Game: Alberni Valley Bulldogs vs Powell River Kings
Arena: Hap Parker Arena
Puck Drop: 7:30pm
Broadcast: Starts at 7:10pm
95.7 SunFM Free Audio
FastHockey PPV Video
Kings This Season vs Bulldogs: 2-1-0-2
Last Meeting: Bulldogs 6-1 (November 10th)
Kings 2012/2013 Record: 14-14-2-4 (4th Island)
Kings at home: 9-5-0-2
Kings Last 10: 5-2-2-1
Kings vs Island: 9-7-0-2
Bulldogs 2012/2013 Record: 16-11-1-5 (2nd Island)
Bulldogs on the road: 6-8-1-2
Bulldogs Last 10: 5-2-1-2
Before we got into the game preview, someone’s life is going to change tonight. Hopefully they’ll be in the crowd when $50,000 will be given away. The beautiful thing is that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Also up for grabs a brand new car, a dream vacation, an ATV and a whole bunch of other great prizes. PLUS there’s the 50/50 jackpot which will likely be up and around $40,000. PLUS Save-on-Foods is getting in the spirit with a $2000 50/50 jackpot at the game as well. So honestly, if you don’t walk away from tonight’s game with some extra cash in your pocket, you can feel pretty unlucky!
It’s been 13 days since the Kings last took the ice, and even longer since they’ve skated out in front of the hometown fans. Step number 1 will be getting over the turkey legs. We’ve already seen a couple of cases of it already last night as Penticton were taken for a little bit of a ride by West Kelowna, with turkey legs pegged as one of the big issues last night by Vees broadcaster Fraser Rodgers.
The Kings staff has done everything they can to get back into the routine. Players arrived back in town on the 27th and have had 2 practices, as well as a game day skate today. I was at practice on Wednesday and you could sense the excitement with the players as they returned to the room, and then hit the ice for the first practice…lets hope that excitement and enthusiasm continues into game number 1 for the post-Christmas schedule, and the final game of 2012.
The big news in Kings land is that Captain Teagan Waugh looks set to return to the lineup after missing the last 15 games with an injury. There were rumblings of Teagan returning before the Christmas break, but I think waiting things out and giving him the extra 2 weeks off will bode well for the future. Missing will be Luke Ripley and Jordan Paddock, both out with injury. To cover them, the Kings look set to bring up Corey Renwick, who has been with the team for the past week, and according to Twitter, Jake Calverley, who is excited to play his first BCHL game.
The Bulldogs have had the extra day off during the Christmas break, and will play two games this weekend. First up it’s a game against a team that the Bulldogs took four of four points from during the last meeting. That’s an impressive weekend anywhere, but consider it took place through 4-3 OT and 6-1 wins here in Powell River, and it shows you the talent this Bulldogs team has.
However, like we’ve said all season, the Dogs can be hot and cold. They can win 6-1 one night and lose 6-1 the next. They have gotten more consistant the longer the season has gone on, however that high risk, high reward style has its pros and cons. The Dogs have been good through December, and have taken points away in all but 1 of 5 games this month. That includes 2 wins, a tie and an overtime loss to Victoria going into the Christmas break.
Manny Gialedakis had a hattrick during the last meeting between the two teams, and got a Christmas present in the form of a commitment to Oswego next season. He, along with Ryan Lough and Evan Tironese form the backbone up front. On the back end, former Langley Riverman Bo Pellah will log lots of time, along with Chase van Allen.
The BCHL This Week will anchor our 1st intermission. Darcy Rota talks with Eddie Gregory on the tough first half of the season for the Coquitlam Express. Then West Kelowna Warriors play caller Jon Zacks will talk with Josh Monk, who is Providence bound after the BCHL. In the 2nd intermission, we’ll talk with Teagan Waugh about his return, as well as Jarryd Leung on his 1st half of the year, plus the big draw, live from centre ice!
With Derek Bachynski away, Chad Van Diemen will (hopefully) pinch hit in the post-game show, as well as a player of his choosing.
