The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (34-13-3-1) host The Nanaimo Clippers (29-16-3-1) tonight at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. Puck Drop is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
The math is simple for Alberni Valley. Win tonight and they claim their 1st Coastal Conference pennant since 2009-2010. The only thing standing in their way are their fiercest rivals, the Nanaimo Clippers.
The Clippers are mathematically alive in the quest for top spot in the Coastal Conference, however the Bulldogs are the only team that control their own destiny. Both Langley and Nanaimo would need some serious help if they were to over take the Bulldogs.
The focus for the Bulldogs today simply needs to be quieting the thoughts of clinching, and focusing on playing a solid 60 minutes of hockey. Putting the proverbial cart before the horse won’t do them much good.
The Clippers have flat out owned the Bulldogs in recent years. Over the past 5 seasons the Bulldogs are 14-19-3-1. If you take the “Pod Season” out of the mix, it’s dramatically worse. The Bulldogs are just 8-19-2-1 versus the Clippers. Even this year, despite all of their success, the Bulldogs are just 2-4-0-0. They are 2-1-0-0 here at the Dawg Pound however.
Home ice advantage has been crucial for the Bulldogs all season, and will draw on that home cooking for the final time tonight in the regular season. The Bulldogs are 21-3-2-0 here on home, their most successful year on home ice since 09-10 when that edition of the Bulldogs went 21-7-0-2. With their win last night, the Bulldogs now hold the longest home ice winning streak in the BCHL this year at 12.
While most look to Sean Donaldson and Max Itagaki for offence on the Clippers, it’s been Kai Daniels whose done the most damage to the Bulldogs this year with 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points in the 6 games. For what it’s worth, Donaldson has 4 of his team leading 32 goals against the Bulldogs as well. The game also features a pair of players in the Bulldogs Josh Zary and the Clippers Tristian Fraser who have both scored in 4 straight games.
The Clippers are coming off a pair of 6-5 OT losses to the Rivermen on Friday and the Grizzlies last night. Cooper Black allowed 6 goals on 30 sots on Friday, and Jed Baliotti allowed 6 on 32 last night. Watch for Black to get the start today as he’s been excellent all year against the Bulldogs. Black is 3-0-0 with a 2.43 GAA and a sparkling .936 save percentage.
Hobie Hedquist will make his 12th consecutive start in goal and has played more minutes than any other goalie in the BCHL. Hedquist will look for win number 28 when the puck drops tonight.
The first goal of tonight’s game might have a little extra significance. The Bulldogs and Clippers are two of the BCHL’s best when they open the scoring. The Bulldogs have a BCHL best record of 24-1-0-0 when lighting the lamp first, while the Clippers aren’t far behind at 23-4-1-0.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Bulldogs will honour the junior careers of their six graduating 20 year old players, as tonight is their final home game of the regular season. The Bulldogs will host a post game skate for fans after the game as well.
