Port Alberni junior hockey fans got their first look at the B.C. Hockey League’s newest team—the first from south of the border—Friday night but the Bulldogs ended up on the losing end of a 2–1 score against the Wenatchee Wild in double overtime.
On Saturday they dropped their second in a row at home, a 4–2 contest with Chilliwack Chiefs.
“From a coaching standpoint when you play well and fall short, those are tough pills to swallow,” Bulldogs’ head coach Kevin Willison said.
“When we win we’re happy but when we lose we’re learning. We know we have to be better,” he said.
Nathan Dingmann scored the ‘Dogs’ lone goal against Wenatchee, from Josh Adkins and Garrett Halls.
“We’re pretty happy with the way Nate is playing,” Willison said.
Adam Connolly parked himself deep in the Wild end and played a physical game. “Adam knows his role, that he’s a power forward and he’s going to have to play in high traffic areas,” Willison said. Connolly goes for the screens, the tips and rebounds.
And it pays off. “The tying goal against Cowichan a week earlier, he made an outstanding play in front of the net to tie it.
“He’s certainly going to be a guy we need to look forward to being a leader,” Willison said.
Wenatchee’s Logan Milliken scored the winner at 3:31 of the second overtime when the teams were 3-on-3, a wrist shot that beat Chris Tai.
Wild goalie Chase Perry stopped a couple of golden Bulldogs’ opportunities in overtime. Tai played well too, stopping a two-man Wild breakaway in overtime.
ICE CHIPS...The Bulldogs have traded Taylor Derynck to the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in exchange for 1996-born goalie Brody Claeys...The Bulldogs travel to Wenatchee, Wash. on Friday, Oct. 23 for a rematch. They are in Langley on Saturday, Oct. 24 and Chilliwack for a 5 p.m. game on Sunday, Oct.25. Catch road games on 93.3 PEAK FM.
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