The Bulldogs task this week is a home and home series against the leagues #1 team, the Nanaimo Clippers. Friday night sees the fourth game of the season at the Frank Crane Arena. Saturday is ?Teddy Bear Toss Night? at the Dog Pound. The Bulldogs will also be christening their new third jerseys in game action Saturday night.
The Dogs are a team heading in one direction, as they have lost nine straight. Before losing in Surrey to the Eagles by a score of 6-2 on Saturday night, the Clippers were heading in the other direction, winners of six in a row. The sixth win in that streak was the last time these teams met head to head, last Friday in Nanaimo, a 7-3 Clippers win. The season series favours the Clippers 4 wins to 2.
The Dogs enter this week with a record of 6-23-0 and 2. They last saw action Saturday night, dropping a tough 5-0 decision at home to the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The Caps outshot the Dogs 39-35 and made a big difference on special teams, going 2 for 9 on the power play while also scoring once shorthanded. The Dogs were 0 for 9 with the man advantage. David Aime took the loss in the Dogs goal.
The Clippers entered this week with a record of 21-4-0 and 3. They were last in action Tuesday night in Powell River where they picked up a 4-1 win over the Kings. Mikael Bedard made it 1-0 Nanaimo after one scoring 5:27 in from Bryden McGhee and Brodie Zuk. It was then Bedard shorthanded 4:07 into the second with an unassisted marker making it 2-0. The same three players were in on the 3-0 goal as McGhee scored on the power play from Bedard and Zuk with 9:22 left in the second. Brennan Strang would break the shutout bid of Michael Garman with 2:20 to go to make it 3-1 before AJ Gale potted the empty netter with 1:03 left from Kevin Noble for the final score. Shots favoured Nanaimo 29-21 and special teams favoured Nanaimo as they were 1 for 4 on the pp with a shorthanded goal while Powell River was 0 for 7.
The Dogs like the matchup against Nanaimo, the fans enjoy the hockey, and everyone enjoys the rivalry. Some might think the Dogs would be foolish to like the match up with the position of both teams in the standings. The fact that the Dogs have managed to beat Nanaimo twice is what they like about these head to head meetings.
Friday night?s pregame show from the Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo hits the airwaves in the Alberni Valley at 7:15pm on 93.3 The Peak FM and the internet waves everywhere through the BCHL Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
Bulldog billet and supporter Nancy Smeltzer is attempting to rally the fan base for the second ever ?Send off on the Summit? from the big dirt pile just behind the brake check at the top of the hump. Instructions circulating go something like this:
“It's time to show OUR Bulldogs we believe that they can do it. So, on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30th by 4:15pm (AT THE LATEST!) we will all meet on the Hump to send them to Nanaimo with a rousing cheer……Bring your SIGNS Bring your VOICES and your Bulldogs gear and BE LOUD AND PROUD as the bus goes by!! Thanks for your support, GO DOGS GO!!”
I look forward to seeing the typical Port Alberni support at the hump from the ?bus? perspective!
Saturday night?s pregame show from the Dog Pound in the Weyerhaeuser Arena in Port Alberni hits the airwaves in the Alberni Valley at 6:45 pm on 93.3 The Peak FM and the internet waves anywhere through the BCHL Fanzone at www.bchl.bc.ca
Saturday night will also be the second ever ?Teddy Bear Toss? where fans will be invited to throw a plush animal on the ice when the Dogs score. Fans are welcome to bring their own bear, or they are also able to purchase a ?Mandy? or ?Handy? bear where $5.00 from each bear sold goes towards the BC Children?s Hospital. Those bears are available at Port Alberni Home Hardware, the Bulldogs office, or at the game Saturday.
The Bulldogs players will be delivering the bears to the kids at the West Coast General Hospital as well as other charitable organizations to get them to those in need just in time for the holiday season.
The Bulldogs are also putting the finishing touches on their new third jerseys this week so they can wear them for the first time on Saturday night. Fans will be able to purchase the third jersey in time for Christmas.
I?m looking forward to a great weekend of hockey. The Dogs will have to be nothing better than their best for a full 60 minutes if they have designs on taking points from the Clippers.
A recap will be posted after the weekend.
Game Day Audio: ?Last Three, Next Two?
Click the links to listen
