photos by Dave Cusson

The Van Isle Ford Midget Bulldogs advanced to the Vancouver Island Championship with a 7-4 victory on Sunday in their semi-final game against Saanich Braves. Five hundred fans cheered as the team cranked it up to overtake the visitors in the final 10 minutes. Powell River downed the Grizzlies 5-2 at Bear Mountain in the other semi-final on Saturday.

Alberni Valley will now take on Powell River in the best of three championship series. The first game will be at 1:45 PM, Saturday February 25th at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. Then both teams will head to Powell River for Game 2. Game 3 if necessary will be back in Port Alberni on March 3rd.

In Sunday’s game the host Bulldogs played cautiously to start and spent a lot of time in their own zone. They allowed Saanich a one goal lead at 12:13 of the first period. Chase Gaudreault evened that up at 4:29 with helpers from Logan Savard and blue liner Tyler Ibsen.

In the middle of the second period Saanich jammed the crease to go up 2-1.  Colby Lim on power play led a pass to Cam MacAdams who worked it to the net and then dropped the puck in the slot for Beau Wilson to make it 2-2. But Saanich came right back to take the lead again at 5:26 and held on to the end of the period.

Although the Bulldogs ramped up their game in the third period, Saanich was just as determined and held the 3-2 lead until the middle of the frame. The turning point came near the middle of the period when goalie Gianni Crema stoned a Saanich breakaway attempt. Then at 10:58 Tyler Wilhelm hammered the puck through the 5 hole from right in front. Cory Beecroft assisted.  It was the first of five unanswered goals. MacAdams from Savard and Ibsen made it 4-3 at 9:59. Beecroft and Lim set up Wilhelm’s second goal with a man advantage at 6:54, then Lim scored unassisted off a rebound at 3:41.  Finally Wilhelm and Lim supported Gaudreault’s second goal with 1:38 left.  Saanich still had some bite and took one back for the 7-4 final score.

Coach Brent Demerais said of the team, “Their size and conditioning paid off in the end. The game turned when they started going hard to the net.”

The players took a moment to salute their fans after the game. They are looking forward to the first championship game on Saturday and hope to see the same people and more come out. There will be two championship games that day as both the Midget A and Bantam Rep teams will be playing back to back. Come out and see what our Alberni Valley boys will do!

Midget Bulldog Colby Lim (21) raises his stick after scoring the sixth goal in the weekend semi-final against Saanich. Lim had 4 points in the game. Cory Beecroft (7) right had two assists.

Referee signals Midget Bulldog Tyler Wilhelm's tying goal in the third period of the Midget Bulldogs semi-final game vs Saanich

Midget Bulldog Cam MacAdams (16) scores the game winning 4th goal in semi-final action against Saanich on Sunday. Logan Savard (11) and Tyler Ibsen (3) assisted.

Submitted by Simon Read

Midget (Tier 2) Van Isle Ford Bulldogs - Island League Champions

 MIDGET TIER 2 (Van Isle Ford)

• Semi Final game – Feb. 19, (Home) 3:15 – 5:45 pm  – Alberni  7 vs Saanich 4

• Finals – Game 1 – Sat. Feb. 25, (Home) 1:45 – 4:15 pm - Alberni vs Powell River

• Finals – Game 2 – Sun. Feb. 26, 1:15 – 3:45 pm – Powell River vs Alberni

• Finals – Game 3 – Sat. Mar. 3, (Home game – TBA) – Alberni vs Powell River

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Bantam (Tier 2) West Coast Cutting & Coring

 BANTAM TIER 2 (West Coast Cutting & Coring)

• Semi Final game – Feb. 18,  (at home) 2:30 – 5:00 pm - Alberni  5 vs Saanich 3

• Finals – Game 1 – Sat. Feb. 25 – (at home) 4:30 – 7:00 pm – Alberni vs Campbell River

• Finals – Game 2 – Sun. Feb. 26 – 2:00 – 4:30 pm – Campbell River vs Alberni

• Finals – Game 3 – Sat. Mar. 3 – (Home game TBA) – Alberni vs Campbell River

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PeeWee (Tier 2) Barclay Hotel-Smitty's-GDM Boom & Sort - Island League Champs

  PEEWEE TIER 2 (Barclay Hotel-Smitty’s-GDM Boom & Sort)

• Semi Final game – Feb. 18, 12:00 – 2:20 pm – Bear Mountain -  Juan de Fuca 9 vs Alberni 0
  

The game stayed close as the Bulldogs gradually wore down their opposition with unrelenting physical play. Powell River scored first on a man advantage half way through the first period. The Bulldog power play evened it up at 14:03 of the second period. Colby Lim passed across the crease for a racing Brandon Antonichuk to jam in at the corner. On another power play in the middle of the second, Cameron MacAdams won a battle in the corner against two defenders, then got to the crease in time to screen an outside shot from Spencer Pierce. Greg Tuckerman picked up an assist. Powell River got even almost immediately and then, playing 5 on 3, pulled ahead 3-2.

