The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (30-13-1-2) host the Victoria Grizzlies (25-20-0-0) at 7:00 pm.
The Bulldogs are coming off their 1st loss in some time as they saw their 8 game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Coquitlam Express. The Bulldogs 3rd game in two and half days proved to be too much against a hungry Express squad battling for their playoff lives. The 9 power play opportunities the Bulldogs handed the Express may have had something to do with the 3-2 final score as well.
The Grizzlies enter action tonight coming off a 6-3 loss to Coquitlam and are 6-4-0-0 in their past 10 games. Victoria finds themselves in 5th place in the ultra-competitive Coastal Conference standings. Victoria is 4 points up on Surrey for 5th, but are 6 points behind Nanaimo for 4th and home ice advantage in the opening round.
It’s been well documented that the Grizzlies offence is one of the top in the BCHL. They’re led by rookie Matthew Wood who has 41 goals and 75 points in just 37 games. Wood, along with line-mate Ellis Rickwood (17g-53a-70pts) are simply a threat to score each time they step on the ice.
After losing the first two games of the season series, the Bulldogs have roared back to beat the Grizzlies in their last 4 games, the latest was a 3-2 win on February 18th at the Q Centre.
After their win on Saturday over Langley, the Bulldogs found themselves on top of the Coastal Conference. The view from the penthouse lasted about 18 hours. The loss to Coquitlam coupled with Langley’s win over Surrey has the Bulldogs back in 2nd place with just 7 games remaining in the 2021-2022 regular season.
Despite seeing their 8 game winning streak end on Sunday, the Bulldogs still have an 8 game home ice winning streak they’d like to keep alive this week. The Bulldogs are an impressive 17-3-2 on home ice, the 2nd best record in all of the BCHL.
Speaking of streaks, Josh Van Unen is currently riding a 10 game point streak on home ice. That is the longest current streak in the BCHL as well.
Hobie Hedquist will make his season-high 8th straight start tonight in goal for Alberni Valley. So far this season against the Grizzlies, Hedquist is 4-0-1 with a 2.38 and .922 sv %.
