The Bulldogs conclude a four game home stand this weekend when they host the Merritt Centennials on Friday – the only meeting of the season between the two clubs, and the Surrey Eagles on Saturday. The Dogs enter play Friday night 7th place in the Coastal Conference with a record of 14-22-2 and 0 for 30 points, the same as the 8th placed Langley Rivermen with the Dogs having one more win and three games in hand. The Dogs are 18 points back of the Coquitlam Express for 4th place and a playoff position, with the Dogs having one game in hand.
The Centennials sit in 2nd place in the Interior with a record of 25-10-2 and 5 for 57 points, 15 back of the league leading Penticton Vees, who have played two less games. Merritt is 12 points up on the 3rd placed Spruce Kings, with Prince George having played two less games than the Cents. Merritt was last in action Wednesday night when they finished a four game home stand with a 2-1 win over the Westside Warriors, running their win streak to seven. The Cents are unbeaten so far in 2012, going 6 and 0 to start the New Year. After a scoreless first period Merritt opened the scoring with a Chad Brears power play goal three minutes into the second to lead 1-0 after 40 minutes. The Warriors evened it up just short of eight minutes into the third but the Cents replied with another power play goal by Brears with eight minutes to play in regulation for the 2-1 lead and eventual final score.
Shots favoured the Centennials 37-31 with Tyler Steel picking up the win in net. The Cents went 2 for 9 on the power play while Westside went 0 for 5.
This is the only meeting of the season between the two teams, and the Dogs had best bring their “A” game as the Centennials are red hot with seven straight wins and you can bet they will be hoping to start off a three-game Island swing on the right foot.
Catch the pregame show Friday night from the Dog Pound at 6:45 with the play-by-play to follow at 7:00pm on 93.3 The Peak FM, our website at www.933thepeak.com, and watch the Pay Per View Broadcast by visiting the BCHL’s Live Portal HERE
The Eagles enter play Friday night in third place with a record of 24-10-1 and 4 for 53 points, one back of the Kings with three games in hand and three points back of the Conference leading Capitals with the Eagles holding two games in hand. They were last in action Sunday afternoon in Duncan where they completed a three-game road trip with 5 out of 6 points with a 3-0 win over the Capitals that followed up a 12-3 win in Victoria on Saturday and a 3-2 overtime loss Friday in Powell River. The Eagles came out guns a’ blazing in this one, no doubt coming close to the BCHL record for fastest goal to open a game as Robert Lindores made it 1-0 just 8, yes EIGHT seconds into the game. Brett Mulcahy made it 2-0 just over three minutes later, before Linden Saip completed the scoring for the game when he gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead just 5:33 into the first as there was no scoring by either side over the final 50 plus minutes of hockey.
Shots favoured Cowichan in a losing cause 37-21 with Andrew Hunt picking up the win in goal with the shutout and 1st star honours. Surrey went 0 for 4 on the power play while Cowichan went 0 for 6.
It’s the fourth meeting between the teams this season and the first at the Dog Pound after the Eagles won the first three meetings in Surrey by scores of 5-3, 2-1 and most recently 6-5 on December 17th.
Catch the pregame show Saturday night from the Dog Pound at 6:45 with the play-by-play to follow at 7:00pm on 93.3 The Peak FM, our website at www.933thepeak.com, and watch the Pay Per View Broadcast by visiting the BCHL’s Live Portal HERE
