The Alberni Valley Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing streak at home with a dominant win against the Nanaimo Clippers.
Although the Clippers opened the scoring in the first period on Saturday, Nov. 25, the Bulldogs got a quick response from Lucas Buzziol, who tipped home the tying marker just minutes after the Clippers goal. Before the end of the first period, 16-year old rookie Wyatt Blace gave the Bulldogs the lead with a goal of his own.
In the second period, the Bulldogs power play went to work, as Mason Croucher scored his eighth of the year and Jax Wismer scored just minutes later. Nicholas Beneteau and Jacob Terpstra picked up assists on both of the power play goals, and each player finished with three assists on the night. Beneteau has now moved into a tie for the BCHL league lead in scoring with 29 points on the season.
Leading 4-1 after 40 minutes, the Bulldogs quickly put away any notion that the Clippers were still in the game as Brady McIsaac scored his seventh of the year just a few minutes into the third, and Buzziol capped off the night with his second of the game to give the Bulldogs a 6-1 final.
Goaltender Callum Tung stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced on the night.
The game marked the end of the inaugural Mainroad Rivalry Series between the Bulldogs and the Clippers, with the Bulldogs picking up a record of 5-2 against the Nanaimo team. The two clubs won’t meet again this season unless they connect in the playoffs.
Up next for the Bulldogs are a pair of home games. The Cowichan Capitals will pay a visit on Friday, Dec. 1 and the Coquitlam Express will be in town on Saturday, Dec. 2.
ICE CHIPS…Bulldogs defenceman Mason Croucher has committed to play NCAA hockey with the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers. The 19-year-old Croucher, in his second season with the Bulldogs, has 16 points in 21 games played so far this season.