The Alberni Valley Bulldogs dropped a pair of close games on the weekend to extend their BC Hockey League losing streak to 10 games.
The Bulldogs battled back from a 4–1 deficit but fell short in losing 4–3 to Powell River Kings on Saturday. They lost a tight 2–1 game to West Kelowna Warriors in overtime on Sunday.
“If we were on a four-game winning streak, we could say we played pretty good games,” assistant coach Alex Evin said.
“It sucks. There’s no other way of putting it. We’re playing some good hockey. Against Powell River we had some good zone time and the boys didn’t quit, but we made some bonehead plays and that cost us.”
Powell River capitalized on a giveaway at the Bulldogs’ blueline to score the first goal of the game. They went up 2–0 on the power play while the ’Dogs were two men short.
Sunday’s matinee “was one of our most complete games of the year,” Evin said. Turnovers were kept to a minimum and the team played disciplined hockey in what was really a goaltenders’ showcase, he said.
The Bulldogs have meanwhile signed two forwards after trading two other players last month. Alexander Uryga, 18, of North Vancouver comes to the Bulldogs after being released by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. He will add size and strength to the ’Dogs’ offence, Evin said.
The Bulldogs have also picked up Gary Dhaliwal of Richmond from the Brockville Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League for future considerations.
“We are excited to have Gary, who is already familiar with our program, join us,” head coach and general manager Kevin Willison said.
“He has grown in size and improved a lot over the past two years and we look forward to seeing what he can bring to our hockey team.”
Dhaliwal is expected ton be in the lineup this Friday when the ’Dogs travel to Victoria to play the Grizzlies.
ICE CHIPS…Longtime Bulldogs’ fans might recall Gary Dhaliwal from the 2014-15 season, when he and captain Jordan Sandhu made their debuts as affiliate players…The Bulldogs are at home this Saturday.
