The Alberni Valley Bulldogs (15-9-0-0) travel to Victoria to take on the Grizzlies (15-8-0-1) in a key Coastal Conference matchup at the Q Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm.
Just a single point separates the two clubs in the standings and the way the season series has gone, nobody should expect anything less than another hard fought battle.
The Bulldogs are coming of a gut-wrenching loss to Coquitlam. It’s a game that could be best described as one they let get away. With 4-2 lead late in the 3rd, the Bulldogs suffered an uncharacteristic collapse in front of a great crowd on a Saturday night at home. Thankfully for the Bulldogs, nights like that have been a rare occurrence over the past few seasons, however it was a blown opportunity to make up ground on Surrey and it allowed the Grizzles to sneak a point up on them.
While one game remains on the suspension to the Bulldogs leading goal scorer Hayden Stavroff, the club also learned they will be without the services of Jax Wismer who’s dealing with a lower body injury. Goaltender Hlib Artsatbanov has also departed for the Group B World Jr Championships with Team Ukraine in Bled Slovenia from December 11th to 17th. Ukraine opens the tournament on the 11th against Poland.
Callum Tung will draw the start in goal for the Bulldogs. Tung is 1-2-0-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .933 save % in his 3 appearances against the Grizzlies this year.
These two rivals are dead-locked at 2 wins each in the season series with the Bulldogs taking the last win 5-2 at the Dawg Pound on November 3rd. The Bulldogs are 7-7-1-1 in their last 16 regular season games at the Q Centre and are 1-1-0-0 this season. The Bulldogs have outscored the Grizzlies 13-12 in the 4 games.
The Bulldogs will return home on Saturday to face the Merritt Centennials for their annual Teddy Bear Toss game.
