The Alberni Valley Bulldogs took home six of eight points on the road last weekend and goaltender Brody Claeys was named B.C. Hockey League player of the week.
“We’re happy with that,” Bulldogs’ head coach and general manager Kevin Willison said.
The Bulldogs tied Cowichan Valley 3–3 to start their road trip. They beat Nanaimo 2–1 on Nov. 30, beat Trail Smoke Eaters 4–1 on Dec. 2, lost to West Kelowna 4–2 on Dec. 3 and beat Surrey Eagles 5–1 on Dec. 4. Claeys played in the last four games.
Willison pulled Claeys in Saturday’s loss to West Kelowna to give him a break until Sunday’s game in Surrey.
“The guys didn’t play well in front of him,” he said.
“We scored right at the buzzer, which would have made it 4–3. Sometimes when you dig yourself into a hole like that it’s tought to get out of.”
The team has started to score goals when it counts, and the coaching staff is happy with that, Willison said.
“It’s such a simple game if you shoot the puck and set it up…this week we threw a lot of pucks at the net and scored some goals.”
The Bulldogs have two more road games this Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10 in Powell River against the Kings.
“It doesn’t make it any easier that we’re coming home Sunday and playing Wenatchee,” Willison said.
ICE CHIPS…The ’Dogs are back at home this Sunday, Dec. 11 (2 p.m.) against Wenatchee Wild.
