Game: Alberni Valley Bulldogs vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 7:15pm
Broadcast: Starts at 6:55pm
95.7 Coast FM in Powell River
Kings Broadcast Network
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings Record: 24-18-0-2 (2nd Island)
Opposition Record: 15-22-3-3 (5th Island)
The Kings got their first wins on the road in 2016 with a relatively successful 2-of-3 road trip through the lower mainland and interior of BC. Wins in Surrey and Trail were split by a narrow loss in Penticton. The Kings are 6-4 since the Christmas break.
Alberni Valley are unbeaten in their last 3, kick started by a 6-1 win over the Kings two weeks ago. They also got the job done (mostly) in both legs of a home and home double header series against Cowichan Valley last weekend, winning one and tying the other.
- We’re down to crunch time as the Kings open a 9-game home stand at the Hap Parker Arena tonight. If the team is going to make a run at first in the Division, they need to be near perfect on home ice the rest of the way and look for Nanaimo to drop at least 3 of their remaining 13 games. It’s a tall order from a Clippers team who have been very good all season, but first and foremost the Kings need to be taking care of their own business and whatever happens out of town…happens.
- That business starts with a pesky Alberni Valley team who smacked Powell River around in their last meeting, a 6-1 scoreline to snap 4-straight Kings wins against the Bulldogs this year including a pair of shutouts. The game personified everything we say about Alberni, how they’re a team who much like the Kings get it done through will, and work and grit over out dangling opponents. Sure there’s skill there, and I’ll talk more on that later, but Alberni out worked the Kings two Sunday’s ago, and the Kings paid the price.
- Powell River are still a little short, most notably in goal. At last update, Jeff Smith was not going to take any part in the weekend, which could likely hand Stefan Wornig starts 5 and 6 in a row (against Surrey on Sunday). Smith is still battling a lower body injury and Kent Lewis has said they want him better than 100% when he returns. Wornig was overall very good on the 3-in-3 road trip, playing all three and giving the Kings a chance to win in all three. He’s also had a lot of success against Alberni Valley this year (3-1) and won in Surrey last weekend.
- Also on injury, Curtis McCarrick and Mitchell Hawes missed last weekend due to concussion symptoms. The two got back onto the ice this week and practiced with the team.
- Tonight will be the introduction of Adam Brubacher and Brandon Kennedy to Powell River fans. The fair were very good over the weekend with Brubacher scoring a pair from the left point and Kennedy looking more comfortable the longer the trip went. With a full week in practice, I’m excited to see more from Kennedy as he quite literally dropped his bags in Powell River before jumping on a bus last weekend to go on the road.
- The Bulldogs. They work hard, you never really put them away. We say it every time because it’s true every time. Doesn’t really matter the score, whether you’re up 5 or down 5 (both of which the Kings have been this year), it’s never easy and it’s never done until the final buzzer. As noted, there’s a lot of grit, work ethic…but there’s also some skill. Chris Schutz is a danger man who is two points back of his team’s scoring lead (Nathan Dingmann), despite missing the first month of the season. He’s better than a point per game and is very dangerous. I’ve also quite liked Paul Meyer on the backend. “Skilled” isn’t what I’d describe him as, but he’s big, has a good stride and a booming shot.
- Others to watch are 99-born forward Jordan Sandhu who is shifty and skillfull. He’s only got 3 goals on the season, one coming against Powell River.
The broadcast goes live on 95.7 Coast FM in Powell River at 6:55pm. It will also be online on the Kings Broadcast Network and FastHockey PPV. In the 1st intermission, we’ll have chats with 2-goal hero from Sunday in Trail, Hunter Findlater. We’ll also talk with Stefan Wornig about the weekend work load and Kyle Betts on the upcoming CJHL Top Prospects game. In the 2nd break, another alumni catch up with St. Lawrence University freshman Jacob Pritchard. Brock Sawyer will join us after 60 in the post-game show.
