduled for Friday night at the SOEC, a place the Vees have won 40 consecutive games.
Should the Vees prevail, the Bulldogs will head to the Peach City for Game 1 of the Championship series. Should the Silverbacks complete the comeback, the Finals will start in Port Alberni next Friday.
Stay tuned for ticket information and schedule details as they become available.
