The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are riding a four-game winning streak into a weekend home-and-home series against the Nanaimo Clippers in B.C. Hockey League action this weekend. The Clippers have won their last five games, though—the last one vaulting them into first place in the Coastal Conference with 19 points, the same as Powell River Kings.
The Bulldogs scored a combined 13 goals in their last two games to beat Langley Rivermen 7–1 last Thursday and Prince George Spruce Kings 6–1 on Saturday following their first big road trip of the season.
Yan Kalashnikov scored eight points in that two-game run, earning him BCHL Player of the Week honours.
Despite playing without his brother Artsiom, who is usually on the same line, Yan had his most productive weekend yet. The Minsk, Belarus native scored a natural hat trick and added an assist in a first-star performance against Langley Rivermen last Thursday, then followed it up with another four-point night (one goal, three assists) against Prince George.
He sits third in Bulldogs’ team scoring with seven goals and eight assists.
The Bulldogs are in Nanaimo at the Frank Crane Arena on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. Both teams travel to Port Alberni for a tilt Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
Bulldogs, Smokies in trade mode
The Bulldogs and Trail Smoke Eaters completed a six-player deal on Oct. 20. The Bulldogs dealt defencemen Tanner Hicks and Marley Keca and forward Taylor House to the Smoke Eaters in exchange for goalie Matt Larose and defencemen Daniel Delbianco and Eric Walker. Delbianco is already on the Bulldogs’ scoreboard after picking up an assist in last week’s win over Langley.
Trail coach and GM Bill Birks is happy about the deal. “It’s a huge upgrade, especially on the back end to get two kids like that, younger and better all-around players and people,” he told the Trail Daily Times. “Then to bring in the House kid is just a bonus to get some added scoring up front.”
The Bulldogs will only play Trail once this year, on the road Feb. 2, 2012.
Mitchell commits to RIT Tigers
Forward John Mitchell will play Div. 1 hockey with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers next season. The Tigers play in the Atlantic Hockey Conference of the NCAA.
“I would like to thank the entire organization of the Bulldogs, especially the coaching staff and Tom McEvay,” Mitchell said in a press release.
“I am excited for the opportunity that RIT has given me and look forward to finishing out the year with the Bulldogs.”
Adams back in family
Forward Brandon Adams rejoined the team last month after a stint with the Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
He wasted no time finding his place in the lineup, picking up a goal Oct. 23 against Powell River and a goal and three assists in the Dogs’ 6–1 win over Prince George.
ICE CHIPS...Catch play-by-play for both of this weekend’s games at 93.3 The PEAK FM.
editor@albernivalleynews.com