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BCHL: Alberni Valley on brink of elimination after Game 3 loss against Penticton

Bulldogs will look to avoid elimination at home during Game 4
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Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Ethan Bono battles with Penticton’s Thomas Pichette during Game 3 of the Fred Page Cup final on Tuesday, May 16. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are facing elimination after a 6-3 Game 3 loss against the Penticton Vees in the BCHL’s Fred Page Cup final.

The Vees opened scoring in the first, as Penticton’s Dovar Tinling grabbed a shorthanded goal, and Port Alberni’s Matthew Maltais managed to tie things up in the final minute of the frame.

But the Vees blew things open in the second period, scoring four times in succession to build up a 5-1 lead. Scorers for the Vees were Josh Nadeau (with two goals), Billy Norcross and Aydar Suniev.

Later in the second, Bulldogs forward Nicholas Beneteau scored his fourth goal of the series to make it 5-2, and Brady McIsaac out-muscled Frank Djurasevic to score a beautiful individual effort goal to make it 5-3. But unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the momentum was short-lived. Penticton’s Suniev answered back just under 2 minutes later to make it 6-3 Penticton after 40 minutes.

There was no scoring in the third period, and final shots were 42-31 Penticton.

Game 4, set for Wednesday, May 17, is now a must-win affair for the Bulldogs if they hope to stave off elimination and send the series back to the South Okanagan Events Centre on Saturday night.

READ MORE: No goal: Controversial call in B.C. Hockey League finals a result of ‘faulty video review’



Elena Rardon

About the Author: Elena Rardon

I have worked with the Alberni Valley News since 2016.
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