The Bulldogs opened their 2008-2009 season at home Friday night, where they dropped a 5-1 decision to the Victoria Grizzlies. After the pregame ceremonies and player introductions, the Bulldogs came out and didn?t look like they were tight or nervous as they came out flying and generated several good scoring chances. Anthony Grieco was equal to the task though, and that would be a sign of things to come. The Bulldogs would go to the first power play of the game but it would be short-lived as just 29 seconds into it they ended up in the box themselves seeing 4 on 4 hockey and then a short Victoria man advantage. While the power play was short, it was long enough to see the Grizzlies get on the board as Justin Courtnall fed a streaking Derek Lee off the back post for an easy tap in and a 1-0 lead at the 7:55 mark of the first period. Sam Higgins also figured in on the scoring play. The penalty troubles continued for the Dogs, as the Grizzlies made it 2-0 just seconds into a two man advantage as Matthew Wong would make the initial save on a Jeff Forsythe point shot but he was unable to control the rebound as it ended up on the tape of Cam Reid who deposited the puck into the open net at the 11:43 mark of the first. Madison Dias was also awarded an assist on the play, but it might have been Derek Lee that was in on it. The Dogs would do a good job to keep the game at 2-0 heading into the second with a big 5 on 3 penalty kill late in the first period. Early in the second, Matthew Wong would again keep it 2-0 as he made an incredible highlight save on Justin Courtnall on a 2 on 1 rush, somehow getting across to stack the pads and save what appeared to be a sure goal. However penalties would continue to haunt the Dogs in the second as Brian Nugent one-timed a cross crease pass home for a 3-0 lead at the 12:52 mark with Mike Hammond and Lee Baldwin setting him up. The Dogs would then get caught pushing for offense on a power play of their own, resulting in a shorthanded breakaway when Sean Robertson sent Brian Nugent in alone where he would make no mistake with a beautiful backhand to forehand top shelf finish for a 4-0 score with 3:29 left in the second. The Grizzlies kept on coming in the third when they made it 5-0 as Jeff Forsythe found a rebound in front at the 11:23 mark for a 5-0 advantage. Jonathan Milhouse and Mike Hammond would pick up the assists. Credit has to go to the Dogs for not quitting, as they kept pressuring to finally get on the board when Matt Frydrysek one timed a pass in the slot through the five hole of Anthony Grieco for a 5-1 score with 4:05 to go. Zack Mazo and Lee Patzer picked up the assists. That would be all the Dogs could muster though, as the Grizzlies skated away with the 5-1 win.
Final shots favoured Victoria 33-32, with Matthew Wong and Anthony Grieco being the goalies of record. The Grizzlies were the big winners on special teams, going 3 for 11 on the power play and also scoring once shorthanded. The Dogs were 0 for 7.
Sunday afternoon the Dogs hosted the Powell River Kings, and this game started with great pace throughout the opening minutes. The game would stay scoreless until the Dogs found the net on the power play when James Kerr one-timed a cross crease feed from Evan Witt past Chad Ketting. Shae Naka also figured in on the scoring play at 10:06 of the first. With the score 1-0 Ben Schmidt had a glorious chance to even it for Powell River with a shorthanded breakaway but he appeared to shoot wide. The Kings offensive skill showed with 43 seconds left in the first with a tic-tac-toe goal roofed by Darcy Oakes on cross ice and cross crease passes from Brooks Robinson and Mat Bodie. The Kings then took their first lead of the game 7:11 into the second when Jordan Gallea walked into the slot on a 5 on 3 power play and drove a low shot five hole on Wong. The Kings then took a 3-1 lead at the 11:58 mark of the second when Kings goaltender Chad Ketting and Mat Bodie sent brother Kyle Bodie in on a breakaway with a homerun bomb pass, where he snapped a shot top shelf far side glove. The goal came on the power play, with another delayed penalty coming. Later in the period the Dogs ended up on the power play after a collision in the crease. It would be the Kings that actually ended up getting the most glorious chance to take a big lead with another clear cut breakaway chance that they weren?t able to convert on. A huge momentum swing would instead see the Bulldogs kill off another 5 on 3 disadvantage and then make it a 3-2 game while still down 1 man when Zack Mazo chipped the puck wide at his own blue line and then won the race to the net to fire a shot through the legs of Ketting for a 3-2 score with just 55 seconds left in the second. The goal was unassisted. Early in the third the Dogs would even the score when Zack Mazo struck again, jamming home a rebound off a long scramble at the King crease. James Kerr and Evan Witt would get the assists on the power play goal 2:27 into the third. The Kings fired back five minutes later to take the lead again at 4-3, with a nice set up from Brooks Robinson to Clay Harvey in the slot. Reid Campbell also was in on the play at 7:12 of the third. The lead would be short-lived as the Kings were penalized not once but twice when a bench minor was tacked on to an original penalty. On the 5 on 3 power play Zack Mazo would tie the game at 4-4 as he completed the hat trick putting home a rebound off a Kevin Ross shot at 9:25. The game would be scoreless through the remainder of regulation, thanks to an incredible stop by Matthew Wong with under 30 seconds to play when he got his blocker up to stop what looked like a sure goal to send the game to overtime as both teams secured a single point. The first five minutes of overtime saw no golden goal, so 3-on-3 OT was up next. Chad Niddery would have the best chance to end it early, as he had a clear cut breakaway only to be turned away by Wong. The Kings would find the winner shortly afterwards though when Erik Vos got a second chance in front and put a spinning backhand cross bar and down from the slot for the 5-4 final. Darcy Oakes picked up the lone assist on the play at 3:32 of the second overtime.
Final shots favoured Powell River 54-39, with Matthew Wong and Chad Ketting being the goalies of record. The Kings were 2 for 9 on the power play while the Bulldogs were 3 for 9 while also scoring once shorthanded.
The Dogs will next see action coming up this weekend when they play their first regular season road contests. Friday night they will visit the ?Big Stick? for a clash with the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Saturday it?s down to Victoria and the Bear Mountain Arena where the Dogs hope to return the favour for<
