Game Day: 'Dawgs @ Kings

It's finally here, the opening of the 2010-2011 BCHL season.

FINALLY!!!!!

I don't know how much more baseball highlights I could take!!

The Kings open their campaign against a very familiar foe, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Remember them? They certainly haven't forgotten the fact they had a 3-1 lead in the Coastal Conference Final, and lost at home, in game 7, last April. Suffice to say, there MIGHT be some hard feelings.

Much has been made about the fact the Bulldogs have lost, to either graduation or trade, their top line from one season ago (Mark & Mitch MacMillan, David Dzuirzynki) that's 247 points. The top returning scorer from last season is Casey Bailey, who finished 8th in team scoring with 24 points. Fans and pundits could immediately declare that this team will have trouble putting the vulcanized rubber in the net. However, on paper, it looks like this team is returning a solid core of players and has added depth offensively from the Jr. B and Midget ranks.

 The Bulldogs, defense, much like Powell River, should be their Strong Suit. Four of out their seven on the blue-line are returning players, and sprinkle in a solid recruiting core with Connor Varley and Tanner Hicks, this team should be steady from the back end.

In my opinion, the main reason this team looks good defensivley, is their starter in net, Frank Slubowski. The native of Prince Rupert put up some impressive numbers between the pipes one season ago. Slubowski  sported a neat 2.24 GAA and a tidy 919 SV percentage.

Yes, this team won't put up the goal totals they did last season, however you can bet every game their opponents will be having kittens trying to figure out how to score.

Could we see another Coastal Conference Final Preview?

  

The Kings didn't rebuild, they reloaded in the summer. Case in point, the blue-line. Kent Lewis recruited some big talent to patrol the back-end, literally. New comers are 6'2 Jon Jutzi, 6'4 Craig Dalrymple  and  6'2 Chris Williams.  Don't forget returnees Justin DaSilva who stands at 6'5, 6'2 Klay Kacur, 6'0 Jason Yee and undersized, (If 5'11 can be) Braden Pears. The Blue-line provoked quite a few reactions from scouts and coaches at the Ashes Cup. If an opposing forward can get behind that wall, they still have to deal with Mike Garteig.

The native of Prince George, returns for his second season, and the anointed number 1. In his role of 1. A throughout last season, "Garts" collected 15 wins and kept his goals against under 3. Which is quite impressive for a 'tender in this league. Add to the fact that coach, Kent Lewis,  has made it very clear that he has the up most faith in him, this 'tenders confidence will be sky high.

The forward corps, has been replenished by a solid recruiting class. New comers, Dan Schuler and Cohen Adair will help ease the pressure off Chad Niddery and Matt Garbowsky. Look out for Schuler, an agile skater with tremendous hands to put up points on a nightly basis skating with Nidds' and Garbs. The bottom six might be the difference for this team.

Mikes Sones comes in from the Ontario Jr.B to play along with Brendan Forbes and Teagan Waugh. Sones collected 43 points in 51 games last season. That was good enough to declare his commitment to Mercyhurst next season.  The "fourth" line has this blogger excited.

One of the first conversations I had with Kent, he mention that his team needed a complete line-up ,to get to the next level. In comes, energetic forward, Nick Indelicato from Boston, two-way centre, Ryan Elliot from Manitoba and hard checking, Scott Renner via trade with Penticton. That trio should give the fans lots to cheer about and give the team a lift when they need it the most.

Well that's it, time to get ready for tonight.

Pre-game show 7:15 on 95.7 SUN FM