Game: Alberni Valley Bulldogs vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 7:00pm
Broadcast: Starts at 6:40pm
95.7 Coast FM in Powell River
Kings Broadcast Network
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings Record: 18-14-0-2 (3rd Island)
Opposition Record: 13-19-1-2 (5th Island)
The Kings limped into the Christmas break by dropping 3 straight on the road and five of the teams last 6 games. It’s the first game back for the Kings since an 8-day Christmas break.
Alberni Valley is at the cellar of the Island Division, looking up at 4 teams ahead. The ray of hope is that the Bulldogs are only 3 back of the Grizzlies and 4th spot, with 3 games in hand. The Bulldogs also limped into the Christmas break, dropping both games in the final weekend.
- We’re back. After an 8-day break where players got a chance to head home, get away from the rink and recover from a grinding first half of the season. Few players took any sort of gear home, which means that Monday’s informal skate, Tuesday’s practice and Wednesday’s game day preparation is all that the Kings have had to get back into game shape. Alberni, with an extra day off are likely in a similar position.
- This is the first game of a 4-game in 5-day stretch. It’s pretty similar to what the Kings had last season, where the team had a shorter 6-day break before meeting in Nanaimo for 3-in-3 on Vancouver Island and a trip back home for a New Years date with the Bulldogs.
- Speaking of New Years, and the Bulldogs…this will be the second straight year the Kings and the Dogs have hooked up in Powell River on New Years Eve. Alberni won last year 3-2 in double overtime.
- The Kings get some much needed reinforcements up front that will help a team that struggled to score in the latter portion of December, scoring 15 times in its final 6 games. Kyle Betts and Carter Turnbull both return to the lineup after a Gold Medal win at the World Junior A Challenge. It’s certain that Betts will rejoin Tristan Mullin on the top line, while Turnbull could feasibly slot back into the top 6.
- This will be the 3rd matchup of the season against Alberni, however the two previous came at the end of September and the start of October on the road and at home respectively. 86 days between drinks.
- Stefan Wornig got the start in both games and was near-flawless in 120 minutes. 2 wins, 1 shutout, a 0.50 GAA and a .984sv%. Unfortunately those are the only wins Wornig has been able to manage this season, but is coming off good showings against Trail and Salmon Arm where he struggled early but rebounded and looked stronger the game went on.
The broadcast goes live on 95.7 Coast FM in Powell River at 6:40pm. It will also be online on the Kings Broadcast Network and FastHockey PPV. We’ll talk with Kent Lewis in the pre-game show on the team’s first half, the beginning of the stretch drive and what the focus has been since the break came to an end. In the 1st intermission, we’ll have chats with Tristan Mullin, Jeff Smith and Kyle Betts. In the 2nd break, we’ll talk with Bulldogs play caller Evan Hammond on Alberni’s push for playoffs. Brock Sawyer will join us after 60 in the post-game show.
