Fresh off of a 4 game in 5 day road trip, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs have a much lighter schedule this week with just two games on tap. While the schedule may be lighter, the opposition will certainly be heavier as the top teams in the league will be the opposition this week while it was the bottom half of the interior teams on the schedule last week.
It?s not a knock on Prince George, Quesnel, Merritt or Trail, but instead a nod towards Nanaimo and Salmon Arm and what they have done out of the gate. The standings tell the story. Nanaimo comes to town at 9-1; Salmon Arm enters this week at 10-1-0 and 1.
The Bulldogs enter play this week with a record of 3-11-0 and 1, with their most recent game action coming last Sunday in Merritt, a 2-0 Centennials win. Please see the most recent ?Hammer?s Recap? for more details on that game and the entire four game road trip.
The Clippers only blemish this season came at the hands of the Dogs back in Nanaimo on September 28th. Since that time the Clippers have played three games and have won all three, including a 4-2 win over the Dogs on Thanksgiving Sunday at the Frank Crane Arena to lead the season series 3 games to 1. Thursday?s game will be the first head to head match-up this season at the Dog Pound.
The most recent game action for the Clippers was last Friday, a 5-3 come from behind win over the Westside Warriors. Down 2-0 after one period, the Clippers scored three straight in the final five minutes of the second to lead 3-2 after two as Eric Filiou scored power play goals at the 15:00 mark and the 18:21 mark of the second that sandwiched an even strength goal by Brad McConnell at the 15:36 mark. The Warriors would tie it up just 41 seconds into period three before McConnell made it 4-3 scoring his second of the game and eventual game winner with 4:24 to play. Brodie Zuk would add the empty netter for the needed insurance in the final minute. Shots were 31-20 in favour of Nanaimo with Evan Smith getting his second straight win in net for the Clippers. The Warriors were 0 for 8 on the power play while the Clippers went 2 for 8.
Hopefully it will be another great game between these two rivals, as the Dogs look to establish themselves in their own rink against the Clippers, while the Clippers look to silence the Dog Pound crowd to stay unbeaten so far this season on the road. With Nanaimo giving up the least amount of goals per game in the league, it?s important to bear down and capitalize on your chances when you get them, while at the same time protecting your own net as to not fall into a hole too deep to get out of.
Thursday night the pre game show from the ?Dog Pound? kicks off at 6:45pm with the puck drop at 7:00pm. Catch all the action on your radio in the Alberni Valley on 93.3 The Peak FM, and anywhere in the world on your computer through the BCHL?s Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
The Bulldogs will enjoy a Friday off from game action before getting back to work Saturday when the Silverbacks make their only visit this season to the pound. Salmon Arm raced out to a blazing 8 and 0 start before losing in overtime against Prince George to drop their first game of the season on October 7th. The Silverbacks have since went 2 and 1, losing in regulation for the first time this season, 3-2 to Burnaby, while beating Quesnel and Prince George. The Silverbacks enter this week at 10-1-0 and 1 but that record will be different by the time Saturday rolls around as Salmon Arm will be facing the Dogs on their third game of a four game Island swing that sees them start in Victoria Thursday before traveling to Duncan Friday. After Saturday?s meeting at the Pound Salmon Arm will wrap up their swing in Nanaimo Sunday afternoon against the Clippers.
Salmon Arm by all accounts plays a wide open, up tempo brand of hockey- Which isn?t much of a change from past Silverback squads. At the time of this writing The ?Backs lead the league in goals per game, tickling the twine more than six times every time out. The next closest team in the league in the Penticton Vees is over a full goal behind. With that said, the Bulldogs had better come ready to play and committed to defense or it could be a long night.
Saturday night?s pre game show from the ?Dog Pound? kicks off at 6:45 with the puck drop scheduled for 7:00. Catch it all on your radio in the Alberni Valley on 93.3 The Peak FM, and anywhere in the world on your computer through the BCHL?s Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
It promises to be a great week of hockey for Alberni Valley fans, as they will see teams from the top of the standings in both conferences in back to back games. It will be interesting to watch how the Bulldogs players react and respond to the leadership changes announced by the coaching and management staff on Tuesday. After five straight games on the road it will be great to get back inside the ?Pound, home sweet home.
Audio: ?Road Trip, Next Two, Leadership Changes?
Click the underlined links to listen
A recap of the week?s action will be posted following the games.
