The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (29-20-1-0) host the Chilliwack Chiefs (29-16-4-1) tonight at the Dawg Pound. Puck drop is at 7pm and tonight’s game is presented by Buy Low Foods.
The math is simple for the Chiefs. If they can knock off the Bulldogs tonight, they will all but clinch 2nd spot in the Coastal Conference and almost ensure themselves a first round date with the Langley Rivermen. A Bulldogs win and they close the gap to just 2 points with 3 games to go.
Chilliwack has been one of the hotter teams in the BCHL since the Christmas break. After a so-so start to the season, Chilliwack has caught fire since Santa visited with a record of 13-3-5-1. That record includes a 4-1 triumph over the Bulldogs where Chiefs goaltender Vladimir Nikitin added insult to injury when he scored an empty net marker to seal the Chiefs victory.
Speaking of Nikitin, he’s started 6 straight games for the Chiefs and has all but stolen the crease from Austin McNicholas. After a rough start adjusting to the North American game, Nikitin has be stellar with an 8-2-0-0 mark since Christmas with a pair of shutouts mixed in. He’s an imposing figure at 6’4″ and 205 pounds. The Bulldogs will have to work hard to get inside positioning on the big Chiefs defenceman and make life difficult on Nikitin.
Alberni is coming off a split of their two game set in the Okanagan last weekend. After upsetting the Conference leading Vees, a slow start against the Vipers cost them in a 3-2 loss. The Bulldogs trailed 3-0 in the 2nd period before attempting to mount a comeback that ultimately fell short.
Callum Tung was great in goal against the Vees where he made 37 saves in his 20th victory of the year.
As Nicholas Beneteau continues to make the most of his final season in a Bulldogs uniform offensively. Beneteau leads all Bulldogs in scoring with 59 points in 50 games played. Beneteau enters the final 4 games of the BCHL season needing just 3 points to tie Dale Lupul and move into the top 10 in all-time scoring.
After the Chiefs, the Bulldogs host the Powell River Kings for another Saturday Night in Hockey Valley. The Kings are in a fight for their playoff lives and will no doubt provide an entertaining night for the Dawg Pound faithful.
Tickets for tonight are available by CLICKING HERE
Tickets for Saturday vs Powell River are available by CLICKING HERE
