Second game in a row where it has been entertaining to watch. The Bulldogs fell to the Vernon Vipers 7-4 on Friday night in what was one of the better games the Bulldogs have played in this season.
Former Regina Pat Corban Almen scores on the wide open net to make it 1-0 for the Vipers at 4:20 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Former Sarnia Sting Dennis Lominac and Greenwood Village, Colorado native Jordan Gudridge.
Vipers then made it 2-0 when Vernon native and University of Nebraska-Omaha commit Erik Pastro scored his 6th goal of the season at 12:56 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Will Schumacher and UMass Lowell commit Daniil Dolzhenko.
Shots on goal in the first period were 13-12 for the Bulldogs.
Sloppy play caused a goal which made it 3-0 Vipers when the Bulldogs had issues clearing the zone and literally passed it right to the Vipers and gave them a goal. The next best thing would of been picking the puck up and dropping it in the net for them. So Denver, Colorado native Charlie Kresi got the easiest goal of his life at 2:55 of the second period when Corban Alman tapped the puck up to him and it luckily bounced on his stick.
Gates Omicioli got the Bulldogs on the board and made it a 3-1 game right as the Bulldogs Power Play was ending at 5:29 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Antoine Gauthier and Thomas Neu. Neu has looked awesome since joining the team.
It looked like Neu scored moments later but after the refs went to look at the Ipad in the penalty box it was determined to be no goal.
Tyler Chiovetti scored a highlight reel goal to make it a 3-2 (the tern the announcer made was “throw the glove in laundry that was gross”) at 10:30 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Luke Dahlen and newly acquired former Langley Riverman and Worcester, Massachusetts native Austin Borggaard.
It also looked like at least a few times the Vipers goalie made the net get knocked off to stop the play.
Vipers make is 4-2 when the Bulldogs couldn’t clear the zone again and let Adams get peppered with shots. Jakub Golnar got his fourth goal of the season at 17:37 of the second period. The assist on the goal went to Fairbanks, Alaska and Alaska-Fairbanks University commit Simon Binkley.
Bulldogs score another beautiful goal with only 24 seconds left in the second period when Gates Omicioli got his second goal of the night and 5th of the season on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Antoine Gauthier and Jared Langdon.
Shots on goal in the second period were 14-13 for the Vipers
Bulldogs do another bad give away in their own zone and the Vipers score to make it 5-3 when Dennis Lominac scored his first goal of the season. The assists on the goal went to former Nipawin Hawk and Airdrie, Alberta native Landon Pappas and former Wenatchee Wild D man Sam Ward at 2:42 of the third period.
Vipers then make it 6-3 when Simon Binkley scored his second of the season at 9:34 of the third period with the assists going to Noah Grolic and Dennis Lomanic.
Another highlight reel goal Jared Langdon scored his fourth of the season at 15:31 from Antoine Gauthier and Gates Omicioli.
Then the Vipers put it into the empty net with 1:21 left in the game with the goal going to Noah Grolnic and the assist going to Czech native Jakub Galnor.
Shots on goal in the third period were 16-8 for the Vipers. The Vipers outshot the Bulldogs 42-34 in the game.
For the Vipers former Kelowna Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen made 30 saves on the 34 shots that he faced for the win for the Vipers. For the Bulldogs Dylan Adams made 33 saves on the 39 shots that he faced. Mikkel Christensen went in to relieve Adams with about 6 minutes left in the game as Adams looked bothered with a minor injury. Christensen faced 3 shots and let in 1 goal.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Dennis Lominac 2) Gates Omicioli 3) Antoine Gauthier
Attendance in Vernon was 2061
Bulldogs next game is Saturday December 14th in Trail against the Trail Smoke Eaters
Billy Maloney gone already?
Thomas Matte playing in his first game since returning from injury, he came from Okotoks in the Otto Hanson trade. Newcomer Noah Mertz played in his first game with the Bulldogs also. Mertz hails from Coventry, Rhode Island and was playing for the New Mexico Ice Wolves of the NAHL earlier this season.
Brayden Gourley is also now playing with the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL. Should of went to Calgary to join the rest of the Bulldogs. Bulldog fans never heard about that either. I found out by checking out the AJHL game sheets today looking for the Canucks roster with Joly on it. Also there was no word on the Jack McAra trade either. Just noticed him off the roster googled him and found this.
