The Bulldogs defeated The Chilliwack Chiefs 7-3 on Tuesday Night at the Alberni Valley Multiplex to pick up where they left off in Powell River and kick started a big week with a big win.
Unlike last week against the Clippers where the Bulldogs found themselves down 3-0 just over six minutes in, tonight’s start against Chiefs was picture perfect. 1st period goals from Josh Zary (19), Stephen Castagna (11) & Nicholas Beneteau (7) had the Bulldogs up 3-0 by the time game was just 8:20 old.
The Chiefs would chip away in the 2nd period and get right back in the game as Brett Rylance scored twice to make it 3-2. Before the 2nd period was out, Ethan Bono got the Bulldogs a two goal lead back with just :21 seconds remaining in the period. For Bono, the goal was his 8th of the season, and he now has goals in back-to-back games.
The Bulldogs pulled ahead 5-2 at 4:06 of the 3rd as deadline acquisition Arlo Merritt scored his 1st as a Bulldog and his 13th of the year. Merritt cleaned up a Booker Daniel rebound and wired it past Chiefs goalie Grant Riley. Daniel was solid all night for the Bulldogs and was rewarded as the Fortis Energy Player of the Game.
After Lachlan Gets pulled the Chiefs to within two, the Bulldogs bounced back with two more quick goals to put the game away. Matthew Maltais scored his 1st of his BCHL career at 15:46 and Josh Van Unen made it 7-3 with his 12th of the season.
Nicholas Beneteau was the games 1st star with his 1 goal and 2 assist effort.
The Bulldogs are now 2-0-0-0 against the Chiefs heading into another key match-up against the Chiefs on Saturday in Chilliwack. The Chiefs have now lost 3 in a row for the first time this season and dropped to 18-11-0-2. With the win, the Bulldogs are 21-10-3-0 and remain in 2nd place in the Coastal Conference.