The Bulldogs kept up the pressure until with six seconds left Nathan Read jumped on a clearing attempt and one-timed the puck to the top right corner. Chase Gaudreault and Logan Savard recorded assists as the period ended 3-3.

Five minutes into the final frame Tuckerman took a pass from Ryan Buse, then banked it off a Powell River defender to put the Bulldogs in the lead again with their third power play goal. Sam Visona earned the second assist.  After that the Bulldogs defensive play held Powell River out of scoring range for the rest of the period, except for a few anxious minutes killing off a late penalty. Final score 4-3.

Coach Brent Demerais complimented the team for picking up a hard fought win on the road. He said, “It’s never easy to win on this trip, but we put out a solid team effort. Playing and winning in Division 1 all season gave us an edge over Powell River (who won the lower Division 2). Our guys were winning the battles in the corners and getting them to cough up the puck. Gianni Crema was good in goal and we had a real hard working defence.”

Two dozen of the team’s biggest fans also went to Powell River and made their support known there. The Midget Bulldogs are also looking for as many fans as possible to come out to support them during the semi-final game against the Saanich Braves on Sunday February 19th.

There will be a chance to meet the players outside the Multiplex before the game, with hot dogs and soft drinks available from 1 PM. Game time is 3:15 to 5:45 PM and admission is free. The winner of this game will advance to play for the Island Championship.

Submitted by Simon Read

The AVMHA Midget B Rep team, sponsored by Jal Design, Subway and Triple A Photos, will play one of its most important games of the season on home ice, this Saturday Feb. 11th against Comox-2, starting at 3:00 p.m.

In the Island Playoff Series, each of the teams has a win and a loss, so only the winner will go on to the finals in a best of three games , to be played against the winner of this weekend’s game between  Nanaimo and Cowichan.   It will be a tough battle as all four teams are quite evenly matched – anyone could win.

Despite missing the teams’ two top scorers (Liam Macleod -36 pts, who was off the past 4 games with a shoulder injury -  and Connor Gagnon – 31 pts, missing in the last two) the Midget B Bulldogs have won 3 out of the 4 last games.   Hopefully Liam and Connor will be back for this crucial game as the Bulldogs will be missing two dependable defensive players, brothers Gary & James  Martin.   Come on out for some exciting hockey at the Alberni Valley Multiplex this weekend and see what happens!

 To update, the Midget B Bulldogs got off to a great start in the playoffs, with a solid 7-2 victory against Cowichan on January 28^th, spreading out their goals with 3 in the 1^st, 2 in the 2^nd and 2 in the 3^rd.  Connor Gagnon ended up with a hat trick, Ellis Martin scored 2 and Giordano Corlazzoli and Cameron James each scored one.  Matt McLeod contributed 4 assists,  Wesley Schutt had 2 assists and Cam Blake, Cameron and Connor  each got one.

The following day, on home ice once again, the Midget B Bulldogs won an exhibition game against Peninsula3 with a score of 6-3.   After a scoreless first period, the Bulldogs dominated the second period with goals from Dawson Marlett,  Jordan Lavertu (AP),  Matt , Gary Martin, and Connor.   Assists were from Colin Mowat,  Ellis, Cam, Daryl Defrietus, Connor, Cameron, Wesley and Matt .  Third period play continued with good team efforts resulting in a goal by Cameron assisted by James and Ellis. Team and spectator excitement soared when Andrew Cusson stopped a penalty shot in the 3^rd period.

 This past weekend the AVMHA Midget B’s travelled to Victoria on Saturday the 4^th for an Exhibition game against Saanich4, winning 10-1, a near-shut-out-game for goalie Jason Brunt.  First period goals were both scored by Ellis, assisted by Wesley.  In the second period, Matt got 3 goals, assisted twice by Cameron and once by Gary; Wes got his first of the game assisted by Ellis, and the AP line saw Jordan score from a pass by Tyrell Terryberry.  Third period play led with the Ellis/Wes combo again, and a first of the season goal for Jory Cole assisted by Matt and Cam.  The final goal was scored by Giordano assisted by Ellis.

Unfortunately, the next day resulted in a narrow 4-3 loss against Nanaimo2 at the NIC (Nanaimo Ice Centre).   Colin Mowat put in the first goal of the game, assisted by Dawson Marlett on a power play.  Cameron James put one in assisted by AP Shayla Frechette, who had neither played or practiced with this team.  Second period play found Wes Schutt rack up another point, assisted by James Martin on a powerplay.  No goals were scored in the 3^rd period for either team.  Cam Blake had a good opportunity with a penalty shot however.   All of Nanaimo’s goals were scored on powerplays.  As with any game, if the Bulldogs can stay out of the penalty box they all, whether on offense or defense, have the potential to score and win!  Let’s hope they come out to Saturday’s game well-rested and ready to give their best individual and team effort to continue to the Playoff Finals!

Submitted by Carolyn Corlazzoli