The Bulldogs week began on Tuesday night as the Victoria Grizzlies were in town for a post Thanksgiving match up. The Grizzlies got the jump on the Dogs from the start, hitting the cross bar behind Frank Slubowski and then hitting the net behind Slubowski seconds later when Joel Lowry threw a puck on net from a sharp angle that found its way home into the far corner. David Morley and Pearce Eviston picked up the assists 1:27 into the first. The Grizzlies would look for more throughout the period, having the Dogs hemmed in their zone several times for extended periods but Frank Slubowski was solid. Matt Ginn was also good at the other end whenever the Dogs got a chance. The Dogs would play a much better period in the second, throwing plenty of pucks on the Victoria net. They would finally get rewarded for their efforts with just over four minutes to go in the frame when Tyler Berkholtz tipped in a Kenney Morrison point shot. Sam Mitchell also picked up an assist on the play with 4:13 to play in the second. While he didn?t get an assist, Trent Dorais had a big part in the goal as he back checked and stole the puck outside the Victoria line before bringing it back into the zone. A game that lacked action for the most part until it was 1-1 saw way too much action over the next few minutes as action picked up when Brody Lynott was staggered by an elbow to the head. Casey Bailey would stand up for his teammate, dropping the gloves with Josh Bryan in an energetic scrap. Less than a minute later Sawyer Mick would attempt to a Grizzlie forward who saw him coming and attempted to duck underneath the check. Mick would be given a five minute major for a check to the head, and he would be challenged by Nick Buchanan as the two dropped the gloves and fought, as did Connor Varley and Gregory Simpson. When the dust all settled Mick was given a five minute major for a check to the head, and Varley and Simpson picked up the only fighting penalties and they were ejected. The Dogs picked up another penalty while they were killing the major when Tyler Berkholtz dumped the puck in from centre and raced in on the fore check where he threw a hit that was turned into resulting in a game ejection for a hit from behind. The Dogs would kill off the full two minute 5 on 3 to end the second and start the third with several great saves by Slubowski, resulting in a loud ovation from the crowd for their efforts. They would put the boost in momentum to good work, as Sam Mitchell gave the Dogs their first lead of the game with 10:07 to play knocking in a rebound on the goal line off of a Brody Lynott point shot that came from a faceoff win in the Victoria end. Trent Dorais also picked up an assist on the play. The lead would be short-lived as just 39 seconds later Jake Baker took a huge hit at the Bulldog line to find Brandon Fagerheim alone in the slot where he ripped one top shelf blocker side on Slubowski. Michael Colantone also had a helper 10:32 into the third. Victoria found the game winner just two and a half minutes later as Wesley Myron threw the puck out front from the left corner where it hit a Bulldog defender, bounced up in the air, and then ended up in the back of the net. Wade Murphy and Madison Dias had the assists as it was 3-2 Victoria with 7:02 to play. The Dogs would have their chances to tie it up but Matt Ginn stood tall and stopped everything thrown his way as the Bulldogs suffered their first home ice loss of the season, the final team in the league to do so.
Shots favoured the Dogs 37-34 with Frank Slubowski getting tagged with the loss while picking up second star honours. Matt Ginn earned first star honours with the win. The Dogs were 0 for 3 on the power play while the Grizzlies were 0 for 4.
Saturday night the Dogs hosted the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The ?Backs would get the better of the chances early, but it was the Dogs taking a 1-0 lead as they found the net just 10 seconds into a power play chance as Casey Bailey found Sam Mitchell down low where he threw a cross-crease pass to Tyler Berkholtz who one-timed it into the open side 7:14 into the first. There would be no scoring through the remainder of the first, and through the second, and even through the first half of the third period as it was a 1-0 game until the late stages when the Silverbacks tied the game at 1-1 with 6:19 to play as Brett Knowles tipped in a Josh Manson rocket of a one-timer from the point. Jarryd Ten Vaanholt also picked an assist. The Dogs took their lead back quickly as Casey Bailey did a great job to protect the puck before he found Josh Mitchell walking to the net where he put several quick deke moves on Kurt Williams before tucking the puck inside the post. Colton Sobchak also picked up an assist with 4:41 to play as it was 2-1 Dogs. The Dogs would seal the deal into an empty net when Connor Varley intercepted a pass at centre and hit the open net to make it 3-1. The goal was unassisted at 19:28 of the third.
Final shots favoured the Silverbacks 40-35. Frank Slubowski picked up the win and first star honours while Kurt Williams was solid in getting tagged with the loss. The Dogs were 1 for 2 on the power play while the Silverbacks went 1 for 4.
Next up for the Dogs is their first multi-game road trip as they are in Trail Wednesday, Westside Friday and Penticton Saturday.
