The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (31-13-3-1) play host to the Surrey Eagles (24-22-0-0) tonight at 7:00 pm. Tonight’s game is presented by Tseshaht First Nation and fans are encouraged to be in their seats early tonight for a special pre-game celebration.
The Bulldogs are the hottest team in the Coastal Conference and are currently holding down 1st place with a slim lead over the Langley Rivermen. The Eagles are coming off an 8-5 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals last night in Duncan. Surrey is currently 6th in the conference, 4 points behind the Victoria Grizzlies. If the playoffs started today, the Bulldogs would face the Powell River Kings, who are currently a single point ahead of Cowichan for the 8th and final playoff spot.
Surrey presents a unique challenge for the Bulldogs. The Eagles aren’t “hot” right now with a record of 4-6-0-0 in their past 10, however the last time they face each other on a Sunday afternoon in Surrey, it was ALL Eagles. It was an afternoon to forget for the Bulldogs in a frustrating 4-1 loss. That afternoon Max Prazma stopped 31 shots and after the Bulldogs opened the scoring, the Eagles took over. The loss was the one and only time this year that the Bulldogs have lost when they open the scoring. To put the significance of that statement in perspective, they’re 21-1-0-0, the best record in the BCHL in such situations.
Arlo Merritt has been the hottest Bulldogs player against the Eagles this year, however most of his damage came as a member of the Coquitlam Express. Merritt has 5 goals and 5 assists in 6 games vs the Eagles this season, but just 1 assist in his lone game as a Bulldog.
After tonight the Bulldogs have just 5 games remaining in the season. They are in the midsts of one of their best seasons in franchise history and it’s been a while since they’ve authored a season like this. The last time a Bulldogs team won north of 30 games was back in 2009-2010 when they went 45-12-1-2. This club won’t catch that mark, but it’s been an impressive turn around for a franchise that hasn’t advanced past the 1st round of the playoffs since 2012-2013.
Not since 2005-2006 has home ice meant this much to the Bulldogs. That season the Bulldogs lost just twice at home. This version of the Bulldogs have won 9 straight games at home and have record of 18-3-2-0.
Hobie Hedquist will make his 9th consecutive save in goal for the Bulldogs and the 1st year netminder has been a major factor in his clubs success. Hedquist is 24-7 with a 2.50 GAA and .913 sv %
A pair of 20-year old veterans are making the Bulldogs scoring race a battle to the end. Entering action tonight both Stephen Castagna and Josh Zary are deadlocked at 46 points each. Line-mate Josh Van Unen is hot on their heels with 40 points. Zary continues to lead the club in goals with 21, with Castagna (19), Buhr (19) & Van Unen (17) in hot pursuit.
