The Bulldogs first took to the ice last week on Friday night at home when they hosted the Victoria Grizzlies. The Grizz came out of the gate flying, throwing tonnes of rubber at Matthew Wong.
The Dogs held off the initial pressure, but the Grizzlies eventually took a 1-0 lead on a power play goal when Jonathan Milhouse tipped in a Jordan Heywood shot from the top of the point 9:34 into the first. Cam Reid also picked up an assist on the play. The Bulldogs would come out in the second and get the equalizer very quickly, with Jackson Garrett finding a rebound in front and sliding it past Alex Peck just 43 seconds in. Assists on the power play goal went to Mitch MacMillan and Evan Witt. It would be MacMillan and Witt hooking up again later in the period to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead, as Witt knocked the puck free in the Victoria zone and MacMillan walked into the slot and put a quick shot low stick side at the 11:28 mark. The Grizzlies evened it up quickly, as less than three minutes later Tyler Matheson was set up on the doorstep for a quick one-timer past Matthew Wong. Evan Pighin and Derek Lee picked up the assists on the power play goal at 14:13 of the second as it was 2-2. Before the period was out the game scoring was complete when Shaun Stuart kept the puck in at the Bulldog blue line and found Myles MacRae in the slot for the re-direct and the 3-2 lead with 2:10 left in the second period. Jonathan Milhouse also picked up an assist on the scoring play. The Dogs would have their chances in the third period, but they were unable to get the equalizer past Alex Peck as the Grizzlies made the lead stand.
Final shots favoured Victoria 47-31 with Matthew Wong taking the loss and first star honours. Alex Peck picked up the win and second star honours in the Victoria net. The Dogs were 1 for 4 on the power play while the Grizzlies were 2 for 8.
Saturday night the Westside Warriors visited the Pound, for the only meeting this season between the two teams. The Dogs started the game well, scoring first for the first time in seven games when Josh Pineiro put a nifty pass to the back door from the right point where Taylor Orser re-directed it past Devon Murtagh for the 1-0 Dogs lead just 3:15 into the game. Brian Kang also picked up an assist on the play. The Warriors would fight back to take a 2-1 lead into the dressing room though, first tying it at 1-1 when Trevor Bailey deflected a Jordan Gagne shot up and over Matthew Wong 9:17 into the game. Cory Pritz also was in on the scoring play. With 1:54 left in the period it was 2-1 Westside as Kyle Singleton drove the net and picked up a loose puck after his initial attempt was blocked and lifted it past Wong. Ron Kelly was awarded the only assist on the play. It was then the Bulldogs turn to battle back; as they tied it at 2-2 in the second period when Zack Mazo was sent down the right wing by Chris Moulson. Mazo would drive down the wing and then behind the net before banking a wrap-around off of something and into the back of the net 8:19 into the period. The tie game was short-lived, as less than a minute later the Warriors took a 3-2 lead when Brendan Ellis put a low wrist shot from the right circle inside the far post at the 9:02 mark. Cory Pritz and Jordan Gidaro picked up the assists on the power play goal. The Warriors then took a 4-2 lead just three minutes later when they connected on a 5 on 3 power play when Jordan Gagne banged in a Brendan Ellis rebound at 12:35 of the second for a 4-2 Warrior lead after two. In the third the Bulldogs came out with lots of energy in their game, and they were rewarded for it when they went to a 5 on 3 power play where they made it 4-3 when Mitch MacMillan deflected an Eliot Raibl point shot up and over Murtagh. Evan Witt also picked up an assist on the play 8:43 into the third. The Dogs would push for the equalizer, but they couldn?t find the net before the Warriors took the two goal lead back with 4:24 remaining when they scored their third power play goal of the game as Cory Pritz stepped into a one-timer from the left circle that he blasted top shelf on Wong. Assists on the play went to Jordan Gagne and Trevor Bailey as it was 5-3 Westside. Time would run out before the Dogs were able to get back on the offense, but not before the Warriors added an empty netter when Ron Kelly put a shot from centre ice off the post and into the empty net for the 6-3 final score.
Final shots favoured the Dogs 30-24 with Matthew Wong and Devon Murtagh being the goalies of record. The Warriors were 3 for 7 on the power play while the Dogs were 1 for 6.
With the two losses, the Bulldog losing streak is now at 10 games. While the effort was good both nights, it just wasn?t good enough to end in victory.
The Dogs hit the road Tuesday for a 4 game, 5 day road trip to the Interior. Game one goes Wednesday night in Trail. A preview will be posted as the Dogs hit the road.
