Tonight – Alberni Valley Bulldogs (9-18-1-0) at Powell River Kings (16-12-0-0)
7 p.m. at Hap Parker Arena in Powell River
Presented by the BCIHL
TICKETS
FREE TO VIEW ON HOCKEYTV
Previous Meetings
The two teams have traded shutout victories in the previous two meetings this season. Mitch Deelstra and Dawson Tritt each had a goal and an assist and John Hawthorne stopped all 35 shots he faced as the Bulldogs beat the Kings 4-0 on Nov. 10. In the rematch on Nov. 20, Ryan Brushett scored once and added an assist while Mitch Adamyk made 33 saves as Powell River skated to a 3-0 win.
Who’s Hot
Kings forward Ryan Brushett has nine points in his last four games, including eight in a three-game span last week which earned him BCHL Player of the Week honours. He now sits in fourth in BCHL scoring with 39 points (19 goals, 20 assists) in 27 games. Levi Glasman also has points in four straight with a goal and five assists over that stretch. He is Powell River’s second-leading scorer with 31 points (8 goals, 23 assists) in 29 games. Jayden Lee has led the charge from the backend and is in the top-20 in league scoring by defencemen with 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in 26 games. In the crease, Mitch Adamyk has shutouts in two straight games and has won his last three starts. Coming into tonight he has a record of 11-9-0-2, a save percentage of .901 and a goals-against average of 2.99.
Alberni Valley are led by goaltender John Hawthorne, who owns the fourth-best save percentage in the league at .914 and has two shutouts. The Bulldogs leading scorer is forward Ryan Miotto who has 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists), including 22 in 21 games since he was acquired from the Penticton Vees in September. Keaton Mastrodonato (19 points), Jackson Doucet (18 points) and Mitch Deelstra (17 points) round out the top scorers for the team.
What’s at Stake
Powell River sit in second place in the Island Division with 32 points, seven back of the first-place Victoria Grizzlies and eight clear of the third-place Nanaimo Clippers.
Alberni Valley is tied with the Cowichan Valley Capitals for fourth in the Island Division with 19 points and are four points clear of the Surrey Eagles for the final playoff position.
From the Broadcast Booth
Alberni Valley Bulldogs play-by-play broadcaster Evan Hammond on the team’s standout goalie John Hawthorne:
“Like most goalies, he is arguably the Bulldogs most-valuable player. He means everything. He gives them a chance to win every night. He was named Team MVP in his rookie season last year. He’s a competitor, he’s level headed and he has a great work ethic.”
Hammond on in-season acquisition and Bulldogs leading scorer Ryan Miotto:
“I think he’s been able to fit in so well here with this team because he could fit in with any team. He’s a passionate player who doesn’t only score, but can play a physical game and not be a liability defensively. Winning an RBC Cup last year, he has championship pedigree and experience that very few players at this level have.”
Powell River Kings play-by-play broadcaster Alex Rawnsley on the team’s great record at home:
“The Hap has always been a fortress for Powell River over the years. I think if you were to go back through the BCHL history books, the Kings/Paper Kings would have one of the best home-ice records in the entire league since joining in 1988. There’s nothing particularly unique about the venue – it’s a great rink with great fans like many teams in the BCHL. I think the ferries obviously play a part as the Kings can catch teams who are forced out of their regular routines by the ferry schedule, but overall it’s just a place that the Kings are comfortable with and one where they feel they can get on a team early and not let go.”
Rawnsley on Kings goaltender Mitch Adamyk’s strong play of late:
“Seeing him return to form was great to see, not only for him but the team too. He’d been off his game this season, by his own admission, but the turn of form is just reward for the work he’s been putting in with goaltending coach Sean Maguire. I think the return of Kings second goalie Matteo Paler-Chow and the turn of form for Mitch is no coincidence as well. Mitch has always performed best when he’s being pushed and with the way that Matteo played last year, that’s motivation enough.”
Rawnsley on tonight’s matchup:
“Games between these two teams are rarely overtly physical or dirty. Both teams play a clean, hard style of game that’s more focused on work ethic and playing the right way vs out-skilling an opponent. The Kings have targeted a few areas from the two games already that they want to focus in on this weekend and I think you’ll see the them really dig deep into the Bulldogs playbook.”
ABOUT THE BCIHL
The British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League was created with the purpose of offering a venue for competitive, high-calibre hockey that’s close to home for players beyond their junior careers. The league was launched in 2006 and now includes five member teams: Selkirk College, Simon Fraser University, Trinity Western University, the University of Victoria and Vancouver Island University. This season, 25 graduates with over 2750 games of BCHL experience are pursuing their academic and athletic goals in the BCIHL. To learn more about the BCIHL and playing opportunities for BCHL grads, visit BCIHL.ca.
