The 11-game losing streak is one for the books after the Alberni Valley Bulldogs beat Merritt Centennials 3–1 on home ice Saturday night. It was the team’s first win since Oct. 2.
“We’re certainly happy with the win, that’s for sure. It takes the pressure off,” head coach and general manager Kevin Willison said.
“Nobody really kind of panicked through all of this. The coaching staff kept to the program…[the players] have certainly played some good games during that span.”
The Bulldogs’ weekend started with a 4–0 loss on the road to Victoria Grizzlies on Friday, but Willison said the game was closer than the score indicated. It was a one-goal game until the 50-minute mark, and the Grizzlies added two empty-net goals at the end.
“Give their goaltender credit, he made some big saves,” Willison said. Brody Claeys was in net for the Bulldogs “and played extremely well,” Willison added.
Carson Schamerhorn got his first start in goal for Port Alberni in a while on Saturday.
Connor Welsh put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard at 5:12 of the first period and Alex Macdonald scored the winner at 6:55 of the second period. Welsh picked up an assist on that goal for his second point of the night.
Jake Witkowski scored the insurance goal at 16:35 of the second period.
ICE CHIPS…Bulldogs’ assistant equipment manager Jamie Amos was honoured before Wednesday’s game for appearing in his 1,000th game with the Bulldogs.
