Two seasons ago, the Bulldogs coaching staff posted a coaches update after a handful of changes leading up to the deadline. With the excitement building for this season and the upgrades made this off-season, the Bulldogs coaches have decided to post another "Coaches' Update". – Kevin Willison & Adam Hayduk
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The Alberni Valley Bulldogs returning players and 2014/15 hopefuls have arrived in Port Alberni chomping at the bit to start the 2014/15 Main Camp which officially begins on Friday, August 29, 2014.
The Bulldogs’ coaches and scouting staff have confirmed that 34 skaters and 4 goalies will be attending this streamlined and intense main camp.
The additions of Evan Tironese and Billy Christopoulos have sparked a rush of new season ticket purchases and added excitement filtering through the team’s front office. “Tiro” and “Christo” will be great additions to a very strong returning class of players.
Also new in Port Alberni is a pair of American players – Troy Dobbs and Drew Blackmun – who received commitments from the Bulldogs following impressive performances at the team’s Spring Camp in April. Dobbs is a 6’1, 200lbs, 1996-born defenseman from Nichols School in Buffalo, New York. In 2013/14, Dobbs recorded 38 points (10 goals, 28 assists) in 46 games.
Blackmun is a 1996-born forward who captained his St. Paul Academy team in Minnesota last season. He finished third in division scoring with 21 goals and 23 assists in 25 games, while the St. Paul Academy Spartans recorded a 17-8-0 record, finished 2nd best with 102 goals for and were division leaders with only 60 goals against. Blackmun comes in at 6’1, 180lbs, and is sure to add to the Bulldogs’ offense this season.
Also joining Dobbs on the blue line will be previously announced 1996-born defenseman Jeff Rose from the Edge School in Calgary, Alberta. With eight defensemen scheduled to return from the 2013/14 season and the additions of Rose and Dobbs, there will be a few defensemen that won’t be returning to the 2014/15 team.
Quinton Wunder, who was brought in part way through the 2013/14 season, will instead attend the NAHL’s Janesville Jets main camp. Also headed to the NAHL is 20-year-old defenseman Rob Click, who was unfortunately caught up in a 20-year-old number crunch when Christopoulos committed to the ‘Dogs from the USHL.
Jesse Knowler, who was acquired as futures in the Craig Martin/Jake Kauppila trade is currently contemplating retirement from hockey or starting school early. Kauppila, who initially was expected to attend Michigan Tech in 2014/15, has informed the organization that he is looking to play one more season of junior hockey, but closer to home with his brother in the USHL.
Another defenseman that would have seen his ice time significantly reduced by the upgrades on defense is Alberni Valley MHA product Ryan Buse. The coaches have worked hard to find other opportunities for an increased role for Buse but the team is currently waiting to hear back from Buse as to which direction he wishes to go.
The coaching staff, as promised, will continue to give local talent every opportunity to become an Alberni Valley Bulldogs players while being in a position to succeed and contribute.
Attending main camp this season are seven hometown prospects.
Leading the hometown contingent is third-year Bulldogs forward Dylan Haugen. In his BCHL career, all of Haugen’s 115 regular season games and 21 playoff games have been in an Alberni Valley Bulldogs uniform.
The other hometown prospect attending main camp who appeared in a regular season game back in 2012/13 is Josh Harvey. Harvey has committed to the Oceanside Generals (VIJHL, Junior B) for the 2014/15 season. Two other Alberni Valley MHA products attending camp and who have spots on the Oceanside Generals roster this season are Chase Gaudreault and Logan Savard.
The other three locals that will be attending the Bulldogs main camp all played for the Alberni Valley midget rep team last season: Keagun Selva, Ethan Sundstrum, and David Friel. All three have committed to the Comox Valley Glacier Kings (VIJHL, Junior B).
Following the 3-day main camp and a week of practices, the Bulldogs will commence exhibition play on Friday, September 5th at 7:00pm when the Bulldogs host the Victoria Grizzlies at Oceanside Place in Parksville, BC – the regular season home of the Oceanside Generals.
This is the first time in recent years that the Bulldogs have taken an exhibition home game on the road. This is a great way for Oceanside General fans to see former Generals players with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, including two-year General Dylan Haugen.
