Fans had to wait until early in the third period to toss their teddy bears at the Alberni Valley Bulldogs’ home BC Hockey League tilt with Wenatchee Wild, Sunday afternoon.
Bulldogs’ Cayden Kraus scored at 5:12 to break Wenatchee’s 2–0 lead, and although it was good enough to coat the ice surface in plush, it wasn’t enough to win the game.
Sunday’s matinee was Alberni’s first at home since Nov. 20. Last weekend they split two games in Powell River, losing 5–4 Dec. 9 and winning 4–2 on Dec. 10.
The ’Dogs played Wednesday in Cowichan after the News went to press. They host Victoria Grizzlies this Friday, Dec. 16 at the Dawg Pound, the last game before the Christmas break.
Bulldogs sign Hunter
The Bulldogs in the meantime have signed forward Spencer Hunter from West Vancouver. The Victoria Grizzlies released Hunter earlier this month: he hasn’t played a game with them since undergoing season-ending surgery in 2015–16.
Hunter has appeared in 84 BCHL games and made his Bulldogs debut in Saturday’s 4–2 win over Powell River Kings, where “he registered an assist on the empty net goal; his first game action in over a year,” Bulldogs’ assistant coach Alex Evin noted in a press release.
To make room for Hunter, the Bulldogs released Gary Dhaliwal of Richmond. Dhaliwal, who was familiar with the Bulldogs’ organization, joined the team in November in a trade with the Brockville Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League for future considerations.
ICE CHIPS...Puck drop for Friday’s game with Victoria is 7 p.m. The Bulldogs are back at home Jan. 4 when Powell River Kings come to town.
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