A 4-1 win over Oceanside Generals on Saturday put the Alberni Valley Midget Bulldogs at 3 for 3 in the North Island side of the VIHL tier 2 play-offs.  They also downed Powell River 4-2 and Comox 8-0.  The Bulldogs will now have home ice advantage next weekend when they host South Island runners up Juan de Fuca Grizzlies in one Vancouver Island semi-final.  Saanich will host Powell River in the other semi.

Alberni had a challenging start in Parksville on Saturday, as the referees seemed intent on sending a message and assessed 5 minor penalties in the first period.  The Bulldogs killed off all 5 penalties including nearly three minutes with a two man disadvantage.  The first period was scoreless. 

At 15:16 of the middle frame, Blake Frechette passed from behind the net for Colby Lim to put the puck on the top shelf for the first goal.  Oceanside evened it up before the period was over.  The Bulldogs eventually wore down their opponents and took control in the third period.  On power play Bryan Read sent the puck around the boards to Jeff Dagg behind the net who passed to Andre Savard in front.  Savard pulled the puck across and roofed a back hand for the go ahead goal at 15:20.  At 13:17 Luciano Somerville and Brady Janzen worked the puck down low to set up Lim’s second goal.  Then with five minutes to go Savard passed to Dagg to finish for a 4-1 final.

 

from Simon Read 250-724-3822