The Bulldogs finish off a six game home stand with two more games on Dog Pound ice this week. For the first time in this young season they will go into a week facing teams that they have seen already this year. Thursday night sees the Powell River Kings making their first trip the season to the Dog Pound, Saturday night the Nanaimo Clippers are back for another visit.
The Kings enter play Thursday night with a record of 5 and 2 and on a two game winning streak. Coming off the heels of a 6-5 loss to Surrey, their two game winning streak is also a two game shutout streak, as they picked up back to back goose eggs, first over Merritt 3-0, and most recently over Trail on Saturday night by a score of 1-0. After Chad Niddery found the net less than a minute into the game, neither team would be able to find the net the final 59 minutes.
The Kings outshot the Smokies 44-23 with Michael Garteig picking up the win, the shut out, and third star honours. The Smokies went 0 for 3 on the power play while the Kings were 0 for 5.
These teams last met on opening night of the season, a game marred (at least from the Bulldogs point of view) by the Scott Renner hit on Frank Riddle 5 minutes into the game that saw a 15 minute delay and a removal from the ice via stretcher and trip to hospital via Ambulance for Riddle. The Dogs appeared visibly shaken by the incident, and they never got into the game as the Kings led 2-0 after two before adding an empty netter for the 3-0 final.
The Kings are the only team that has beat the Dogs this season, so this will be a great early season test. The Kings have a good mix of skill and speed throughout their lineup, and they return several players from their back to back losses in the league finals who will no doubt be richer for the experience. Kent Lewis teams always compete hard, so the Dogs have to be ready from the word GO to the final buzzer if they want some revenge from the opening night of the season.
The Pre Game Show kicks off at 6:45 with all the play-by-play to follow at 7:00pm. Get it all on 93.3 The Peak FM, our website at www.933thepeak.com and live Pay-Per-View video on the BCHL Website at www.bchl.ca
The Dogs have Friday off before hosting the Nanaimo Clippers Saturday night for the second time this season after a 4-3 overtime win for the Dogs on September 18th.
The Clippers were last in action Wednesday night where they dropped a 4-3 double overtime decision at home to the Victoria Grizzlies. Since opening the season with a 4-3 win in Powell River on September 11th, the Clippers have lost five in a row. Before visiting the Dogs on Saturday, the Clippers will host Powell River on Friday night.
Catch the Pre Game show Saturday night at 6:45 with all the play-by-play to follow at 7:00pm. Get it all on 93.3 The Peak FM, our website at www.933thepeak.com and live Pay-Per-View video on the BCHL Website at www.bchl.ca
