The Blackfalds Bulldogs got their 10th win of the season and first shutout to beat the Vernon Vipers 4-0 Friday night at the EBC. Vernon who still could make the playoffs (more than likely not though) showed up flat right from the start. The Vipers have some really good players. On paper you would look at the roster and think oh god this team will hammer everyone. Either way the Bulldogs also do not have the fewest amount of wins in the league anymore. That honor goes to Powell River who still only has 9.
Shots on goal in the first period was 6-5 for the Bulldogs
Danny Hussa made it a 1-0 game at 1:01 of the first period with the assist on the goal going to Oscar Bjork.
Luke Dahlen got the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead when he scored pretty much right off the faceoff for his 10th goal of the season at 12:09 of the second period with the assist on the goal going to Joey Melo. I along with most of the people at the game missed the goal as on the Jumbo Tron at the time they were playing an old video from when the Bulldogs first came in the league 4 years ago. 🤣The goal happened that quick and they were playing that who let the dogs out video.
Antoine Gauthier made the game 3-0 at 17:05 of the second period with the assists on the goal going to Brayden Smith and Thomas Neu.
With about 2 minutes left in the second period Luke Dahlen went at it with 20 year old WHL wash up Ty Zimmer. I get what Zimmer was trying to do for his team, but it didn’t really work.
Shots on goal in the second period were 18-6 for the Bulldogs
Luke Norcross made it a 4-0 game when he snuck one in at 9:48 of the third period with the assists on that goal going to Joey Melo and Jason Davenport.
Shots on goal in the third period were 9-4 for the Bulldogs with the Bulldogs outshooting the Vipers 33-15 in the game.
Lukas Fursten made saves on all the 15 shots that he faced for the win and the shutout for the Bulldogs. For the Vipers former Kelowna Rocket and Lloydminster, Alberta native Jari Kykkanen made 29 saves on the 33 shots that he faced. The BCHL website has listed that it wass Logan Cunningham playing. No. I was there, I seen the highlights it was Jari. I don’t know anything about the kid but am starting to think maybe his parents may be of Finnish origin. Just a hunch.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Lukas Fursten 2) Luke Dahlen 3) Danny Hussa
Attendance in Blackfalds was 489 I mean the attendance was low but I don’t think it was that low. I am thinking they don’t check alot at the door.
Bulldogs next game is Saturday March 8th against the Spruce Grove Saints in Spruce Grove.
Dahlen vs Zimmer fight
Some Viper fans not impressed. Sounds like what is going on there now is what was occurring here at the start of the season. Vipers on paper again have a really good team. I just think their spark has been extinguished and most are just waiting for the golf courses to open up. LINK Vernon may of had along with Chilliwack one of the biggest exoduses in the league after that NCAA rule change.
