The Alberni Valley Bulldogs’ lineup looks a little different these days, with a couple of players out, but that hasn’t been a bad thing as the ’Dogs earned two wins over Thanksgiving in B.C. Hockey League play.
Alberni Valley beat Coquitlam Express 3–2 on Friday and Trail Smoke Eaters 5–3 on Saturday, both at home.
Injuries to a couple of players have shaken up the lineup a little, assistant coach Adam Hayduk said this week. “Anytime someone’s out of the lineup it gives other players an opportunity.”
Defenceman Tyler Povelofskie is out for three or four months after he severed the tendon in his forearm in a freak accident during a game against Victoria two weeks ago. A player skated over his forearm but the skate blade missed the artery. Povelofskie is in a cast for 60 days.
“He was very lucky,” Hayduk said.
In his place the Bulldogs dressed Josh Smith, a free agent picked up from Coquitlam.
Western Hockey League import Scott Cooke is still day to day with “an upper body injury”, Hayduk said.
Hayduk and head coach Kevin Willison were happy with the Bulldogs’ effort in both wins.
“We’re getting better and better,” Hayduk said. “We’re learning from our mistakes in earlier games. The compete level from all four lines and the defencemen has been outstanding.
“We’re doing the things we need to do to create offence but also to limit the chances against us,” he added.
The Bulldogs play a home-and-home with Cowichan Capitals this weekend. The Caps are in the Dawg Pound on Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m., then the teams head to Cowichan on Saturday, Oct. 18, also at 7 p.m. Prince George is at Weyerhaeuser Arena for the matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19.
“Anytime you play a division rival it’s an important game,” Hayduk said. “Cowichan is looking to build some momentum after winning their first game in seven attempts last weekend.”
ICE CHIPS...Veteran Bulldogs’ netminder Connor Lacouvee recorded his first collegiate win for Boston University last week in BU’s 8–1 drubbing of University of Massachusetts. Lacouvee only found out six hours before the game he was starting, says Rick Sacks of The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog...A shoutout goes to Al McCulloch, late of the AVMHA, who provided colour for 93.3 PEAK FM play-by-play announcer Evan (Hammer) Hammond last weekend.
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