The Bulldogs are back in action this weekend when they are at home for two when the Victoria Grizzlies are at the Pound Friday night and the Westside Warriors visit Saturday night. The Dogs have just two games on the schedule this week after three straight weeks of three games in four days, or three in three like they had last weekend.
Friday might be streak breaking night for someone (barring the rare tie) as the Dogs hope to snap their eight game losing streak to put a scare into the Grizzlies, losers of six in a row. The Grizzlies enter play Friday night with a record of 12-7-0 and 1. They were last in action Tuesday night at home where they went down to defeat at the hands of the Westside Warriors 4-1 at Bear Mountain Arena. The Warriors would get out to a good start in this one, finding the net just over two minutes into the game. Myles MacRae would tie it up just short of the halfway mark of the period, but the Warriors took the lead back with 5:03 left in the frame with a power play goal to lead 2-1 into period two. The only goal of the second came from the Warriors just over five minutes in as they led 3-1 into the third. They held that lead until the final two minutes of regulation where they added one more for the 4-1 final.
Shots favoured Victoria 26-23 with Anthony Grieco taking the loss in goal. The Warriors had the edge on special teams, going 1 for 4 on the power play while Victoria was 0 for 6.
Before the game against Westside on Tuesday, the Grizzlies went 0 for 4 on an interior road trip. Before they headed out for that, they lost 6-5 at home to the Surrey Eagles. The last time the Grizzlies won was when they ran their winning streak to nine with an 8-1 win over the Bulldogs on October 18th. The Grizzlies have owned the season series to this point with five victories in five previous games. The Dogs picked up a single point in the series with an overtime loss. Despite their won-loss record and the 8-1 laugher the last time these teams met when they had a depleted line up, the Dogs have played the Grizzlies pretty tough this season.
It should be fun to watch Friday as the Dogs try to end their own streak and extend the Grizzlies?, as they will ice a relatively healthy roster and a re-tooled line up. The Dogs will be without Captain James Kerr this weekend as he?s off to the Team Canada West selection camp for the World Junior A Challenge.
Friday?s pregame show from the Dog Pound at the Alberni Valley Multiplex is on the air at 6:45 with the puck drop and all the play-by-play at 7:00pm. Catch all the action on 93.3 The Peak FM or the BCHL Fanzone
Saturday the Dogs host the Westside Warriors for the first and only meeting of the season between the two clubs.
Before visiting the Dogs Saturday, the Warriors play their third game of their Island road trip Friday night at the Frank Crane Arena against the Clippers. They head into that game with a record of 12-7-0 and 2. The Warriors have picked up 3 of 4 points on the Island in their first two games, as they lost 3-2 in overtime to the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Wednesday night after opening up in Victoria.
While the Bulldogs will be without James Kerr this weekend, the Warriors also feel the sting of the World Junior A Challenge tryout camp as they will be missing the services of 2008 2nd Round NHL draft pick Justin Schultz. As a fan one might have mixed emotions with Schultz not being in the line up. It is certainly good for the entertainment value to see a prospect of his calibre play. At the same time, it?s a huge hole in the Westside line up that the Dogs might be able to take advantage of.
Bulldog D-man Eric Fraser will no doubt be a little extra fired up for Saturday?s game against his old team as he spent two seasons with the Warriors before the dealt him to the Dogs earlier this season.
Saturday?s pregame show from the Pound again kicks off at 6:45 with the puck dropping at 7:00. Get it all on 93.3 The Peak FM and the BCHL Fanzone
After this weekend, the Dogs take to the road again for four games in five days next week in the Interior.
Game Day Audio ? ?Next Two? Click the links to listen
